| PeterLalic: https://kingstonchess.com/kingston-... Stephen Moss:
"The results in the final five games – on boards 1 to 5 significantly – came thick and fast as we reached the last 20 minutes of the three-hour playing session. There is some dispute over who finished next, but I am going to plump for Peter, who appeared in the bar downstairs to celebrate his crucial victory with Black on board 4 against the youthful Timur Kuzhelev, a player he had done battle with in recent congresses. Peter is always so reliable in these vital cup games, and time pressure seems to bring out the best in him. https://kingstonchess.com/wp-conten... [CAPTION] Peter Lalić is ultra-reliable in big cup matches and often at his best in a time scramble. Photograph: John Saunders John Saunders, the distinguished chess journalist and commentator, who was kindly attending the match to take photographs, declared this the game of the match. 1.d3 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.f4 a6 4.e4 b5 5.Nf3 g6 6.Be3 d6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 
click for larger viewBlack to move. Last: 8.Nxd4.
Engines suggest White already has an advantage.8…Bd7 9.Nd5 Rb8 10.Nxc6 Bxc6 11.Qd4 Nf6 12.Nxf6+ exf6 13.O-O-O Qe7 14.Bd3 Bg7 15.f5 O-O 16.Bf4 Rfd8 17.Rhe1 Rbc8 18.Kb1 Qd7 Better is (18…d5 19.exd5 Rxd5 20.Qg1 Qb4 21.Bd2 Qd4 22.g4 Qxg1 23.Rxg1 Rd4 24.Rdf1 Rcd8) 19.h4 h6 20.g4 g5 21.Bg3 Bb7 22.Rh1 Qe7 23.Rde1 d5 24.e5 fxe5 25.hxg5! hxg5 26.f6 White stopped notating, as is allowed under the five-minute rule. 26…Bxf6 27.Rxe5!! 
click for larger viewBlack to move. Last: 27.Rxe5.
A tremendous move. The rook can’t be taken. 27…Qe6 (27…Bxe5 28.Bxe5 f6 29.Bxf6 Rc4 30.Bg6 Qe1+ 31.Rxe1 Rxd4 32.Bxd4) 28.Rxg5+ 
click for larger viewBlack to move. Check. Last: 28.Rxg5+.
Again the rook can’t be taken because of 29.Qh8++ 28…Kf8 29.Qb4+ Qe7 30.Qxe7+ Perfectly serviceable and maintains an advantage, but Peter misses a great move here. Had he found it, John Saunders said afterwards, this truly would have been the “Kingston Immortal”. (30.Be5 Bxe5 (30…Qxb4 31.Bxf6 Ke8 32.Bf5 Rc7 33.Rg8+ Qf8 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.Rh8#) 31.Rg8+ Kxg8 32.Qxe7) 30…Kxe7 31.Re1+ Kf8 32.Rf5 Bg7 33.Ref1 Rd7 34.g5 Rc6 35.a3 Kg8 36.Be2 Re6 37.Bh5 Ree7 38.Be1 d4 39.Bb4 Be4 40.R5f2 d3 41.Kc1 dxc2? 
click for larger viewWhite to move. Last: 41...dxc2.
A decisive error. Black had drawing chances if he pushes the pawn instead. (41…d2+ 42.Kb1 Bg6 43.Bf3 Re5 44.Bxd2 Rc5 45.Bc1 Rdc7 46.Bd1) 42.Bxe7 Rxe7 43.Bxf7+ Kh8 44.Rh2+ 
click for larger viewBlack to move. Check. Last: 44.Rh2+.
1-0
Peter Andrews summed up Peter’s performance in this game well afterwards. “Rxe5 was an unbelievable move to find over the board in a time scramble,” he said. “I was watching live at that point and my head hurt. What a pity Peter didn’t find 30. Be5, leaving the queen and rook where they can be captured unprotected and putting the bishop en prise as well. There would have been metaphorical gold coins on the board for that one.”" | 
Kibitzing
