[Event "Champions Showdown - The Kings 2025"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2025.03.05"] [Round "03-01"] [White "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Black "So, Wesley"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2650"] [BlackElo "2819"] [TimeControl "180+2"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C54"] [Opening "Italian Game: Classical Variation, Giuoco Pianissimo"] [StudyName "Champions Showdown: The Kings"] [ChapterName "Dominguez Perez, Leinier - So, Wesley"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/nVekuyCm/3TD815j3"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 1... e5 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 2. Nf3 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 2... Nc6 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 3. Bc4 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 3... Nf6 { [%clk 0:03:04] } 4. d3 { [%clk 0:03:02] } 4... Bc5 { [%clk 0:03:05] } 5. O-O { [%clk 0:02:58] } 5... a6 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 6. c3 { [%clk 0:02:56] } 6... d6 { [%clk 0:03:03] } 7. a4 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 7... h6 { [%clk 0:02:58] } 8. Re1 { [%clk 0:02:50] } 8... Ba7 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 9. Nbd2 { [%clk 0:02:36] } 9... O-O { [%clk 0:02:58] } 10. h3 { [%clk 0:02:37] } 10... Qe7 { [%clk 0:02:59] } 11. b4 { [%clk 0:02:27] } 11... Be6 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 12. Rb1 { [%clk 0:02:20] } 12... Qd7 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 13. Bxe6 { [%clk 0:01:49] } 13... Qxe6 { [%clk 0:03:00] } 14. b5?! { In an instructive Italian middlegame, Black shows why pushing b4-b5 is not always in White's favor. } { [%clk 0:01:43] } (14. Nf1) 14... axb5 { [%clk 0:03:01] } 15. axb5 { [%clk 0:01:44] } (15. Rxb5) 15... Ne7 { The knight will be happy on the kingside, eyeing the f4-square. } { [%clk 0:03:00] } 16. d4 { This was the point of b4-b5, of course. } { [%clk 0:01:26] } 16... Ng6 { [%clk 0:02:53] } 17. Qc2 { [%clk 0:01:12] } 17... Rfe8 { [%clk 0:02:49] } 18. Nf1 { [%clk 0:00:56] } (18. d5 { is double-edged, improving Black's bishop, but after } 18... Qd7 19. Nc4 { , White prepares b5-b6 and Bc1-e3, removing Black's powerful piece: } 19... Bc5 20. Be3 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 b6 22. c4 { Defending the b5-pawn to prepare Rb1-a1. } 22... Ra3 23. Nd2 Rea8 $15 { Black has control of the a-file, and some advantage as a result. }) 18... Bb6 { [%clk 0:02:41] } 19. Ng3 { [%clk 0:00:51] } 19... Ra2 { [%clk 0:02:18] } 20. Rb2 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 20... Ra1 { [%clk 0:02:19] } 21. Rb1 { [%clk 0:00:41] } 21... Ra2 { [%clk 0:02:19] } 22. Rb2 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 22... Ra1 { [%clk 0:02:16] } 23. Rb1 { [%clk 0:00:42] } 23... Rxb1! { So decides to go for the win, as he should! } { [%clk 0:02:16] } 24. Qxb1 { [%clk 0:00:43] } 24... Qc4 { [%clk 0:02:18] } 25. Qb2 { [%clk 0:00:25] } (25. Bd2 d5) 25... Ba5 { The b4-b5 move proved to be the culprit, as now Black's initiative is centered on the weak c3-pawn. } { [%clk 0:02:00] } 26. Re3?! { [%clk 0:00:20] } (26. Bd2 { leaves the rook with an easier time of guarding the e4-pawn. }) 26... Nf4 { The problem with Re1-e3: the f4-square is no longer covered. } { [%clk 0:01:46] } 27. Nd2 { [%clk 0:00:13] } 27... Qa4 { [%clk 0:01:45] } 28. Qb3 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 28... Qa1?! { [%clk 0:01:46] } (28... Qxb3 29. Nxb3 Ra8 $17 { is surprisingly strong for Black despite the liquidations. White's weak b- and c-pawns explain why. }) 29. Qb1 { [%clk 0:00:07] } (29. Qc2! { Everything is tied down, and how does White keep pushing after } 29... Bb6 $10 { when, again, the e3-rook is misplaced. }) 29... Bxc3 { [%clk 0:01:40] } 30. Qxa1 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 30... Bxa1 { [%clk 0:01:41] } 31. dxe5 { [%clk 0:00:09] } 31... Bxe5 $17 { [%clk 0:01:27] } 32. Nc4 { [%clk 0:00:06] } 32... Bd4 { [%clk 0:01:25] } 33. Rb3 { [%clk 0:00:07] } 33... Ne6!? { Black is pawn-up and continues to play prudentially, especially considering Dominguez's dire clock situation. } { [%clk 0:01:15] } (33... d5! { was clearly tempting and might be So's choice if they each had more time. }) 34. Be3 { [%clk 0:00:03] } (34. b6! { was a way to complicate things a bit. } 34... d5 35. exd5 Nc5 36. Ra3 Nxd5 37. bxc7 Nxc7) 34... Nc5 { [%clk 0:01:14] } 35. Ra3 { [%clk 0:00:05] } 35... Bxe3 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 36. Nxe3 { [%clk 0:00:05] } (36. Rxe3 Ncxe4 37. Nxe4 Rxe4 $19) 36... Nfxe4 $19 { Black has two pawns and White has no compensation. } { [%clk 0:01:02] } 37. Nxe4 { [%clk 0:00:06] } 37... Rxe4 { [%clk 0:00:54] } 38. Ra8+ { [%clk 0:00:07] } 38... Kh7 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 39. Rc8 { [%clk 0:00:08] } 39... Ne6 { [%clk 0:00:56] } 40. Rb8 { [%clk 0:00:05] } 40... b6 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 41. Rc8 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 41... Re5 { 0-1 Black wins. } { [%clk 0:00:55] } 0-1