[Event "Round 6: Shabalov, Alexander - Csiszar, Csaba"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-senior-team-championships-2026-senior-50/round-6/T0U7AJ8e/ko7AzA3t"] [Date "2026.04.25"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Shabalov, Alexander"] [Black "Csiszar, Csaba"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2433"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteTeam "USA 1"] [WhiteFideId "2008572"] [BlackElo "2352"] [BlackTitle "IM"] [BlackTeam "Hungary"] [BlackFideId "705276"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B06"] [Opening "Modern Defense: Standard Defense"] [StudyName "2026 World Senior Team Championships"] [ChapterName "Shabalov, Alexander - Csiszar, Csaba"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/mtdj2s0S/nnTddaTd"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. d4 { [%clk 1:30:56] } 1... g6 { [%clk 1:30:33] } 2. e4 { [%clk 1:30:29] } 2... Bg7 { [%clk 1:30:57] } 3. Nc3 { [%clk 1:30:31] } 3... d6 { [%clk 1:31:23] } 4. Be3 { [%clk 1:30:26] } 4... a6 { [%clk 1:31:37] } 5. g4 { Only the sixth most popular move in this position, but a very sharp one. } { [%clk 1:30:25] } 5... b5 { [%clk 1:31:42] } 6. a3 { [%clk 1:27:10] } (6. Bg2 { is the usual continuation, essayed by the likes of Caruana and Dominguez. }) 6... Nd7 { [%clk 1:30:00] } 7. h4 { Already, we are in uncharted territory. White has a nice initiative already, and isn't even behind in development despite the two kingside pawn thrusts. } { [%clk 1:26:09] } 7... h6 { [%clk 1:30:19] } (7... c5 8. g5 { would freeze Black's position, while 8. h5 was also good. }) 8. Bg2 { [%clk 1:22:40] } 8... Bb7 { [%clk 1:28:43] } 9. Nge2 { [%clk 1:22:04] } 9... e6 { [%clk 1:27:19] } 10. Ng3 { [%clk 1:18:00] } (10. g5!? { is again the engine's preference. Stopping ... Ng8-f6 is a nice prize. }) 10... Ne7!? { [%clk 1:23:48] } (10... c5 { was more confrontational: } 11. dxc5 dxc5 12. f4 $13) 11. f4 { [%clk 1:12:10] } 11... Nb6 { [%clk 1:21:08] } 12. b3 { [%clk 1:01:11] } 12... c5 { [%clk 1:18:41] } 13. Nce2 { [%clk 1:00:52] } 13... cxd4 { [%clk 1:15:40] } 14. Bxd4 { [%clk 1:00:40] } 14... e5 { Black finally commits to a structure in the center. } { [%clk 1:13:07] } 15. Bb2 { [%clk 0:57:46] } 15... Nc6?! { [%clk 0:59:01] } (15... Qc7 { was better, with the idea of } 16. h5 d5! { , explaining why the e7-knight was actually well-placed. }) 16. h5 { White strikes on the kingside when Black cannot strike back in the center. } { [%clk 0:52:31] } 16... Rg8!? { [%clk 0:29:49] } (16... Qc7 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. f5 { was still strong for White. }) 17. hxg6 { [%clk 0:50:02] } 17... fxg6 { [%clk 0:30:08] } 18. f5 { [%clk 0:48:34] } 18... Qf6!? { [%clk 0:26:32] } (18... Qc7 19. Qd2 $16) 19. Qd2 { [%clk 0:45:22] } (19. Nf4!? { was also good. }) 19... O-O-O { [%clk 0:22:55] } 20. O-O-O { [%clk 0:45:20] } 20... Bf8 { [%clk 0:17:18] } 21. Kb1 { [%clk 0:39:52] } 21... Kb8!? { [%clk 0:16:54] } 22. Qe1!? { [%clk 0:21:20] } (22. Nf4 { is even stronger now: } 22... gxf5 23. exf5 Rxg4 24. Qf2! { a beautiful move that solves every problem. } 24... Nc8 25. Ne6 { White even has ideas of Ne6-c5 with Bb2xe5+ in some lines, explaining for Black's 21. ... Kb8 was a frying pan/fryer situation. }) 22... Qf7 { [%clk 0:12:53] } 23. Bf3 { [%clk 0:19:03] } 23... a5 { [%clk 0:12:08] } (23... Nd7 24. Nf1 { would see White continue maneuvering with a space advantage. }) 24. Qf2 { [%clk 0:19:06] } 24... Qc7 { [%clk 0:11:25] } 25. fxg6!? { [%clk 0:17:19] } (25. Nc3 { was the engine's cold-blooded choice, but it's always easier to sacrifice somebody else's pieces: } 25... Nd4 26. Rxd4! exd4 27. Nxb5 { White will have two pawns for the Exchange and a crushing attack. }) 25... a4!? { [%clk 0:10:08] } (25... b4 { was better: } 26. a4 Rxg6 27. Nf5 Rc8 { Still, Black's position is unpleasant. }) 26. Nf5!? { [%clk 0:16:05] } (26. Nc3!) 26... Na5?! { [%clk 0:09:19] } 27. Rd3 { [%clk 0:15:39] } 27... Rxg6 { [%clk 0:07:49] } 28. Rhd1 { Simple chess! } { [%clk 0:15:07] } 28... Rc8 { [%clk 0:08:08] } 29. Rc3 { [%clk 0:14:44] } 29... Bc6 { [%clk 0:08:21] } 30. Nc1 { White's pieces continue improving with the space advantage. } { [%clk 0:13:59] } 30... Qb7 { [%clk 0:07:51] } 31. Qe1 { [%clk 0:13:16] } 31... Qa8 { [%clk 0:03:54] } 32. Rcd3 { [%clk 0:13:13] } 32... Nb7 { [%clk 0:04:12] } 33. Qe3 { [%clk 0:11:26] } 33... Qa6 { [%clk 0:04:03] } 34. Na2! { Using the whole board! } { [%clk 0:11:19] } 34... Be8 { [%clk 0:04:04] } 35. Nb4 { [%clk 0:10:03] } 35... Qa7 { [%clk 0:04:25] } 36. Rc3 { [%clk 0:09:52] } 36... Nc5? { [%clk 0:04:22] } 37. g5! { Preparing Bf3-h5. Again, this is total board domination. } { [%clk 0:09:52] } 37... hxg5 { [%clk 0:03:34] } 38. Bh5 { [%clk 0:10:13] } 38... axb3 { [%clk 0:02:13] } 39. cxb3 { [%clk 0:10:24] } 39... Qh7 { [%clk 0:01:43] } 40. Bxg6 { [%clk 0:10:28] } 40... Qxg6 { [%clk 0:01:54] } 41. Nxd6 { [%clk 0:07:03] } 41... Bxd6 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 42. Na6+ { [%clk 0:07:22] } 42... Ka7?! { [%clk 0:30:21] } (42... Ka8 { was more accurate, but } 43. Nxc5 Nc4 44. bxc4 Bxc5 45. Qe2 { is still an extra Exchange and Black has no compensation. }) 43. Nxc5 { [%clk 0:37:44] } 43... Bxc5 { [%clk 0:29:59] } 44. Rxc5 { [%clk 0:37:58] } 44... Rxc5 { [%clk 0:30:21] } 45. Qxc5 { [%clk 0:38:22] } 45... Qxe4+ { [%clk 0:30:46] } 46. Ka1 { [%clk 0:38:27] } 46... Bc6 { [%clk 0:17:45] } 47. Bxe5 $18 { Black is weaker on the dark squares than White is on the light squares, and the open board means the rook is superior to Black's knight. } { [%clk 0:34:09] } 47... Kb7 { [%clk 0:11:44] } 48. Bd4 { The rest is a matter of technique. } { [%clk 0:32:37] } 48... Nd5 { [%clk 0:06:20] } 49. Rc1 { [%clk 0:28:50] } 49... Qe6 { [%clk 0:05:42] } 50. Qa7+ { [%clk 0:23:56] } 50... Kc8 { [%clk 0:06:06] } 51. Qg7 { [%clk 0:23:40] } 51... g4 { [%clk 0:03:20] } 52. Kb2 { [%clk 0:23:46] } 52... Nc7 { [%clk 0:02:39] } 53. Rc2 { [%clk 0:23:43] } 53... Qd7 { [%clk 0:02:40] } 54. Qh8+ { [%clk 0:22:28] } 54... Kb7 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 55. Be5 { [%clk 0:22:43] } 55... Ne6 { [%clk 0:01:10] } 56. Qb8+ { [%clk 0:15:03] } 56... Ka6 { [%clk 0:01:37] } 57. Qd6 { [%clk 0:08:08] } 57... Qxd6 { [%clk 0:01:53] } 58. Bxd6 { [%clk 0:08:32] } 58... Nd4 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 59. Rc3 { [%clk 0:08:52] } 59... Kb7 { [%clk 0:01:46] } 60. Be5 { [%clk 0:08:41] } 60... Nf3 { [%clk 0:01:55] } 61. Bf4 { [%clk 0:08:35] } 61... Nd4 { [%clk 0:02:11] } 62. Rd3 { [%clk 0:08:40] } 62... Ne2 { [%clk 0:02:12] } 63. Be5 { [%clk 0:08:52] } 63... Bf3 { [%clk 0:01:59] } 64. Re3 { [%clk 0:07:40] } 64... Kc6 { [%clk 0:02:17] } 65. Kc2 { [%clk 0:06:04] } 65... Kd5 { [%clk 0:02:43] } 66. Kd3 { [%clk 0:04:57] } 66... Ng1 { [%clk 0:02:31] } 67. Bh2 { [%clk 0:05:07] } 67... Nh3 { [%clk 0:02:52] } 68. Re5+ { [%clk 0:05:28] } 68... Kc6 { [%clk 0:03:06] } 69. Kd4 { [%clk 0:05:52] } 69... Bd1 { [%clk 0:02:54] } 70. b4 { [%clk 0:06:13] } 70... Nf2 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 71. Re6+ { [%clk 0:06:00] } 71... Kb7 { [%clk 0:01:24] } 72. Kc5 { [%clk 0:05:56] } 72... Bf3 { [%clk 0:00:58] } 73. Kxb5 { [%clk 0:05:27] } 73... Ne4 { [%clk 0:01:21] } 74. Re7+ { [%clk 0:05:39] } 74... Kc8 { [%clk 0:01:47] } 75. Rg7 { [%clk 0:05:57] } 75... Kd8 { [%clk 0:01:10] } 76. Be5 { [%clk 0:04:54] } 76... Ke8 { [%clk 0:01:19] } 77. Kb6 { [%clk 0:04:30] } 77... Kf8 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 78. Rd7 { [%clk 0:04:11] } 78... Ke8 { [%clk 0:01:43] } 79. Rc7 { [%clk 0:04:16] } 79... Be2 { [%clk 0:00:50] } 80. Rc2 { [%clk 0:04:26] } 80... Bd1 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 81. Rc1 { [%clk 0:04:45] } 81... Be2 { [%clk 0:00:35] } 82. Re1 { [%clk 0:04:57] } 82... Bf3 { [%clk 0:01:01] } 83. a4 { [%clk 0:05:16] } 83... Kd7 { [%clk 0:01:25] } 84. a5 { [%clk 0:05:23] } 84... Nd2 { [%clk 0:01:47] } 85. a6 { [%clk 0:04:33] } 85... Nc4+ { [%clk 0:01:57] } 86. Kc5 { [%clk 0:04:57] } 1-0