Game analysis by GM Wesley So

Dubai Champion So Wesley Analyses his best games
Written by Cyber Chess Team
Saturday, 19 April 2008

Cyber Chess is proud to present the games of Dubai Open 2008 Champion So Wesley who has given us his best games played from this tournament.

Click here to replay the game while following So’s analysis.

(1) Pantsulaia, Levan – So, Wesley [E15]
2008 Dubai Open (3), 08.04.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6 5.Qc2 c5 6.d5 exd5 7.cxd5 Bb7 8.Bg2 Nxd5 9.0–0 Be7 10.Qe4 A rare continuation first introduced by my oponnent against Sakelsek last year. However I don’t think it promises much. The main line and the most testing move here is 10. Rd1. [10.Rd1] 10…Bc6 The aforementioned game continued [10…Qc7?! 11.Nh4 0–0 12.Nf5 Bf6 13.Rd1 and White has a large advantage due to the pinned knight on d5. The move I played is an improvement.] 11.Ne5 Nf6 12.Nxc6 Nxc6 13.Qa4 0–0 14.Nc3 [14.Rd1 is also fine for Black after 14…Qe8 (14…Nd4!? is also worth investigating.) 15.Nc3 a6 16.Be3 b5 17.Qf4 c4 when Black is at least equal.] 14…a6 15.Bxc6 White decides to get his pawn back. [The other move is 15.Bf4 b5 16.Qd1 with some compensation that is good enough only for equality.] 15…dxc6 16.Qxc6 b5 17.Bf4 [17.Bg5 Also does not promise much 17…Qc8 18.Qf3 Qe6=] 17…Qc8 18.Qf3 [18.Qxc8 Raxc8 19.Rfd1 Rfe8 20.Kf1 c4=] 18…Qe6 White failed to get an advantage after the opening and in the next few moves I even gained some initiative. 19.e4 Rad8 20.Rfe1 Rfe8 21.Rad1 Rxd1 22.Rxd1 [After 22.Qxd1 Rd8 23.Qe2 c4 Black’s position is slightly preferable although White should be able to hold.] 22…Bf8 23.e5 Nd7 24.Qb7 [24.Re1? Is met by 24…g5! 25.Bxg5 (25.Be3 Nxe5 26.Qh5 g4–+) 25…Nxe5 26.Rxe5 Qxe5 27.Bf6 Qe6 winning.] 24…Nxe5 25.Bxe5 Qxe5 26.Qxa6 b4 27.Na4 g6 The position has simplified a bit and the most likely result should be a draw. However White still has some difficulties due to the sidelined knight on a4, the possibility of Black’s bishop coming to d4, and Black has more active pieces. 28.Qc4 Qh5 29.Rf1?! Too passive in my opinion. [29.Rc1 Was more accurate to keep the rook active and to keep an eye on the c5 pawn. After 29…Rd8 30.b3 (30.Qc2 Is also possible,when it is hard to make progress for Black.) 30…Rd2 (30…Rd5 31.Rc2 Qf3 32.Nb2) 31.Nxc5 Qf3 32.Rf1 White has good drawing chances.] 29…Qf3 30.Nb6 Rd8 31.Qc2 Bg7! The bishop comes to d4 exploiting the fact that White can’t take the c5 pawn. 32.Nc4 [32.Qxc5? Bd4 33.Qb5 (33.Qc7 Bxf2+!) 33…Qb7–+] 32…Bd4 33.Na5 Qa8 Black now wins a pawn. 34.Nb3 Qxa2 35.Nxd4 cxd4 36.Rd1 d3 37.Qd2 [37.Rxd3 Rxd3 38.Qxd3 Qxb2 Is also winning for Black.] 37…Qc4 38.Rc1 Qe4 39.Re1 Qd4 40.h4 h5 41.Rd1? A mistake in time trouble. [41.Re3 Was sterner when although Black should be winning, he still has to solve some techinical difficulties. For example 41…Qc4 42.Re7 Qc5 43.Re1 Qc2 44.Rd1 Kg7 45.Kg2 When White is holding on.] 41…Re8! 42.Qf4 [Also loses 42.b3 Re2 43.Qf4 Qc3 44.Qd6 Rxf2! 45.Qxd3 (45.Kxf2 Qc2+) 45…Rb2–+; And 42.Qxd3? Re1+] 42…Qxb2 Black is now two pawns up and is completely winning. 43.Qd6 Re2 44.Qb6 b3 ?! [Easier was 44…Qc2 45.Ra1 d2–+] 45.Kg2 Qc2 46.Ra1 [46.Qd8+! Was at least a good practical chance when Black has to be very accurate. 46…Kg7! (46…Kh7? 47.Qf6) 47.Qd4+ f6 48.Ra1 (48.Rxd3 b2 49.Rf3 Rxf2+! 50.Rxf2 Qc6+–+) 48…Qc6+ 49.Kh2 d2 50.Ra7+ Kh6 51.Qf4+ (51.g4 Rxf2+! 52.Qxf2 Qd6+ 53.Kg2 d1Q–+) 51…g5 52.hxg5+ Kg6 53.gxf6 Qxf6–+] 46…b2 47.Ra8+ Kh7 48.Rb8 b1Q I am very happy that I won this game because it is my first win against a 2600+ GM. 0–1

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