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Alexander Morozevich vs Konstantin Maslak
Russian Superfinals (2008)  ·  Sicilian Defense: Najdorf. Opocensky Variation Traditional Line (B92)  ·  1-0
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Kibitzer's Corner
Oct-15-08  thathwamasi: Looks like shunned the three fold a few times and finally performed a classic King sac.
Oct-15-08  Robotnik: A drawn thrown away or perhaps a win. @#$% happens in the very last move!! A kind of successful self mate.
Oct-15-08  orio24: Such a horrible mistake! It seems black was winning. Was he in a heavy time trouble?
Oct-15-08  Kangaroo: <69 ... Rf8> looks better than <69 ... Kf1??> followed by <70. Qg1#>. For instance, <69 ... Rf8 70. Qb4+ Kd1 71. Qxf8 <otherwise <71 ... Rf1+> wins> e1=Q> - what a pity that Black could not make a draw in the almost won position!
Oct-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  visayanbraindoctor: I do believe that GM Maslak was outplaying Alexander the Great in the latter half of the game. I was able to watch some of it live, and Maslak was playing very impressively. Then come the mistakes and self mate.

The end actually looked amusing.

The Black King charges across the board seemingly obsessed on a desperado attack against the White King. Finally the White king almost gets stalemated in the corner of the board cowering before the baneful glare of the Black King threatening total opposition just three squares away. "Oh please don't come closer" abjectly implores the White King. "If you do, I will have no more squares to move to, and I shall get completely crushed." But the Black King has no mercy. "You fool, I shall squash you like a bug", he declares, "and elope in the embrace of your White Queen." The White Queen who has a secret infatuation on the Black King and has been unsuccessfully pursuing him for the past several moves overhears this and shouts "My dear Blackie Highness, wait for me my love". The Black King is stunned. "I did not know of your true love my White Queenie, but now I willingly die in your arms." The Black King then takes the ultimate step sideways and sacrifices himself in a final attempt to completely crush his counterpart and blissfully repose in the arms of the White Queen.

Oct-15-08  stanleys: 50...Bf4 is a simple win,isn't it?
Oct-15-08  braimondi: Nice king sac! I cant believe he is a 2544 player and do this... lol
Oct-15-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  PhilFeeley: I watched this live and couldn't believe the mess Moro got himself into. Then I couldn't believe he won! It just goes to show - don't resign until you absolutely have to..
Oct-15-08  dumbgai: <visayanbraindoctor> I see you've taken some tricks from the "City of Moscow" page. :P

Concerning Maslak, talk about a brutal way to end an already disappointing (winless) tournament. I wouldn't be surprised if he has nightmares about this.

Oct-16-08  Kaspykov: Maslak was in time trouble but still its a toilet move !
Oct-16-08  SniperOnG7: Poor guy, he must have been kicking himself after this one.
Oct-16-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  hedgeh0g: The only thing worse than being swindled out of a win is swindling yourself out of one.
Oct-16-08  supertimchan: That was a assy win. How could he do that?
Oct-16-08
Premium Chessgames Member
  Viewer Deluxe: That was definitely not Maslak’s best day. Amazingly he had one more chance on move #66. The idea is to transfer his rook to a1 and the line is: 66... Re6 67. Kg1 Bf2+ 68. Kh1 Kf1 69. b4 Re3 70. Qc4 Ra3 71. b5 Ra1

White has nothing better to do and Black is winning.
Maybe with 68..Re8 he was trying the same idea but unfortunately he blundered his king.

May-19-09  mandy64: Black missed at least 3 wins:
(1)
50...Bf4 51.Qd3 Re3! 52.Qd8+ Kxg7 53.Qd4+ Kg6 54.Bxe3 Qxe1+ 55.Bg1 Qd1

(2)
54...Qxf3 55.gxf3 Bxe1 56.Bxe1 Rg5 57.Kh2 Rg3

(3)
68...Kf1 69.Qf3+ Bf2 70.Qd3 Ra5 71.Qc4 Ra1 72.Qd3 Rd1 73.Qc4 Bg3

Jan-11-10  mysql: Nice game
Apr-24-12  HectorChess: <mysql> mysql database?
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