[Event "Wch U18 Girls"] [Site "Mumbai"] [Date "2019.10.07"] [Round "7"] [White "Shuvalova, Polina"] [Black "Afonasieva, Anna"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2412"] [BlackElo "2312"] [Annotator "USER"] [Variant "From Position"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [FEN "r4rnk/4qppn/p4b2/4pP2/1p2B1R1/8/PPP2B1Q/6RK w - - 0 31"] [SetUp "1"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/tXaenEL9/rrnIM6Us"] [Orientation "white"] [ChapterMode "gamebook"] { Fast-forwarding some 5 years later - by the age of 18, Polina has already slowly started joining the ranks of the best female players in the world, by crossing the 2400 rating mark and closing into the IM title. Furthermore, in 2019, he enjoyed two major successes at the youth level - by winning the U18 and U20 World Chess Championships. --- Let's first take a look at a game from the U18 World Chess Championship, held in Mumbai. The following fragment is taken from Polina's 7th-round game against Afonasieva Anna, an opponent rated 2312. We join the action o move 31. Polina obviously has a promising attacking position with all the pieces close to the king, but the final blow was nothing short of brilliant. Can you find the combination Polina executed? } 31. Rxg7 { A fantastic sacrifice, destroying the shelter around the king. However, the follow up is not yet obvious. } (31. Be3 { This move, slowly preparing an attack and preparing to play Bxh6 if the knight appears, is also sufficient, but White actually has a forced mate available. Besides, sooner or later Rxg7 should happen. }) 31... Bxg7 32. Qxh7+ { The only winning move that had to be envisioned! Black is getting checkmated by force! } 32... Kxh7 33. f6+ Kh6 34. Be3+ Kh5 35. Bf3+ Kh4 36. Bf2+ { And here Black resigned a move before mate that would arise after } 36... Kh3 37. Bg4# { Absolutely fantastic combination! Bravo, Polina! } 1-0