One of the most anticipated games of Round 1 was the encounter between FM Juan Pablo de Mey (1995 Fide) and Gino de Mon (2060 FIDE). The game proved to be a sharp one and it developped as it follows:
[Event "Maastricht Summer Series 2021"] [Date "2021.07.06"] [Round "1"] [White "Juan Pablo de Mey"] [Black "Gino de Mon"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1995"] [BlackElo "2060"] [Variant "Standard"] [TimeControl "-"] [ECO "B67"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation"] [Termination "Normal"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 { Sicilian Defense: Richter-Rauzer Variation, Neo-Modern Variation } 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. Nb3 {This unusual move aims to avoid the main lines with f4 and f3. Also, white wants to prevent the exchange of knights and restrict black´s position. However, it is a loss of tempo and black takes advantadge of it inmediatly.} Be7 10. f4 b5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 { The d6 pawn must remain protected. } 12. Kb1 b4 13. Ne2 a5 14. Nbd4 Qb6 15. g4 15... a4 16. Bg2?! {White should have exchanged knights when it was possible. Now the e2 knight and the g2 bishop will be stuck in the kingside and not able to contribute to the defense of his king. In addition, the black knight will be the hero of his army.} 16... Na5! 17. b3 Rc8 18. h4 Qc5 19. g5 Nc6 20. Nf3?! { White´s last chance to exchange knights. 20. Nxc6 Bxc6 21. Nd4 and white retains some initiative. } 20... Na7 21. e5? { [#] The idea is to take advantadge of the vulnerable bishop on d7 by Nxe5. However, white misses the kmight movement that will take place in the game. } 21... Nb5! { The key of the combination. The brave knight will reach either the a3 or c3 squares and black can not avoid it. } 22. Nfd4? { [#]The final nail in the coffin. Apparently, white´s best chance to survive was to sacrifice a pawn and expose his king to exchange white´s marvelous knight. The computer suggests the following line: 22.gxf6 Nc3+! 23. Nxc3 Bxc3 24. Qc1 (preventing Qa3) axb3 25.Nd4! and if black takes on a2 the king can shelter on a1 while if taking on c2 the queen will recapture the pawn and in both cases there is no clear win for black.} 22... Na3+ 23. Ka1 fxe5 24. fxe5 Bf8 25. Rhf1 Bg7! { [#] The X-rays of the bishop on the king decide the game. White´s pieces are completely stuck. 26. Rxf7 Kxf7 27. g6+ hxg6 28. Qf4+ Ke8 29. Be4 Qxe5 30. Bxg6+ Kd8 31. Qg4 Nxc2+ 32. Kb1 Ne3 { White resigns. } 0-1
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