“In the following all-important game from the last round, Mark Heidenfeld abandoned his usual first move 1. e4 and instead advanced the other central pawn—something he had not done for some 20 years! That surprise worked really well.”

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. e3 g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 d5?!

“White's opening choice is beginning to pay off as Black is going astray. He should have opted for 5... cxd4 6. exd4 d5.”

6. dxc5! Qa5?

“ 6... Be6 was called for.”

7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Qxd5 Bxc3+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Qxc5??

“This error is the last straw; Black should have defended a difficult endgame arising after 10... Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2.”

11. Rc1! Qf5 12. Nd4! Qd7 13. Bb5 Nc6 14. Rxc6! Kf8 15. Rxg6 Qd5 16. Rg3 e5 17. Qb4+

1-0

Annotator(s): Alexander Baburin, Sunday Independent, August 15, 2021 p. 29.

Event information: Tournament report.