[Event "Open 50+"] [Site "Prague"] [Date "2025.02.26"] [Round "09"] [White "Shabalov, Alexander"] [Black "Schulz, Klaus-Juergen"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2471"] [BlackElo "2345"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C42"] [Opening "Petrov's Defense: Three Knights Game"] [StudyName "2025 FIDE World Senior Team Championships"] [ChapterName "Shabalov, Alexander - Schulz, Klaus-Juergen"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/lbyDv1vS/EQFjzogE"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:56] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:30:37] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 1:31:16] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 1:30:24] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 1:29:37] } 3... Bb4 { [%clk 1:30:16] } 4. Nxe5 { [%clk 1:26:01] } 4... O-O { [%clk 1:08:31] } 5. Nd3 { [%clk 1:22:36] } 5... Bxc3 { [%clk 1:05:16] } 6. dxc3 { [%clk 1:23:00] } 6... Nxe4 { [%clk 1:05:40] } 7. Be2 { [%clk 1:21:12] } 7... d5 { [%clk 1:04:41] } 8. O-O { [%clk 1:21:17] } 8... Nd7 { [%clk 0:58:38] } 9. Nf4 { [%clk 1:18:48] } 9... Ndf6 { [%clk 0:57:30] } 10. Be3 { [%clk 1:18:06] } 10... b6 { [%clk 0:53:39] } 11. f3 { [%clk 0:59:51] } 11... Nc5 { [%clk 0:46:46] } 12. c4 { [%clk 0:55:51] } 12... Bb7 { [%clk 0:36:16] } 13. cxd5 { [%clk 0:47:55] } 13... Nxd5 { [%clk 0:32:36] } 14. Nxd5 { [%clk 0:47:49] } 14... Bxd5 { [%clk 0:31:56] } 15. Re1 { [%clk 0:40:25] } 15... Be6 { [%clk 0:29:21] } 16. a4 { [%clk 0:32:05] } 16... Qe7 { [%clk 0:22:44] } 17. a5 { [%clk 0:30:03] } 17... Rfd8 { [%clk 0:19:49] } 18. Qc1 { [%clk 0:30:23] } 18... h6 { [%clk 0:19:26] } 19. Ra3 { [%clk 0:28:48] } 19... Bd5 { [%clk 0:19:02] } 20. Bf1 { [%clk 0:26:20] } 20... Ne6 { [%clk 0:19:04] } 21. Ra4 { [%clk 0:23:22] } 21... Qf6 { [%clk 0:16:56] } 22. Rg4!? { This bold, aggressive move saw Shabalov quickly take over the initiative. } { [%clk 0:20:43] } 22... Kf8?! { [%clk 0:17:05] } (22... h5! { was the only hope. } 23. Ra4 (23. Rg3 { is a concession, as White intended Be3-f2 to strengthen the e-rook. This was one of the details Black had to identify. }) 23... c5 $14 { Now, Black is in time to stop White's queenside expansion. }) 23. Bf2! { Threats of Bf2-h4, as well as the utility of the e-rook after Black's king or queen steps to the e-file, give White a serious attack. } { [%clk 0:19:14] } 23... Qe7 { [%clk 0:12:13] } 24. c4 { The winning strategy: White quickly gains c2-c4, b2-b4, and c4-c5 for a full-court press. } { [%clk 0:16:21] } 24... Bc6 { [%clk 0:12:01] } 25. b4 { [%clk 0:13:04] } 25... Be8 { [%clk 0:07:49] } 26. c5 { [%clk 0:12:39] } 26... bxc5?! { Capitulation. } { [%clk 0:06:17] } (26... f5!? 27. cxb6! (27. Rc4 b5 28. Rc3 a6 29. Bg3 $16 { is a lower-risk way to grind the advantage, as well. }) 27... cxb6 (27... fxg4 28. Bc5 $18) 28. Rc4 Bb5 29. axb6! axb6 30. Bxb6! Qd6 (30... Bxc4 31. Qxc4 Rac8 32. Rxe6 Rxc4 33. Rxe7 $18) 31. Bxd8 Bxc4 32. Bxc4 Nxd8 33. Qc2 $16) 27. Bxc5 { [%clk 0:12:34] } 27... Rd6 { [%clk 0:05:47] } 28. Bc4 { The bishops are too strong! } { [%clk 0:11:49] } 28... Bd7 { [%clk 0:03:37] } 29. Qc3 { [%clk 0:10:55] } 29... h5 { [%clk 0:02:23] } 30. Rxg7! { A nice flourish. } { [%clk 0:10:34] } 30... Qh4 { [%clk 0:02:36] } 31. g3 { [%clk 0:08:36] } 31... Qh3 { [%clk 0:01:19] } 32. Qf6 { Mate is unstoppable, and Black resigned. } { [%clk 0:08:37] } 1-0