[Event "US Open"] [Site "Middleton, WI, United States"] [Date "2025.08.02"] [Round "7.28"] [White "Cole, Christopher"] [Black "Ayyappan, Santhosh"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1879"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [BlackElo "2004"] [BlackTeam "USA"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "Foisor,Sabina"] [FEN "8/7p/5pp1/3PN1k1/2R1n1P1/7P/4r3/6K1 w - - 0 57"] [WhiteClock "0:01:12"] [BlackClock "0:39:25"] [ECO "?"] [Opening "?"] [StudyName "125th US Open Rds 5-7"] [ChapterName "Cole, Christopher - Ayyappan, Santhosh"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/xhEKHjro/kvssfxRT"] [FEN "8/7p/5pp1/3PN1k1/2R1n1P1/7P/4r3/6K1 w - - 0 57"] [SetUp "1"] [Orientation "white"] { An interesting endgame. White needs to be careful with the placement of his knight, and therefore needs to find the right way to give up a pawn to reach an endgame where he has the most practical chances to draw. Unfortunately for him, he chose the wrong placement... } 57. Nf7+?? (57. d6! { would have saved the day. } 57... Nxd6 (57... fxe5 58. d7 Rd2 59. Rxe4 Kf6 60. Ra4 Rxd7 61. Kg2 { is another endgame that White can hold with good play. }) 58. Nf3+ Kh6 59. Rc7 { White is down a pawn, but with Black's king so passive, he should be able to hold. }) (57. Nd3 { This seems fine as well. } 57... Rd2 58. Rxe4 Rxd3 59. Kf2 Rxd5 { White still has to play on, but this should be a drawn endgame. }) 57... Kh4! { and now Black's king will be the helping piece needed to help deliver the mate. } (57... Kf4?? { not this } 58. d6! (58. Nd6 f5 59. gxf5 gxf5 60. Rd4 Kf3 61. Nxf5 Re1+ 62. Kh2 Re2+ $10) 58... Rd2 59. Ra4 Kg3 60. Ra3+ $10) 58. Kf1 (58. Ra4 Ng3 { [%cal Bh4h3,Be2g2] }) 58... Ng3+ 59. Kg1 Kxh3 60. d6 Rg2# { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1