[Event "Grand Chess Tour: Sinquefield Cup 2024"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2024.08.25"] [Round "06"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2767"] [BlackElo "2793"] [TimeControl "5400+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B35"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Accelerated Dragon, Modern Bc4 Variation"] [StudyName "2024 Sinquefield Cup"] [ChapterName "Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Caruana, Fabiano"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/kueFp0uL/idDXKZPG"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 2:00:52] } 1... c5 { [%clk 2:00:56] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 2:01:17] } 2... g6 { [%clk 2:01:22] } 3. d4 { [%clk 2:00:54] } 3... cxd4 { [%clk 2:00:31] } 4. Nxd4 { [%clk 2:01:18] } 4... Bg7 { [%clk 2:00:56] } 5. Nc3 { [%clk 2:01:43] } 5... Nc6 { [%clk 2:00:58] } 6. Be3 { [%clk 2:02:07] } 6... Nf6 { [%clk 2:01:04] } 7. Bc4 { [%clk 2:02:31] } 7... O-O { [%clk 2:01:06] } 8. Bb3 { [%clk 2:02:56] } 8... d6 { [%clk 2:00:18] } 9. f3 { [%clk 2:03:21] } 9... Qa5 { [%clk 1:58:35] } 10. Qd3 { Less common that 10. Qd2, but sure, why not? } { [%clk 2:03:26] } (10. Qd2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Be6 { is the main line, so White's 10. Qd3 is aimed at keeping pieces on the board. }) 10... Ne5 { After a 20-minute think, Black accepts the invitation. } { [%clk 1:39:29] } 11. Qd2 { [%clk 2:02:47] } 11... Bd7 { [%clk 1:39:14] } 12. O-O-O { [%clk 2:03:06] } 12... Rfc8 { [%clk 1:35:51] } 13. Kb1 { [%clk 2:03:27] } 13... Nc4 { [%clk 1:34:54] } 14. Bxc4 { [%clk 2:03:50] } 14... Rxc4 { [%clk 1:35:21] } 15. g4 { [%clk 1:58:35] } 15... Be6 { [%clk 1:14:48] } 16. Nb3 { [%clk 1:58:08] } 16... Qa6 { [%clk 1:08:18] } 17. Bd4 { [%clk 1:57:30] } 17... Rac8 { A standard position. Black dreams of crashing through the c-file, perhaps with an Exchange sac, while White's kingside is rearing to go. } { [%clk 1:06:53] } 18. g5?? { White misses a true combination, taking the ... Nf6xe4 motif when a piece is under-protected on the d4-square, and combining it both with ideas of an Exchange sac on the c3-square and an attack on the a2-square. } { [%clk 1:57:54] } 18... Nxe4!! { [%clk 0:48:27] } 19. fxe4 { [%clk 1:41:10] } (19. Nxe4 Rxd4 { shouldn't work with a knight on b3, but here } 20. Nxd4?? { simply hangs mate: } 20... Qxa2+ 21. Kc1 Qa1#) 19... Bxd4 { [%clk 0:48:30] } 20. Nxd4 { [%clk 1:41:34] } 20... Rxc3! { The point. } { [%clk 0:48:58] } 21. a3 { White essentially admits defeat. } { [%clk 1:41:31] } (21. bxc3?? Qxa2+ 22. Kc1 Qa1#) 21... Qc4 { [%clk 0:45:24] } 22. b3 { [%clk 1:41:54] } (22. Nxe6 Rxc2! { was decisive, as well. }) 22... Qc5 { [%clk 0:45:21] } 23. Rc1 { [%clk 1:42:19] } 23... Qxa3 { [%clk 0:40:23] } 24. h4 { [%clk 1:40:24] } 24... R8c5 { It's all over now. } { [%clk 0:37:46] } 25. Rcf1 { [%clk 1:40:04] } 25... Bxb3 { White resigns, as Black crashes through regardless of whether/how White captures the bishop. } { [%clk 0:37:47] } 0-1