[Event "FIDE World Senior Team Championships 2025"] [Site "Prague"] [Date "2025.02.25"] [Round "08"] [White "Aagaard, Jacob"] [Black "Belakovskaia, Anjelina"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2435"] [BlackElo "2166"] [TimeControl "40/5400+30:1800+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B00"] [Opening "Borg Defense: Borg Gambit"] [StudyName "2025 FIDE World Senior Team Championships"] [ChapterName "Aagaard, Jacob - Belakovskaia, Anjelina"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/lbyDv1vS/ZMFaan1W"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:11] } 1... g5 { [%clk 1:30:53] } 2. d4 { [%clk 1:29:44] } 2... Bg7 { [%clk 1:31:00] } 3. c3 { [%clk 1:29:45] } 3... h6 { [%clk 1:31:08] } 4. Bd3 { [%clk 1:29:23] } 4... d6 { [%clk 1:30:45] } 5. Ne2 { [%clk 1:27:01] } 5... Nc6 { [%clk 1:17:14] } 6. f4 { [%clk 1:25:02] } 6... e5 { [%clk 1:01:38] } 7. d5 { [%clk 1:24:11] } 7... Nce7 { [%clk 1:00:44] } 8. f5 { [%clk 1:23:46] } 8... c6 { [%clk 0:57:24] } 9. c4 { [%clk 1:23:57] } 9... b5 { [%clk 0:53:12] } 10. dxc6 { [%clk 1:20:32] } 10... bxc4 { [%clk 0:52:12] } 11. Bxc4 { [%clk 1:20:05] } 11... Nf6 { [%clk 0:52:21] } 12. Nbc3 { [%clk 1:19:08] } 12... O-O { [%clk 0:47:09] } 13. Be3 { [%clk 1:16:07] } 13... Nxc6 { [%clk 0:27:41] } 14. O-O { [%clk 1:14:02] } 14... Ne7 { [%clk 0:27:01] } 15. Ng3 { [%clk 1:13:25] } 15... Bb7 { [%clk 0:19:53] } 16. Nh5 { [%clk 1:10:42] } 16... Rc8 { [%clk 0:18:16] } 17. b3 { [%clk 1:10:18] } 17... Qa5 { [%clk 0:12:41] } 18. Rc1 { [%clk 1:09:04] } 18... Ba6 { [%clk 0:11:50] } 19. Nxf6+ { [%clk 1:01:25] } 19... Bxf6 { [%clk 0:12:18] } 20. Qxd6 { [%clk 1:01:35] } 20... Rc6 { [%clk 0:12:01] } 21. Qd2 { [%clk 1:01:52] } 21... Rd8 { [%clk 0:09:46] } 22. Qe2 { [%clk 0:58:58] } 22... Rdc8 { [%clk 0:05:42] } 23. Bxa6 { [%clk 0:57:10] } 23... Qxa6 { [%clk 0:04:10] } 24. Qxa6 { [%clk 0:55:30] } 24... Rxa6 { [%clk 0:04:39] } 25. Nd5 { [%clk 0:54:58] } 25... Rd8 { [%clk 0:04:52] } 26. Nxf6+ { [%clk 0:54:39] } 26... Rxf6 { [%clk 0:05:20] } 27. Bxa7 { [%clk 0:54:42] } 27... Ra6 { Notes by JJ Lang } { [%clk 0:05:35] } 28. Bc5 { White should be for choice with connected outside passers. } { [%clk 0:54:44] } 28... Rxa2!? { A very practical decision from Black. The engine prefers the safer } { [%clk 0:05:38] } (28... Nc6 { when it's White's job to show how he intends to use the two extra pawns. Perhaps } 29. Rf2 Rd3 { is Black's best attempt to keep the queenside pawns frozen, but } 30. b4 Nd4 31. Rb2 Nb5 32. Kf1 $16 { and White can continue to press against the blockade. Black is still down two pawns, and it's understandable why Black wanted to look for something more double-edged than this. }) 29. Bxe7? { Aagaard overestimates the value of his extra piece, or, alternatively, underestimates the power of Belakovskaia's rooks on the seventh. } { [%clk 0:50:44] } (29. Rf2! { was the best move. White is only up one pawn now, but it's still an outside passer, and this move forces the trade of material (lest the e7-knight fall after other rook moves). } 29... Rxf2 30. Kxf2 Rd7 31. b4 $18 { Of course, without the engine's confidence that this is indeed an easily winning endgame, it is harder to confidently return a pawn in this fashion. }) 29... Rdd2 { [%clk 0:06:00] } 30. Rf3 { Clearing the f1-square for the king is the only way to avoid an immediate draw. } { [%clk 0:51:05] } 30... Rxg2+ { [%clk 0:06:12] } 31. Kf1 { [%clk 0:51:29] } 31... Rxh2 { [%clk 0:02:41] } 32. Bc5 { Allowing Bc5-g1 to stop the mate threat with ... Rh2-h1+. But, despite being up a piece for only one pawn, the engine says Black can hold this. } { [%clk 0:51:51] } 32... g4 { [%clk 0:02:50] } (32... Rab2! { was more accurate: } 33. Re1 { Note that } (33. b4 { allows } 33... Rh1+ 34. Bg1 Rxb4 $10 { gaining a second pawn with pressure on a third. }) 33... h5) 33. Rd3 { [%clk 0:43:36] } 33... h5 { [%clk 0:03:06] } 34. Bg1 { [%clk 0:40:28] } (34. Rg3 { was the way to play for a win, freezing the kingside pawns. } 34... Kg7 35. Bg1 Rhd2 36. Bb6 Kf6 37. b4 $14 { and White's pawn is looking faster. }) 34... Rhe2 { [%clk 0:01:48] } (34... Rhg2 $10 { was prophylactic against Rd3-g3 ideas. }) 35. Re1 { [%clk 0:37:44] } (35. Re3 { was stronger. It seems counterintuitive to trade off the more advanced rook that was already defending the b-pawn, but White's power along the open c-file is about to become much clearer: } 35... Red2 (35... Rxe3? 36. Bxe3 Rb2 37. Bg5 Rxb3 38. Bf6 $18) 36. Rg3 Kg7 37. Bb6 Kf6 38. b4 $16) 35... Reb2 { [%clk 0:02:02] } (35... Rxe1+! 36. Kxe1 h4 $10 { was Black's best bet. The d3-rook is ill-equipped to cover these pawns. }) 36. Rg3 { [%clk 0:35:29] } 36... Kg7 { [%clk 0:01:52] } 37. Be3 { [%clk 0:34:36] } 37... Kf6 { [%clk 0:01:03] } 38. Kg1 { [%clk 0:33:22] } 38... Ra3 { [%clk 0:00:44] } 39. Rc1 { [%clk 0:28:26] } 39... Raa2 { [%clk 0:00:54] } 40. Rc6+ { [%clk 0:26:59] } 40... Kg7 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 41. Bh6+ { [%clk 0:23:10] } 41... Kg8 { [%clk 0:26:47] } 42. Bg5 { [%clk 0:50:49] } 42... Re2 { [%clk 0:24:16] } (42... Ra1+ 43. Rc1 Rxc1+ 44. Bxc1 Rb1 45. Rc3 h4 { offers drawing chances, apparently. }) 43. Rc1 { [%clk 0:48:57] } 43... Kg7 { [%clk 0:23:55] } 44. Rb1 { [%clk 0:47:16] } 44... f6 { [%clk 0:18:01] } 45. Be3? { [%clk 0:44:28] } (45. Bh4 $16 { was the only pressing move, keeping Black's king locked while keeping the kingside passers under check. }) 45... Kf7?! { Right idea, but wrong execution. Black wants to step off the g-file as to play ... h5-h4 so Rg3xg4 does not come with a check. } { [%clk 0:17:25] } (45... Kh7 46. Bc5 (46. b4 h4 $10 { still regains the piece. }) 46... Kh6! { is the difference. This is where the king wants to be, threatening ... Kh6-g5 to prepare ... h5-h4. }) 46. Bc5 { This is where Black would have loved to have ... Kh6 as a legal move, hence 45. ... Kh7 as an improvement. } { [%clk 0:44:14] } 46... Rac2 { [%clk 0:14:03] } 47. b4 { White is once again pushing. } { [%clk 0:43:50] } 47... Ke8 { [%clk 0:14:31] } (47... Kg8 { is more stubborn, staying closer to the g5-square: } 48. Rd3 h4 49. Ra1 $16) 48. Rd3 { [%clk 0:39:04] } 48... Kf7 { [%clk 0:04:58] } 49. Rd7+ { [%clk 0:38:38] } 49... Kg8 { [%clk 0:05:23] } 50. Ra1 { Now White's rooks threaten mate! } { [%clk 0:33:22] } 50... Ra2 { [%clk 0:05:45] } 51. Rxa2 { [%clk 0:33:47] } 51... Rxa2 { [%clk 0:06:12] } 52. Bf2 { [%clk 0:33:42] } 52... Rb2 { [%clk 0:04:08] } 53. Bh4 { [%clk 0:28:30] } 53... Rxb4 { [%clk 0:04:17] } 54. Bxf6 { [%clk 0:28:52] } 54... Rxe4 { [%clk 0:04:41] } 55. Bg5 { [%clk 0:29:17] } 55... Rd4 { [%clk 0:02:54] } 56. Rc7 { [%clk 0:28:18] } 56... Rd3 { [%clk 0:03:07] } 57. Re7? { White only had two moves that preserved winning chances: } { [%clk 0:25:13] } (57. f6 { , when } 57... Rg3+ 58. Kh2 Rh3+ 59. Kg2 Rf3 { runs into } 60. Rg7+ Kf8 61. Re7 $18) (57. Rc8+ Kf7 58. Rc7+ Kg8 59. f6 { again, preparing Rc7-g7+ and threatening f6-f7+. Without that resource, Black can hold, e.g.: } (59. Re7? Rg3+ 60. Kh2 Rh3+ 61. Kg2 h4! $10) 59... Rg3+ 60. Kh2 { With the pawn advanced, the point is that now } 60... h4 { is refuted by } 61. f7+! Kg7 62. Bf6+ Kf8 63. Be7+ Kxf7 64. Bxh4+ $18) 57... Rg3+ { [%clk 0:03:17] } 58. Kh1 { [%clk 0:24:58] } 58... h4! { Now, Black can repeat with ... Rg3-h3+-g3+ with protection of the g3-square. White can't capture the h4-pawn as the bishop hangs with check. } { [%clk 0:03:18] } 59. Re8+ { [%clk 0:20:40] } 59... Kh7 { [%clk 0:01:46] } 60. Re7+ { [%clk 0:18:05] } 60... Kg8 { [%clk 0:02:00] } 61. f6 { [%clk 0:16:00] } 61... Rh3+ { [%clk 0:02:09] } 62. Kg2 { [%clk 0:16:28] } 62... Rg3+ { [%clk 0:02:36] } 63. Kf2 { [%clk 0:16:43] } 63... Rf3+ { [%clk 0:03:05] } 64. Ke2 { [%clk 0:16:58] } 64... h3 { [%clk 0:03:24] } 65. Rg7+ { [%clk 0:16:31] } 65... Kf8 { [%clk 0:02:24] } 66. Rh7 { [%clk 0:16:27] } 66... Rf5 { [%clk 0:02:15] } 67. Bh6+ { [%clk 0:16:15] } 67... Ke8 { [%clk 0:01:53] } 68. Bg7 { [%clk 0:09:17] } 68... Kf7 { [%clk 0:02:03] } 69. Rh4 { [%clk 0:08:13] } 69... Rf4 { [%clk 0:01:55] } 70. Rh5 { [%clk 0:07:09] } 70... e4 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 71. Rh4 { [%clk 0:04:05] } 71... Kg6 { [%clk 0:01:38] } 72. Ke3 { [%clk 0:00:46] } 72... Rf3+ { [%clk 0:02:02] } 73. Kxe4 { [%clk 0:01:15] } 73... Rg3?! { Objectively, the losing move. But, with the match situation being what it was, there was not a big difference between a draw and a loss from a team standpoint. Why not try to push the pawns against the extra piece and see what happens? } { [%clk 0:00:40] } (73... Kg5 { preserves the draw, e.g. } 74. Rh8 Rf4+ 75. Ke5 Rf2 76. Bh6+ Kg6 77. Bf4 Re2+ 78. Kd4 Kxf6 $10) (73... Rf2 { apparently also holds: } 74. Rxg4+ Kh5! 75. Rf4 h2 $10) 74. Rh6+ { [%clk 0:01:02] } 74... Kf7 { [%clk 0:01:07] } 75. Kf5 { [%clk 0:01:09] } 75... Rg2 { [%clk 0:01:02] } 76. Rh8 { The mating net is too quick! } { [%clk 0:01:31] } 76... Rf2+ { Black has to part with one pawn to stop mate. } { [%clk 0:01:07] } 77. Kxg4 { [%clk 0:01:59] } 77... h2 { Now it will be much harder to get the lone h-pawn through. } { [%clk 0:01:24] } 78. Kg3 { [%clk 0:02:24] } 78... Ra2 { [%clk 0:01:05] } 79. Rxh2 $18 { With the f6-pawn still alive, White has reached a won endgame. } { [%clk 0:02:46] } 79... Ra3+ { [%clk 0:01:26] } 80. Kg4 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 80... Ra4+ { [%clk 0:01:26] } 81. Kg5 { [%clk 0:03:27] } 81... Ra5+ { [%clk 0:01:51] } 82. Kh6 { [%clk 0:03:50] } 82... Ra3 { [%clk 0:02:04] } 83. Rb2 { [%clk 0:04:00] } 83... Rh3+ { [%clk 0:02:26] } 84. Kg5 { [%clk 0:04:13] } 84... Rg3+ { [%clk 0:02:48] } 85. Kf4 { [%clk 0:04:32] } 85... Rg1 { [%clk 0:03:09] } 86. Rb7+ { [%clk 0:04:32] } 86... Kg6 { [%clk 0:01:41] } 87. Bh8 { [%clk 0:04:17] } 87... Rf1+ { [%clk 0:02:09] } 88. Ke5 { [%clk 0:04:11] } 88... Re1+ { [%clk 0:02:27] } 89. Kd6 { [%clk 0:04:30] } 89... Re8 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 90. f7 { [%clk 0:02:30] } 90... Rxh8 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 91. Ke7 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 91... Kg7 { [%clk 0:02:44] } 92. Rb1 { [%clk 0:03:08] } 92... Ra8 { [%clk 0:02:20] } 93. f8=Q+ { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:03:35] } 1-0