[Event "US Open"] [Site "Middleton, WI, United States"] [Date "2025.08.03"] [Round "8.3"] [White "Antipov, Mikhail Al."] [Black "IM Bilych, Oleksii"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2593"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [Variant "Standard"] [Annotator "Foisor,Sabina"] [WhiteClock "0:01:08"] [BlackClock "0:07:57"] [ECO "B95"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Najdorf Variation"] [StudyName "125th US Open Rds 5-7"] [ChapterName "Antipov, Mikhail Al. - IM Bilych, Oleksii"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/xhEKHjro/lX5hcyF4"] [Orientation "white"] { This was a tough loss for Antipov that unfortunately put an end to his dream of qualifying. Both players seemed to have been prepared in the opening, reaching a balanced position with kings castled on opposite sides where both players were looking to find a breakthrough. } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. a3 Bd7 8. Qf3 Nc6 9. O-O-O Be7 10. h4 b5 11. Qg3 Nxd4 12. Rxd4 Qc7 13. Be2 Bc6 14. Rhd1 Rc8 15. R1d2 O-O 16. h5 Kh8 17. h6 gxh6 18. Bh4 Rg8 19. Qh3 Rg6 20. f4 e5 21. fxe5 dxe5 22. R4d3 Rb8 { Things started to go wrong for White from here. } 23. Qf5? (23. Nd5 { kept things more complicated. } 23... Bxd5 24. exd5 Ne4 25. Bh5 Nxd2 26. Bxg6 Nc4 27. Be4 $13) 23... b4 (23... a5!? { was slightly more precise. }) 24. axb4 Kg7 25. Rf3 Rxb4 26. Nd5 Ra4 27. Rd4?? { The move that gives it all away. At first I thought it was an error from the DGT board, but this was White's approach to defending the back rank. } (27. b4 { A typical computer move, maintaining complications. } 27... Bxd5 28. Rxd5 Rxb4 29. Qxe5 Qb7 30. Rd4 Rb1+ 31. Kd2 $13) 27... Ra1+ 28. Kd2 Qd6!! { The key move that keeps Black's threats alive while bringing the queen in, aiming to to eventually check on the b4-square! And now the h4-bishop is also hanging in some situations so } 29. Bxf6+ { is the bets bet. However, after } 29... Bxf6 30. Rdd3 Bg5+ { Black continues with tempo-gaining moves and White's king is unable to survive being attacked from all fronts. } 31. Ne3 Qb4+ 32. Rc3 Qd4+ 33. Rd3 Bxe3+ 34. Rxe3 Qxb2 35. Bd1 Bb5 36. Rf3 Qb4+ 37. c3 Qe7 { 0-1 Black wins. } 0-1