Round 3 : WGM Eesha Karavade vs IM Mashafizul Helmi : 0-1

Below is Mashafizul (photo right) 3rd round win against Indian WGM Eesha Karavade (photo left). 20 years old WGM Eesha Karavade is India's eighth Woman Grandmaster. What is incredible about Eesha is that she got the title in just seven years after making her first move on the chessboard. She also brought India its first bronze from the World junior girls championship, held in Kochi 2004.

Analysis by Hairulov and Fritz

WGM Eesha Karavade (2297) - IM Mashafizul Helmi (2386) [A58]

DATMO 2008 (3), 19.08.2008

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.bxa6 g6 6.Nc3 Bxa6 7.Nf3 d6 8.g3 Bg7 9.Bg2 Nbd7 10.Rb1 Nb6 11.b3 Bc8 12.Nh4 h6 13.Qc2 Qd7 14.f4 14.Bb2 is Fritz main line]14...g5 15.fxg5 hxg5 16.Nf3?? Eesha should take the pawn with 16.Bxg5 without worrying about 16...Qg4 because she can simply play 17.Qd2 ] 16...Nfxd5 17.Nxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxg5 Bb7 19.0–0? white should kill the "nasty knight immediately with 19.Bxd5 although black would still have the initiative after 19...Bxd5 20.0–0 Bd4+ 21.e3 ] 19...Bd4+–+ 20.Kh1 Nb4 21.Qd2? [¹21.Qf5 Qxf5 22.Rxf5 Bxg2+ 23.Kxg2 Rxa2 24.h4 Rxe2+ 25.Kh3–+] 21...Bxg2+ 22.Kxg2 f6 [¹22...Rxa2 and Black can already relax 23.Rb2 Bxb2 24.Bxb2–+] 23.e3 Rxa2 [23...fxg5?! is clearly inferior 24.exd4 cxd4 25.Kg1= (25.Qxb4 Qh3+ 26.Kf3 Qxf1+ 27.Ke4 Qe2+ 28.Kxd4 e5+ (28...Qxa2?! is a bad alternative 29.Qb5+ Kd8 30.Qb6+ Kd7 31.Qb7+ Ke6 32.Qd5+ Kf6 33.Qxg5+ Ke6 34.Qd5+ Kd7 35.Qb7+ Kd8 36.Qb6+ Ke8 37.Qb5+ Kf7 38.Qf5+ Kg7 39.Qg4+ Kf8 40.Qf5+ Ke8 41.Qb5+ Kd8 42.Qb6+ Kc8 43.Qc6+ Kd8 44.Qb6+=) 29.Kc3 Rc8+ 30.Qc4 Kd7–+) ] 24.Bb2 Be5 [24...fxg5?! is clearly worse 25.exd4 cxd4 26.Kg1= (26.Qxb4?? White should leave the knight well alone 26...Qh3+ 27.Kf3 0–0+ 28.Ke4 Rxf1 29.Rxf1 Qxf1–+ (29...Rxb2 30.Qb8+ Kg7 31.Qf8+ Kg6 32.Qe8+ Kh6 33.Qh8+ Kg6 34.Qxh3 Re2+ 35.Kxd4 g4 36.Qxg4+ Kh6 37.Rf5 e5+ 38.Kd3 Rxh2 39.Rf6+ Kh7 40.Qg6+ Kh8 41.Rf8#) ) ] 25.Nf3 Qh3+ 26.Kg1

26...Bxg3! an excellent sacrifiece by Mas. 27.hxg3? white should reduce the wound with 27.Qg2 Qxg2+ 28.Kxg2–+ 27...Rg8 28.Ne1 [28.Nh2 is not much help 28...Rxg3+ 29.Kh1– Qh7! heading to Qe4+] 28...Qxg3+ Instead of 28...Rxg3+ 29.Ng2 c4 30.bxc4–+ 29.Ng2 Rh8 30.Rfd1 [30.Qe2 hardly improves anything 30...Qh2+ 31.Kf2 Rh5–+] 30...Qh2+ 31.Kf1 Rg8 32.Qf2 Qh1+ 33.Qg1 Qh7 34.e4 [34.Qf2 is the last straw 34...Nd3 35.Qh4 Qf5+ 36.Nf4 Nxb2 37.Qh3 Nxd1 38.Rxd1 (38.Qxf5?? will allow the opponent to give mate in 2 38...Nxe3+ 39.Ke1 Rg1#) 38...Qxh3+ 39.Nxh3–+] 34...Qxe4 35.Qf2 Nd3 36.Qc2 Qf3+ 37.Kg1 Rxb2 [37...Nf4 38.Rd2 Nh3+ 39.Kh2 Qg3+ 40.Kh1 Rh8 41.Nh4 Rxh4 42.Rh2 Nf2+ 43.Qxf2 Qxf2 44.Rxh4 Qxh4+ 45.Kg2 Qe4+ 46.Kg3 Qxb1 47.Bxf6 Qxb3+ 48.Bc3 Qxc3+ 49.Kf4 Ra4+ 50.Kg5 Qf6+ 51.Kh5 Rh4#] 38.Rxb2

38...Rxg2+! 39.Qxg2 Qxd1+ 40.Kh2 Nxb2 black resign because he will be three pawn down after 41.Qxb2 with no clear chance for any counter play 0–1