Nepomniachtchi, Ian – Li, Chao b

Li Chao has been known for playing the Petroff regularly and he already played it against MVL in this tournament

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Date: February 24, 2017
Location: Sharjah UAE
Tournament: Sharjah Grand Prix 2017
Round: 6.6
Opening: C42 Petrov's Defence, including Marshall Trap
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Published on: June 11, 2023

[Event "Sharjah Grand Prix 2017"] [Site "Sharjah UAE"] [Date "2017.02.24"] [Round "6.6"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Li, Chao b"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2749"] [BlackElo "2720"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2017.02.18"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {Li Chao has been known for playing the Petroff regularly and he already played it against MVL in this tournament} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 {[pgndiagram] But this is a slight surprise. White choses the old main line, which is what MVL also did.} (5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 {Is definitely much more trendy in the 21st century. But opening fashion chances quick}) 5... d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 {I am not very well versed into all the subtleties here, but black has many moves} (6... Nc6 {Is a possibility}) (6... Bg4 7. h3 {Is not the best here }) (6... Be7 7. O-O Nc6 {Also has tons of theory behind it}) 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bf5 {[pgndiagram] So far the players have repeated the MVL - Li Chao b game from the round one. However by doing so, Li Chao presented an obvious target for Nepo to prepare. And boy did he prepare.} 12. Bg5 {Nepo is the first to deviate from the afore mentioned game} (12. Ne5 {Is what MVL played, and although he managed to win that game, Black is probably fine in this variation with best play.}) 12... Qc7 (12... Qa5 { Came into consideration} 13. Nh4 Be6 (13... Qxc3 {Doesn't work} 14. Nxf5 Qxc4 15. Nxd6) 14. Bxe6 Qxg5 15. Nf3 Qa5 16. Bb3 Nd7 {And White is better, but not that much} (16... Qxc3 17. Ng5 {Is probably losing} Qa5 (17... Nd7 18. Ne4 Qb4 19. a3) 18. Bxf7+ Kh8 19. Qh5)) 13. Re1 h6 {[pgndiagram]Black has to play this move in this variation, but this allows Nepo to carry out his prepared idea} ( 13... Nd7 14. Nh4 Bg6 15. Nxg6 hxg6 16. g3 {Is clearly better for White}) 14. Nh4 $1 Bh7 15. Bxh6 $1 {A very nice sacrifice of the piece that leads to decisive initiative for White} Bxh2+ (15... gxh6 {Taking the piece is bad} 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. Nf5 {The queen mate} Bxf5 (17... Rg8 18. Re8) 18. Qxf5 {And it is very hard for Black to make a move}) 16. Kh1 Bf4 (16... gxh6 {In this version is no better} 17. Qg4+ Kh8 18. Nf5 Bxf5 19. Qxf5 {And Black is still faced with multiple problems} Qf4 (19... Nd7 20. Bd3) 20. Qh5 Nd7 21. Re7 {White doesn't even have to take the piece back}) 17. Bxg7 $1 {[pgndiagram] Great preparation by Nepo. Black is busted} Kxg7 18. Qg4+ Kh8 19. Nf5 {The same threat of mate on g7 is valid. At first I missed the Re8 idea on Rg8} Bxf5 ( 19... Rg8 20. Re8 {Is easily winning} Bh6 21. Rxg8+ Bxg8 22. Nxh6) 20. Qxf5 Qd6 {Trying to organize the defence but Black doesn't have effective way of doing so} (20... Nd7 21. Re4) (20... Bh6 {Also doesn't do anything, White has tactical solutions everywhere} 21. Qf6+ Bg7 22. Qh4+ Kg8 23. Bd3 f5 24. Bc4+) 21. g3 {[pgndiagram] Despite the piece down, White's position is so strong that almost any move wins} (21. Re4 {Was possible as well} Qh6+ 22. Kg1 Qh2+ 23. Kf1 Bh6 24. Qf6+ Bg7 25. Rh4+) 21... Bh6 22. Kg2 b5 (22... Qg6 23. Qxg6 fxg6 24. Re7 {Is similar}) 23. Bb3 Qg6 24. Qxg6 fxg6 25. Re7 {[pgndiagram] Amazing position. White has only one pawn for the piece, but Black is completely dominated} g5 (25... Rf6 {Trying to defend the h6 bishop is the only reasonable alternative and it would force White to display some creativity } 26. Rh1 g5 27. f4 {White has to find this to have definite advantage} gxf4 28. g4 Rg6 29. Bc2 Rxg4+ 30. Kf2) 26. Re6 (26. Rh1 Rf6 27. f4 {Would revert us to the variation just examined on the Black's 25th move}) 26... Kg7 27. Rh1 Rh8 $6 {[pgndiagram] This just hastens the end} (27... Rf6 28. Rxf6 Kxf6 29. Rxh6+ Kg7 30. Re6 {Is of course also totaly lost, but the game at least doesn't end immediately}) 28. Re7+ $1 {Now Black is getting mated} Kg6 (28... Kf8 {Was slightly "better"} 29. Rhe1 Na6 30. Rf7+ Kg8 31. Rxa7+) 29. Bc2+ {And here Li Chao resigned} Kf6 {White announces mate in 4 from this position.} 30. Rhe1 g4 31. R1e6+ Kg5 32. Rg6+ Kh5 33. Re5+ Bg5 34. Rexg5# {A brilliant preparation and very attractive tactical game by Ian Nepomniachtchi} 1-0