Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

1

Antoaneta Stefanova:
Missing the point? Don't!

How many times we hear from players "I
had a completely winning position and can
not believe I did not win the game"? Yes, it
happens to everybody. Of course, the
stronger the player, less often it occurs. But
still, even the top Grandmasters lose half or
even full points from winning positions.
Why does it happen? The answer to this
question is by no means simple, as the
reasons can be very different. Let's start by
defining what is a winning position, as many
people (including myself) use this words,
when in fact they have just an advantage, a
clear advantage, or a "practically winning
position", which is not the same thing. So,
what is the definition of a winning position?
It is a position, where if both sides play the
best moves, the weaker side will lose the
game. It sounds simple-the difficult part of
the game is done, one has a decisive
advantage, the rest should be easy... And yet,
as Lasker said "The most difficult thing in
chess it is to win a winning position". There
are a few major factors to spoil a winning
position.
Relaxation - the winning side basically
waits for the opponent to resign. Thinking
that the game is over, he loses concentration
and motivation to find the right plan or the
best moves to finish the game. Often the
moves played in such mental state are not
the best, just marking time, and as a result
the decisive advantage starts to disappear. A
"relaxed" player also tends to lose his
vigilance and allows the opponent to create
some counterplay, which, of course is not
advisable.
Miscalculation - this can be linked with the
relaxation, but there are other subject
connected as well. Unlike the computers, the
human players can not calculate every move
in a position. To narrow the choice, one

needs a good positional knowledge - to
evaluate the position correctly, identify the
opponents weaknesses and potential chances
for counterplay. Once this is done, the right
candidate moves come easier. Another thing
is a poor calculation ability-but this can be
easily improved by regular training with the
right positions to analyse and calculate.
Time-trouble - it is a major factor in
tournament play, which can lead to a
disaster, drawing or even losing any winning
position. It can be a problem for players of
all levels, and a very difficult one to get rid
off. The most common factors leading to
time-trouble are:
- Poor knowledge of openings, typical
middlegame positions or endgames.
- Lack of self-confidence.
- The desire to find the absolute best move in
every position.
Having said all this, one should keep in mind
also, that the different types of winning
positions require different approach. In this
Survey I have gathered instructive examples
from recent tournament games from some of
the best players of the world.

A. Kosteniuk : V. Gunina
Russia 2018

Watching this game from the recent Russian
Superfinal provoked this article. We see two
of the best female chess players in the world
– ex-World Champion Alexandra Kosteniuk
against the reigning European Champion
Valentina Gunina. The game is very
entertaining, but filled with unusual number
of mistakes and missed winning
opportunities from both sides. Let's try to
understand what led to this errors.
1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.d4 a6 4.Nf3 Nf6 5.Qc2
A novelty on move 5? Well, I managed to
find only one game in the database with this
move played. I wonder what Kosteniuk had
prepared against the most logical 5...dc4.
5...c5
5...dc4.

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

2

6.cd5 ed5 7.Bg5
Here it looks that White's opening play had
been justified, and they retain the standard
small advantage.
7...Nc6
7...Be6.
8.Rd1 Nb4 9.Qb1 g6?

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A tempting move, but in fact a very big
mistake.
10.e4
Also a good move, giving White clear
advantage.
10.a3! and here we see why the whole idea
of 8...Nb4 does not work: 10...Bf5 11.e4 de4
(11...Ne4 12.Bd8 Nc3 13.bc3 Bb1 14.Bf6
Nc2 15.Ke2+– (15.Kd2 Bh6) ) 12.dc5 ef3
a) 12...Nd3 13.Bd3 ed3 14.0–0 Bg7
(14...Bc5 15.g4! (A computer move, but also
15.Rfe1 leads to big advantage: 15...Kf8
16.Re5 Bf2 17.Kf2 Ng4 18.Kg3+–) 15...Bg4
16.Rd3 Qb6. Here White wins in many
ways, but the most human looks 17.Qe1 Kf8
18.Na4 Qc6 19.Nc5 Bf3 20.Bf6+–) 15.Rfe1
Kf8 16.Ne4+–;
b) 12...Qe7 13.Nd4 Nd3 14.Bd3 ed3 15.Kf1
Be6 16.Ne6 fe6 17.Ne4 Bg7 18.Nd6 Kf8
19.Qd3+–.

13.Rd8 Rd8 14.ab4 Bb1 15.Bf6+–. It is not
easy to calculate all the lines, but seems
logical to try to punish Black's dubious plan

immediately. Could it be that Kosteniuk
simply did not believe that she could achieve
a winning position after only 10 moves?
10...cd4 11.Nd4 h6?!
11...Be7 12.a3 Nc6 13.Be2 0–0 14.0–0±.
12.Bf6 Qf6 13.a3 Bc5 14.Nf3!+–
Now Black can not avoid serious material
losses.
14...0–0
14...Nc6 15.Nd5 Qd8 16.Qc1+– is simply
hopeless.
15.ab4 de4 16.Qe4 Bh3

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A critical moment in the game. White is a
piece up, but still has to find the best way to
finish her development and cover the King.
Black, however is playing correctly-there is
nothing more to lose, so, Gunina is trying to
pose maximum problems, hoping for a
mistake.
17.Nd5?
A serious error, after which Black can get a
draw. At this point of the game both players
were already short of time - White had 23
minutes left and Black only 10. This easily
explains the number of mistakes by both till
the time control. The reason to spend so
much time for the first 16 moves looks also
quite obvious - not enough theoretical
knowledge and the complicated nature of the
position.
17.Qh4!+–. The best move, which wins

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

3

immediately. Threatening to exchange the
queens, thus gaining time for the
development. Very soon all Black's
attacking chances disappear: 17...Rae8
(17...Qe6+ 18.Kd2!
a) 18.Ne2 Be7 19.Qh3 Bb4 20.Nd2;
b) 18.Be2 Bg2 19.bc5 (19.Rg1 Bf3 20.bc5
Be2 21.Ne2)
18...Qb3 19.Kc1 Bb4 (19...Bf5 20.Bd3 Bb4
21.Nd4) 20.Bc4+–) 18.Be2 Re2 19.Ke2
(19.Ne2) 19...Re8.
17...Qb2 18.Rd2 Qa1 19.Rd1 Qb2 20.Rd2
Qa1 21.Rd1

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21...Qg7?
Gunina decides to play on. Admiration for
her fighting spirit, but she seriously
overestimates her chances. Correct was
21...Qb2=.
22.Qf4
White is again winning.
22...g5
22...Rfe8 23.Be2 Bg2 24.bc5 Bh1 25.Nf6+–.
23.Qc4?!
The simple 23.Qd2! could end the game:
23...Rfe8 24.Ne3+–.
23...Rfe8 24.Ne3 Be3 25.fe3 Re3 26.Kf2
Qb2

XIIIIIIIIY
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A nice move. Black is using last tactical
resources.
27.Be2?
After this natural move it is suddenly White
who is lost! 27.Ke3? Re8 28.Qe4 Qb3
29.Rd3 Re4 30.Ke4 Bf5. 27.Kg3 would keep
the advantage.
27...Rc8?
Black loses the opportunity to take the
advantage, allowing White to sacrifice her
Queen, going to a better ending.
27...Rae8! 28.Rhe1 (28.Rd2 Rf3; 28.Nd4
b5–+) 28...b5 29.Rd2 Qd2 30.Nd2 bc4
31.gh3 Rh3–+;
27...b5 28.Rb1 Rf3 29.gf3 Qb1 30.Rb1 bc4
31.Bc4;
27...Be6.
28.Qc8 Bc8 29.Ke3±
At first sight it may appear as Black should
have enough compensation for the piece -
potential passed pawns on the queenside,
and the White King in the center. But, there
is no perpetual check, and the pawns are far
from being dangerous. So, it is White who
has a clear advantage, due to the potential
mating threats.
29...Kg7?!
29...Bf5 This might be a more stubborn
defence, but does not solve Black's problems
in the long run. 30.Rd8 Kg7 31.Nd4 Bg6
32.Rd7 (32.b5 a5) 32...Qb4 33.Rf1 Qc3

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

4

34.Kf2 Qc8 35.Rd5±.
30.Rd8
30.Rd4.
30...Be6 31.Nd4 Ba2 32.Rf1
White sacrifices a pawn in order to activate
her pieces as soon as possible. It is the way
to win such endgames-with two rooks and a
piece against a queen. Of course, there was
nothing wrong with first defending the pawn
or exchanging it and then switching to the
attack, as Black does not have any
immediate threats. 32.b5!?±.
32...Qb4 33.Nf5 Kh7 34.Bd3 Qb6 35.Nd4
Kg7 36.Rd6 Qc5 37.Ke4 Qb4 38.Ke3
38.Kf3!±.
38...Qa5
Strangely enough, it is Black who deviates
from the repetition, although, of course
White is not forced to repeat for a 3rd time.
39.Nf5 Kf8

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40.Rh6?
This natural move throws away part of
White's advantage, as the rook will be
temporarily restrained, and Black can start
with the checks. 40.Ra1+– Qc5? 41.Ke4
Qb4 42.Rd4+–.
40...Qe5 41.Kd2 Qb2 42.Ke3 Qe5 43.Kd2
Be6?!
43...Qb2! For a second time in this game
Black could play exactly the same move
with a repetition and a draw. To be fair, this

time the decision to deviate from the
repetition looks a bit more justified - White
still has a small advantage, but her pieces are
not well coordinated and Black could hope
for some activity with the two connected
pass pawns.
44.Ne3 b5 45.h4 gh4 46.Rh4 a5 47.Nf5
47.Re4 Qb2 48.Bc2 Qa2.
47...b4
47...Qb2 48.Ke3 Qe5 49.Re4.
48.Nd4
48.Rd4±.
48...Qg5 49.Rhf4 Bd5 50.Be4 Ba2
50...Bc4.
51.Bb1 Bd5 52.Be4 Ke8?
52...Ba2.
53.Bd5 Qd5 54.Kd3

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And again it is White who has a decisive
advantage due to the mating threats she
could create.
54...Qg2 55.Rf7 Qg6 56.R7f5 Qa6 57.Ke4!
Qb7 58.Ke5
Another simple way to win - in the moment
the checks are over, Black will get mated.
58.Ke3 Qe7+ 59.Kd3.
58...Qg7 59.Kd5 b3

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

5

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60.Nb3??
Last mistake. 60.Re1 Kd7 61.Kc4 Qg8
(61...b2 62.Rd5 Kc8 63.Re8 Kb7 64.Rb5)
62.Rd5. Also winning is 60.Nc6 b2 61.Re5
Kd7 62.Re7+–.
60...Qb7 61.Kc5 Qe7 62.Kc6 Qe6 63.Kc7
Qd7 64.Kb6 Qe6 65.Ka5 Qb3 66.Rf7 Qf7
½.

F. Caruana : W. So
Wijk aan Zee 2018

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23...Tf8
White has a desicive positional advantage.
More active and coordinated pieces, control
over the e-file, combined with threaths to the

weakened Black King should be more than
enough to achieve the victory. Still,the right
plan should be found.
24.Te5
It is hard to critisize this move. I am sure
that many strong Grandmasters would play it
without a second thought. Although it is not
the best move and plan, White's advantage is
huge and we'll see how many average or
even dubious moves it will take to spoil it.
24.De2!

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The correct plan combines the threat Qe5
and mating attack on the h-file and proves to
be desicive. 24...Tf7
a) 24...Tae8 25.De5 Kf7 (A beautiful line
follows after 25...Kh7 26.Kf2 Sc8 27.Th1
Te5 28.Lf6 Sh6 29.Th6 Kh6 (29...Kg8
30.de5+–) 30.Th1#) 26.Dh8+–;
b) 24...Dc7 25.Lg5.
25.Lg5!
Now that Black can not even try to create
some counterplay over the e-file, White can
calmly proceed with the rest of his plan -
activating his pieces on the h-file.
25...Dc7 (25...Kf8 26.Dh2 fg4 27.Dh8 Sf5
28.Sf5 Th7 29.Lh6+–) 26.Kg2 Taf8 27.Th1
fg4 28.Kg1+– Tf4 29.Dh2 Kf7 (29...T8f6
30.Se2 (30.Dh8 Kf8 31.Th7 Te4 32.Dg7
Ke8 33.Se4 de4 34.Dg8 Sg8 35.Tc7) )
30.Se2+–.
24...Tf7 25.De2 Kf8 26.Te6 Tc8

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

6

XIIIIIIIIY
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xiiiiiiiiy

27.b4
Also here is very strong 27.De5, creating
immediate threats. Black's position is
doomed: 27...c5 28.Td6 Dc7 29.Le7 De7
(29...Se7 30.Dh8) 30.Tg6 De5 31.de5+–.
27...b6 28.Te1?!
It looks that White is too relaxed, thinking
that he will win in any case, just playing
normal moves, but allows Black to create
some counterplay. 28.De5 c5 29.dc5 bc5
30.Td6 Dc7 31.Tc1 c4 32.Se2+–.
28...c5 29.bc5 bc5 30.dc5
It seems that the idea of Qe5 that could
decide the game so many times, somehow
did not get enough attention from Caruana.
30.De5 Tc6 31.gf5 gf5 32.dc5 Te6
33.De6+–.
30...Dc7
30...Tc5 31.gf5 gf5 32.Sf5! Sf5 (32...Tf5
33.Le7) 33.Te8+–.
31.Kg2 Dc5 32.De5+–
Finally!
32...fg4 33.fg4 d4

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33...Tc6 34.f5+–.
34.Dc5?
34.Dh8! Keeping the queens is the right
desicion. Sure, White needs to calculate a
couple of moves, but the Black King is much
weaker, so it is natural to continue with the
attack. 34...Sd5 (34...Dd5 35.Kh3 Tc2
36.T1e4 Da2 37.Se2 Da3 38.Kg2 d3
39.Le7+–) 35.Kh2! Dc7 (35...Sf4 36.Le7)
36.T1e5 Sf4 (36...Dc2 37.Te2 Dc7 38.Tg6+–
) 37.Le7+–.
34...Tc5 35.Se4 Tc2 36.Kf3 Sd5

XIIIIIIIIY
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37.Lg5?
The desicive mistake. 37.Td6! Tb7 (37...Tf4
38.Kg3; 37...Sf4 38.Sg5! Sd3 39.Kg3 Se1

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

7

40.Se6 Ke8 41.Td8#) 38.Td8 Kg7 39.Sd6
Tb3 40.Ke4 Sb6 41.Kd4 Td2 42.Ke5 Th3
43.Lg5+–.
37...Th7! 38.Sd6
38.Sf2!?
38...d3 39.f5 Th3 40.Ke4

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The game is still very complicated and
requires precise calculation. Black makes a
serious mistake on the last move before the
time control.
40...d2?
40...Sc7 41.Tf1 (41.Tg6 Te2! 42.Te2 de2
43.Ld2 Th1 44.Kf3 e1D 45.Le1 Te1 46.g5=)
41...gf5 (41...Se6 42.fe6 Kg7 43.Tf7 Kh8
44.Td7 Te2 45.Kf4 Tf2 46.Ke5 Te2
47.Se4±) 42.Tf5 Kg7 43.Tf7 Kh8 44.Lf6 Sf6
45.Tef6 Te2 46.Kf5 Tf3 47.Kg6 Tf6 48.Tf6
Kg8 49.Sf5 Te6=.
41.Tf1
And White returns the favour. 41.Td1! Sc3
(41...gf5 42.Kd5 Td3 43.Ke5 Tc5 44.Kf4
Tc1 45.Td2 Td2 46.Kf5 Tf1 47.Kg6 Te1!
(47...Td6 48.Td6 Se7 49.Le7 Ke7 50.Ta6+–)
48.Te1 Td6 49.Kf5±) 42.Ke5 Sd1 (42...gf5
43.Te8 Kg7 44.Sf5 Kh7 45.Td2+–) 43.Te8
Kg7 44.f6 Kh7 45.f7 winning.
41...d1D 42.Td1 Sc3 43.Kd4 Sd1 44.f6 Sf6
45.Lf6 Td2 46.Kc5 Tc2
46...Te3 47.Le5 Tc2 48.Kd5 Td2 49.Kc6.
47.Kd4

47.Kd5 Sc3 48.Lc3 Thc3 49.Te8 Kg7
50.Te7 Kf6 51.Te6 Kg5 52.Se4 Kg4 53.Sc3
Tc3 54.Tg6=.
47...Td2 48.Kc5 Tc2 ½.

Wei Yi : W. So
Wijk aan Zee 2018

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23...Dh3
It is the second game of Wesley So in this
article and from the same tournament - Wijk
an Zee 2018. It is amazing, that from two
completely lost positions, he managed to
score 1,5 out of 2, playing against two of the
best players in the World. Lucky? I would
not say that. Of course, he needed big help
from his opponents not to lose those games,
but the truth is that he kept fighting in
desperate positions, trying to create
counterplay and provoke his opponents to
err. When on the losing side, this is exactly
what a player should do!
24.La3?!
24.ba6! The simplest move is the best!
Getting more material and creating a very
dangerous pass pawn would be enough for
the victory. Black does not have enough
counterthreats: 24...Lf1 (24...Th1 25.Db5
Kf8 26.a7 Ta8 27.Db4 Kg8 28.Dd4 Dh6
29.Dd7+–) 25.Lf1 Th1 26.Db5 Sc6 27.a7
Tf1 28.Df1 Df1 29.Kf1 Ta8 30.Ld4 Sd4

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

8

31.ed4 Kd7 32.Ke2 Kc7 33.Ke3 Kb7 34.Ke4
f6 35.d5+–.
24...Th1

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25.ba6
25.Dd6?? I guess this is what Wei Yi missed
in his calculation. So, 24. Ba3 turns out to be
a waste of time: 25...Tc1! 26.Lc1 Lf1 27.La3
Lg2! 28.Lf1 Tf1 29.Ke2 Dh5 30.Kd3 Db5
31.Tc4 Dd7–+.
25...Dh8?!
25...Lf1! Objectively the best move, but
leads to a worse endgame in which Black
can only fight to save a draw. 26.Db5 Sc6
27.Lf1 Tc7 28.a7 (28.Ld6 Td7 29.Lb8 Kf8
30.a7 Tb7 31.Th4 Tf1 32.Df1 Df1 (32...Dh4
33.Ld6 Kg7 34.a8D+–) 33.Kf1 Sa7 34.Ld6
Ke8±) 28...Df1 29.Df1 Tf1 30.Kf1 Sa7±.
26.Td4?
After this serious error White has no more
than a draw.
26.d4! Lf1 27.Db5 Sc6 28.Lf1 Dh5 29.Dh5
gh5 30.Ke2+–;
26.Dd4! Dd4 27.ed4 Lf1 28.Lf1 Kd7
29.Ke2+–.
26...Lf1

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27.Db5??
Correct was 27.Lf1 Sc6 28.Dc5 Tf1 29.Kf1
Dh1 30.Ke2 Sd4 (30...Dh5 31.Ke1 Dc5
32.Lc5 Sd4 33.Ld4=) 31.Dd4 Dh5 32.Ke1
Dh1=. Or 27.Td8 Td8 28.Dc6=.
27...Sc6 28.Lf1 Tf1 29.Kf1 Dh1 30.Ke2
Dh5 31.Dh5 Sd4 32.ed4 gh5–+

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The rest is simple technical win.
33.b4 Tb8 34.Kf3 Kd7 35.Kg3 Kc6 36.b5
Tb5 37.Lc5 Tb2 38.a7 Kb7 39.d5 ed5
40.Le3 Tb4 41.d4 Tb1 0:1.

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

9

L. Aronian L. : A. Grischuk
Berlin 2018

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28...Df7 29.Dd8??
29.Dc8! looks very simple, but White can go
for this line only if he finds move 31.Rg4,
otherwise, he can get even inferior position!
29...Kh7 30.Dc5 Se4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-tr0
9zpp+-+qvlk0
9-+-tR-+-+0
9+-wQ-+p+-0
9-+-+nzpnzp0
9+-+-vL-+-0
9PzP-+L+-zP0
9+-+-mKNtR-0
xiiiiiiiiy

31.Tg4! The key move for this line. 31...Sc5
(31...fg4 32.Ld3 Te8 33.Sd2+– fe3 34.Se4
Kh8 35.Lc4+–) 32.Th4 Kg8 33.Td8 Lf8
34.Th8 Kh8 35.Lc5+–; 29.Dc5. This is also
much better, but again, Rg4 is the idea.
29...Le6 (29...Kh7 30.Tg4!) 30.Tg4! fg4
31.Dg5 fe3 32.Td8+–.
29...Df8

Of course not 29...Kh7 30.Dg5 fe3 31.Tg4
fg4 32.Ld3+–.
30.Lf4

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+lwQ-wqktr0
9zpp+-+-vl-0
9-+-tR-+-+0
9+-zp-+psn-0
9-+-+-vLnzp0
9+-+-+-+-0
9PzP-+L+-zP0
9+-+-mKNtR-0
xiiiiiiiiy

30.Dg5 Dd6=; 30.Lc4 Le6=.
30...Se6!
It is now Black who has the edge and White
has to be carefull not to get into serious
trouble. 30...Se4?? 31.Lc4 Kh7 32.Dh4+–.
31.Lc4
31.Df8 Kf8 32.Lg4 Sf4 33.Td8 Ke7 34.Tc8
Tc8 35.Lf5 Te8.
31...Dd8 32.Td8 Kh7 33.Th8 Lh8 34.Ld6
Sg5 35.Tg2 Se4
35...b6!?
36.Lb8 Ld4
36...a6 37.Se3 Sg5 38.Sf5 Lf5 39.Le2 Lb2
40.Lg4 Lc3 41.Kd1 Kg6.
37.h3 Se5 38.Ld5 Sd3
38...Lb2! 39.Se3 Lc3.
39.Ke2 Sc1
39...Sb2.
40.Kd1 Sd3 41.Sd2 Sf6 42.Lf3 ½.

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

10

Ding Liren : A. Grischuk
Berlin 2018

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-mk-tr0
9+l+q+-zp-0
9pvL-+NvlLsn0
9+p+p+-+p0
9-+p+-+-+0
9zPnsN-+-+P0
9-zP-+QzPP+0
9+-+RtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

27...Kg8
White has many ways to win, but Nd8 is
important motiv in most of the lines.
28.Sd5
28.Sd8!? Td8 (28...Lc6 29.Td5+–; 28...Ld8
29.De8 De8 30.Te8#) 29.Ld8 Lc6 30.Sd5+–;
28.Td5 Ld5 29.Sd5 Dd5 30.Sd8+–.
Even 28.Ld8 is also winning: 28...Ld8
29.Sd8 Td8 30.Sd5 Sc1 31.De5.
28...Ld5 29.Sf4?!
White fails to finish the game right away
with Nd8 or Rd5. After the move played in
the game he is still winning, but as it often
happens one innacuracy leads to another, till
the advantage slips away. 29.Sd8! De7
30.Dh5+–; 29.Td5! Dd5 30.Sd8!+–.
29...Sc1 30.Dh5?!
30.De3 Sd3 31.Sd5+–;
30.Tc1 Lf7 31.Tcd1 Dc6 32.La5+–.
30...Sd3 31.Sd5 Sf7
Once again,offered a wide choice of winning
moves,Ding fails to calculate correctly and
chooses a dubious continuation.

32.De2?
32.Sf6! gf6 33.Lf7 Df7 34.Dg4 Kh7 35.Df5
Kg7 36.Te4 Tc6 37.Dg4 Kf8 38.La5+–;
32.Te7! Le7 33.Lf7 Kf8 34.Dh8 Kf7 35.Dh5
Kf8 36.Ld4+–;
32.Td3 cd3 33.Sf6 gf6 34.Lf7 Df7 35.Dg4
Kh7 36.Te3 Tc4 37.Df5 Kh6 38.Td3+–;
32.Df3 Se1 33.Sf6 gf6 34.Lf7 Df7 35.Dg4
Kh7 36.Td7+–.
32...Sfe5 33.Le4
33.De4 Tc6 34.Lf5 Df7 35.Ld4+–.
33...Th4 34.f4
Better is 34.De3, but things are far less clear
now.
34...Tf4 35.Sf4?!
35.De3 Te4 36.De4+–.
35...Sf4 36.Lh7 Kh8 37.De4 Dc6 38.Ld4?

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+r+-+-mk0
9+-+-+-zpL0
9p+q+-vl-+0
9+p+-sn-+-0
9-+pvLQsn-+0
9zP-+-+-+P0
9-zP-+-+P+0
9+-+RtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy

38.Df4 Kh7 (38...Db6 39.Kh1 Kh7 40.Df5)
39.Ld4+–.
38...Sh3
It is very difficult to resist grabbing the
pawn, but Ned3 was the way to solve all of
Black's problems and even take over the
initiative:
38...Sed3! 39.Le3 (39.Lf6 Df6 40.Tf1 Db6
41.Kh2 Db8 42.Kg1 (42.Kh1 Te8 43.Df5
Te5) 42...Te8–+) 39...Se1 40.Lf4 Sd3
41.Dc6 Tc6 42.Ld3 cd3 43.Td3 Lb2=.
39.Kh2
39.Kf1! Sg5 40.Dc6 Tc6 41.Lb1+–; 39.gh3
Sf3.

Fide Surveys – Antoaneta Stefanova

11

39...Sg5 40.Dc6 Tc6 41.Lc2 Sgf7 42.Le5?!
42.Lc3± /+–.
42...Se5 43.Td5 Te6±

XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-+-+-mk0
9+-+-+-zp-0
9p+-+rvl-+0
9+p+Rsn-+-0
9-+p+-+-+0
9zP-+-+-+-0
9-zPL+-+PmK0
9+-+-tR-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy

Although White still has a clear
advantage,with a precise defence Grischuk
saves the game.
44.Kh3 Kg8 45.b3 Kf7 46.bc4 Sc4 47.Td7
Le7 48.Te6 Ke6 49.Ta7 Sa3 50.Ta6 Kd5
51.Lh7 Sc4 52.Kg4 Lf6 53.Ta7 Kd4
54.Lg8 Sd6 55.Kf3 Kc5 56.Ta8 b4 57.Ke2
Lc3 58.Kd3 Kb6 59.Ke3 Kc6 60.Kf4 Sb7
61.Kf5 Sc5 62.g4 Kb5 63.g5 b3 64.Kg6
Kb4 65.Ld5 Ld4 66.Kh7 Kc3 67.g6 b2
68.La2 Kc2 69.Tb8 Se4 70.Tb4 Sc3 71.Le6
Kc1 72.Lf5 Le5 73.Tb7 b1D 74.Lb1 Sb1
75.Tg7 Sc3 76.Te7 Ld4 77.Td7 Le5
78.Kh6 Kc2 79.Kg5 Kb3 80.Kf5 Lh8
81.Tb7 Kc2 82.Th7 Ld4 83.Ke6 Kb3
84.Td7 Lh8 85.Td8 Lg7 86.Kf7 Le5
87.Te8 Ld4 88.Tb8 Kc2 89.Tb7 Le5
90.Tb6 Ld4
Ding admits that he can not make any
progres and goes to a theoretical draw.
91.Tf6 Lf6 92.Kf6 Sd5 93.Kf7 Se3 94.Kf6
Sd5 95.Kf7 Se3 96.g7 Sf5 ½.