Malaysian Masters Final: Game 2

[Event "Malaysian Masters 2009"]
[Site "Wilayah Kompleks"]
[Date "2009.12.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Nicholas Chan"]
[Black "Mas Hafizulhelmi"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "A22"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2009.12.19"]
[SourceDate "2009.12.19"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Bb4 4. Qb3 Nc6 5. Bg2 Nd4 6. Qd1 O-O 7. e3

Rybka 2 suggests a slight advantage for Black

7. ... Bxc3 8. bxc3

Current times: Nicholas 1:24 Mas 1:09

8. ... Ne6

Why not Nc6, with the more natural ... e4 and Ne5 (exploiting c4 and d3 squares, as well as f3 after the natural looking Ne2

9. e4

Possibly with the idea of Ne2 and d4, gaining control of the center

9. ... Qe7 10. Ne2 Nc5 11. d3 Qd6!?

Moving the Queen in front of the d-pawn is strange. Now how will Black's Bishop develop?

12. d4

Black can't take the e4 pawn eg. Ncxe4 f3 and the Knight is trapped

Another interesting variation: 12. ...exd4 13. e5! Qxe5 14. cxd4 and forks the Knight and Queen

White seems to have a clear advantage now, with Rybka 2.3 giving an evaluation of almost += 1.0 to White

Current times: Nicholas 1.19 Mas 0.44. Mas is really figuring his position out.

12. ... Ncxe4

Mas decides to take the pawn

13. Qc2

Current times: Nicholas 1:12 Mas 0:26

13. ... Nxf2 14. Kxf2 Ng4+ 15. Ke1 Re8

 

Many personalities are present today at the Chess Center, including Dato Tan, Mr. Ibrahim, IM-designate Mok, IM Lian Ann, IM Giam, NM Choo, Zach and Nurilhamuddin

16. Qf5 exd4 17. Bd5

Why not just take the Knight?

17. ... Nf6

This seems to equalize as it defends the major squares and protects the Knight. Has White lost its advantage?

18. cxd4 c6 19. Bf3 Qxd4 20. Rb1 Qxc4

Black seems to have the advantage here. He has four pawns for the piece and is going to coordinate his pieces by 21. ... d5, releasing the Bishop then allowing the Rook to be connected

21. Bb2 d5 attacking the Queen 22. Qf4 Offering the exchange

22. ... Ne4 23. Rc1 Qxa2

24. Bh5 Be6 25. Rf1 Qxb2 0-1

Nicholas resigns