2008 Commonwealth Chess Championship Round 9: Mas draw

IM Mashafizul draw his 9th round game against Indian - Phadke Sohan ( FIDE 2283) today. He will be paired against another Indian - 18 years old - Premnath R (FIDE 2257) in round 10 tommorow. Mas now collected 6 points from 9 round. Premnath will be his 10th straight Indian opponent in this tournament!

Mas is on the brink of defeat in his round 9 game against Phadke Sohan. Fortunately Sohan missed a saving desparate sacrifiece by Mas on move 26!

Sohan,Phadke (2283) - Hafizulhelmi,Mas (2385) [B87]
Commonwealth Chess Championship 2008 Nagpur India, 04.10.2008

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 b5 8.Be3 Bb7 9.f4 b4 10.Na4 Bxe4 11.f5 e5 12.Nf3 Bxf5 13.Nxe5 Qe7 14.0–0 dxe5 15.Rxf5 Nbd7 16.Nb6 Rd8 17.Ba4 Qe6 18.Rxf6 gxf6 19.Qd3 Bd6 20.Rd1 Ke7 21.Nd5+ Ke8 22.Bb6 e4 23.Qf1 f5 24.Qc4 Qe5 25.g3 Rg8 26.Bxd8? 26.Kf1 would keep the advantage and the win! 26... Rb8 27.Bd4 Qe6 28.Nf6+ Ke7 29.Qxe6+ fxe6 30.Nxd7 Rb5 31.Nf6 Rc8 32.Bxb5 axb5

26...Rxg3+!! now Mas get the force draw 27.hxg3 Qxg3+ 28.Kf1 Qf3+ 29.Ke1 Bg3+ 30.Kd2 Bf4+ 31.Nxf4 Qxf4+ 32.Ke2 Qf3+ 33.Ke1 Qg3+ 34.Ke2 Qf3+ ½–½