[Event "World Cup 2021"] [Site "Sochi"] [Date "2021.07.20"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Amin Bassem (EGY)"] [Black "Bacrot Etienne (FRA)"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "2703"] [BlackElo "2678"] [Annotator "Beukes, Dante"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "B50"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Modern Variations"] [StudyName "Africans at the World Cup 2021 Round 3"] [ChapterName "Amin Bassem (EGY) - Bacrot Etienne (FRA)"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/pjig7JER/jE9EhFP5"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. Re1 O-O 8. c3 e5 9. a4 (9. a3 { has been played multiple times by Amin, but he goes for something different }) 9... h6 10. Na3 Be6 11. Bd2 Rc8 12. b4 cxb4 13. cxb4 d5 14. b5 { [#] Amin decided to continue with the King's Indian Attack, although he changed his move order from the first game. The position we have here is already quite tactical and here Bacrot goes for an interesting exchange sacrifice, after 14...dxe4 15.bxc6 exf3 16.cxb7 fxg2 18.bxc8Q, relying on creating some initiative on the kingside. However, the initiative he wished to generate never took shape and Amin was just left with an exchange. } 14... dxe4 15. bxc6 exf3 16. cxb7 fxg2? (16... Rb8 17. Bxf3 e4 18. dxe4 Rxb7 { with compensation for the pawn was better. }) 17. bxc8=Q Bxc8 18. Nc4 Ng4 19. Ne3 Nxe3 20. Bxe3 Qd7 21. Rc1 Ba6 22. Qd2 Kh7 23. Qa5 Qxd3 24. Red1 Qe2 25. Qd2 Qg4 26. Qd7 Qf3 27. Qc6 Qxc6 28. Rxc6 { [#] The position has simplified greatly, but White still has his exchange and he is now going to try and grind out this ending. } 28... Bb7 29. Rc7 Bf3 30. Rdc1 f5 31. Rd7 (31. Rxa7 { not sure what dissuaded him from taking the pawn }) 31... a6 32. Rcc7 Rg8 33. Bc5 Kh8 34. a5 Rb8 35. Bb6 Bf8 36. Rc3 e4 37. h3 Bg7 38. Rcc7 Be5 39. Rc5 Bg7 40. Kh2 h5 41. Rcc7 Be5 42. Rc5 Bg7 43. h4 f4 { [#] Bacrot managed to create some tricks here with the move ...f5-f4. It is very unpleasant to deal with such a move with only a couple of seconds on the clock. Amin played 44.Rg5, but this allows Bacrot to activate his rook via the c-file. 44.Rc1 and 44.gxf4 were better options, but under severe time pressure it is difficult to even consider 44. gxf4 because of 44...Bh6 and it looks like White is in trouble. } 44. Rg5?! (44. gxf4 { looks very scary over the board, but with enough to time to calculate you can see that it is completely safe. } 44... Bh6 45. Rc6 Bxf4+ 46. Kg1 $18) 44... Rc8 45. gxf4 (45. Rd8+? Rxd8 46. Bxd8 e3 $19) 45... Rc1 46. Rxg2 Bxg2 47. Kxg2 Bh6 48. Be3 Rc6 49. Rb7 Bg7 50. Rb6 Rf6 51. Bd4 Rf7 52. Be3 (52. Bxg7+ Kxg7 53. Rxa6 Rxf4) 52... Rf6 { [#] White has to give up his exchange, but he still has a winning position. He just needs to come up with a good plan here to seal the victory. Amin correctly evaluated that the rook endgame after 51.Bd4 would not give White an advantage. Instead, he played 51.Rb7 which allows 51...Rf5, after which Black had enough counterplay to draw the game. } 53. Rb7 (53. f3 exf3+ 54. Kxf3 Kg8 55. Ke4 Kh7 { [%cal Ge3c5,Gc5d6] } 56. Bc5 Rf5 (56... Kg8 57. Bd4 Rf7 58. Rxg6) (56... Kh8 57. Bd6 Kh7 58. Rxa6 Bf8 59. Ra7+) 57. Bb4 Bh6 58. Bd2 Rc5 59. Rxa6) 53... Rf5 54. Bb6 (54. Bd2 Rd5 55. Bb4 Bd4 56. Rb8+ Kg7 57. Ra8 Rb5 $132) 54... Bc3 55. Kg3 Kg8 56. Ra7 Bxa5 57. Bd4 Bd2 58. Be5 a5 59. Rg7+ Kf8 60. Rxg6 Ke7 61. Rd6 Bxf4+ 62. Bxf4 Rxf4 63. Rd5 Rg4+ 64. Kh3 Rf4 65. Kg3 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2