Position after 24.Bxh6!
GM Speelman (2491) – GM Nakamura (2670) [D45]
24.01.2008
Gibraltar Chess Festival
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 e6 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.Bd3 0–0 8.0–0 dxc4 9.Bxc4 a6 10.Bd2 c5 11.dxc5 Nxc5 12.a4 b6 13.b4 Ncd7 14.Ne4 Be7 15.Nxf6+ Nxf6 16.e4 Bb7 17.Bd3 Rc8 18.Qb1 Nd7 19.Re1 h6 20.Ra2 Bd6 21.e5 Bxf3 22.exd6 Bb7 23.Ra3 Rc6 24.Bxh6! gxh6 25.Be4 Rxd6 26.Bxb7 a5 27.bxa5 bxa5 White maintains a good advantage but the game is far from over. Black still has counter chances. 28.Qc1 e5 29.Bc6 Re8 30.Rg3+ Kh8 31.Bb5 Ree6 32.h3 Nb6 33.Rge3 Qf6 34.Qa1 Rd4 35.Rf3 Qg7 36.Rg3 Qf6 37.Qc3 e4 38.Qxa5 Red6 39.Qc3 [39.Rg4 is a stronger move] Nxa4 40.Bxa4? [40.Qc2 will give White excellent chances] Rxa4 41.Qxf6 1/2 [41.Qc8+ or 41.Qc2 still gives White an advantage. I am sure Hikaru would never settle for a draw if he was White in this position.]
This is quite shocking, especiall when the draw was offered after the time control was made. White had an excellent position but chose to settle for a draw. Well done by Hikaru for hanging on.
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i have no idea what hikaru is going to do. he is totally lost. however this game reminds me of a game i had once with white pieces in the spanish. i had the same type of sac with a rook on a3. its practically winning now for Speelman
U don’t know nuting
The players have officially agreed to a draw. That was one sharp game. In other results, Stefanova takes down Petrosian!
stefanova beating petrosian is kewl. he’s a big mouth on icc. hikaru was so lost but found dynamic moves to keep the pressure. nice save Samurai!! lol
oh btw, i feel sorry for hikaru’s opponent tomorrow lol
Watching it I was expecting 18.. Ng4 but he played 18.. Nd7 as if he missed an easy tactic.
eg 18..Ng4; 19 h3 Bf6; Ra6 (hxg4? Ba8) Ne5; Nxe5 Bxe5 and Black controls d4