[Event "World Youth 2025 Adi Games: Game 9: Aditeya Das v. Dzhumakanov Kuanysh 1-0"] [Date "2025.10.13"] [White "Aditeya Das"] [Black "Dzhumakanov Kuanysh"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/rkr21"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B42"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Kan Variation, Polugaevsky Variation"] [StudyName "2025 FIDE World Youth"] [ChapterName "World Youth 2025 Adi Games: Game 9: Aditeya Das v. Dzhumakanov Kuanysh 1-0"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/jZcqSxJ4/pGpOMHvm"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Bd3 Bc5 6. Nb3 Ba7 7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Be3 { I like this approach to Black's Kan Sicilian. The 5. Bd3 line is notoriously dangerous, preserving flexibility of transpositions into Maroczy Binds with c2-c4 and main line Open Sicilians with Nb1-c3. Rather than go for something aggressive like Qd1-g4, White simply plays principled moves and enjoys an advantage. } 8... Bxe3 9. Qxe3 Nge7 { Avoiding e4-e5 coming with tempo, but without a knight on c3, there would be no immediate Nc3-e4 following e4-e5, so maybe allowing it wasn't so bad. } 10. O-O O-O 11. N1d2!? e5! { Without a fight for the d5-square, this transformation helps Black gain much-needed space in the center. } 12. c4 { White wants to prevent Black from achieving two central pawns. } 12... d6 13. Rfd1 f5?! { Impatient. } (13... Be6 { was a simple developing move, while } 14. c5) (13... a5 { would aim to exploit the awkward b3-knight now that the d4-square is covered. }) 14. exf5! { There are some positions where White wants to keep the center closed and allow ... f5-f4. This is not one of them. } 14... Bxf5 15. Ne4 { After Black's ... e6-e5, White likely thought the d2-knight would never reach the e4-square, as there was no e4-e5 break available. So, this likely came as a pleasant surprise to be able to play. } 15... d5? { The d--file has a white rook and a black queen on it. We all know which side wants to see it open up. White calculates excellently to exploit this strategic error. } (15... Bg6) 16. cxd5 Nxd5?? { Black probably missed that there was just enough counterplay to save the queen in the alternative line. But this loses instantly. } (16... Qxd5 { might have been what Black thought was playable, only finding } 17. Nd6! { after pushing 15. ... d5. Now, it's not as straightforward as it looks, since Black can play } { [%cal Gd3c4] } 17... Qxd6 (17... Bxd3?! 18. Rxd3 Qe6 19. Nc5 $16 { [%cal Gc5d7] }) 18. Bc4+ Nd5 19. Rxd5 Qb4! { leaving White without a good discovered check. But } 20. Rc5+ Kh8 21. a3 $16 { is just comfy for White anyways. }) 17. Bc4! Nb4 (17... Be6 18. Bxd5 Bxd5 19. Nc3 Nb4 20. Qc5 $18) 18. Nc3 Nc2 19. Qxe5 Nxa1 20. Rxd5 Qe8 21. Rd7+ Qf7 { Black resigns before Aditeya can decide which way to capture. A very dominant victory for White. } 1-0