Penguincw: Jakovenko has played 2 games before, both ending in a 40 move draw. Both of Bukavshin's previous games had also been draws. So what would this game hold?For most of the game, it seemed like black was better/winning, but the eval shifted from -3.18 to 0.00 at move 49 (black had only one good move, 49...Nd3).
Then after 52.Qa8, black's best move was 52...h6, keeping the position equal. However, black blundered with 52...Nd7, pushing the eval from 0.11 to 4.11, and white didn't look back. The position nearly repeated after 56...Nd7 (luckily white played 57.Qb7 and not 57.Qa8 1/2-1/2), and white won after 64.Qf7.
A queen exchange is practically forced, and after that, black will have to give up the en prise bishop to avoid mate.
What could've been 0-1 resulted in 1-0, and it was <huge> for the match. This game was actually the rubber game for the Siberia-Zhiguli match, and Zhiguli could've upset Siberia 3 1/2-2 1/2, since Korobov lost with white on Board 4, but Siberia edged Zhiguli for their 3rd straight 3 1/2-2 1/2 win. I hope they don't rest Kramnik tomorrow.
Anyway, thanks Jakovenko! :)
Russian Team Championship rd 3: Zhiguli-Sibir : Sibir [cash in ticket] 100 YOU WIN! COLLECT 122 2:9 1.22 122 May-03-15