Mashafizul - Nicholas Chan

Round 7 of the 3rd DATCC Team Event saw the clash between Malaysia no.1 - IM Mashafizul and Malaysian no. 3 - FM and Dr. Nicholas Chan. The game was so hard fought with Mas not having a smooth sail as his previous experience against the same opponent in the semi-final Malaysian Master last year. In fact, Mas is in the brink of defeat but Nicholas somehow missed a winning idea and agreed to a draw after Mas offer to  repeat the position three times.

IM Mashafizul Helmi (Seahorse) vs FM Nicholas Chan (KAM MAH)
3rd DATCC Team Event, Round 7, 12.5.10

Analyzed by Centaur (Hairulov + Fritz)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 Bd6

The Snake Benoni. 

Sometimes strong players play it probably to surprise and out prepared his 

opponent. 6. g3 a6 7. a4 Qe7  

Probably black afraid that after 7... Bc7 white will push the d pawn with 

8. d6 however black probably didn`t have to worry much because he can play 8... 

Ba5 8.Bg2 Bc7 9. Nf3 d6 I think that`s why GMs didn't play this opening so 

often. Black voluntarily buried his own dark square bishop! 10. O-O O-O 11. 

Nd2 Nbd7

IM Mashafizul (left) on his way to play 12.e4

12. e4 Rb8 13. a5 Ne5 14. Qc2 Fritz prefer to get more space at the cost of exchanging his dark square bishop with blacks knight. 14. f4!? Nd3 15. Nc4 Nxc1 16. Rxc1 14... Bd7 15. f4 Ng6 16. Nc4 16. e5!? Is an interesting idea suggest by Fritz. White`s sac a pawn to put black knight on the lousy h8 square.16... dxe5 17. f5 Nh8 18. Nc4  16... Rfe8 17. b3 Bb5 18. Bd2 Qd8 19. Qa2  19. Nd1 followed by Nde3 and the Nf5 is probably a better idea. 19... Re7 20. Rfe1 Qd7 21. Qc2 Qd8 22. Nxb5 22. Nd1  followed by Bc3 and Nf2 is another way to proceed.  22... axb5 23. Ne3 Ra8 24. Nf5 Rd7 25. b4 I don't like this move because it will give Black's a passed pawn on the queen side.

25. Bf1! is probably stronger. Black possible reply is:-

25... Ne7 26.Ne3

25... Bxa5 26. Bxb5 Bxd2 27. Qxd2 Rxa1 28. Rxa1 Rc7 29. e5 dxe5 30. d6 Rc8 31. fxe5 Nxe5 32. Qc3 with a strong attack


25... cxb4 26. Qb2 Bxa5 27. h3?! This move give black a chance  to create weakness on white`s king side with h5-h4. White should just capture the b pawn with 27.Bxb4

FM Nicholas Chan (right) on his way to play 27...b3

27... b3 28. Bxa5 Rxa5 29. Qxb3 Qb6+ 30. Kh2 h5! 

Black push this pawn to undermine Black's king side pawn formation. 31. Qb2 Rxa1 32. Rxa1 h4 33. g4 Quite a risky move. I think white  should have play a safer option with 33. gxh4!? Nxf4 34. Rf1 Nxg2 35. Qxg2 g6 36. Qg5  33... Nxf4 34. Nxg7 Kxg7 35. g5 Kh7 36. Qxf6 Ng6 The black knight block white`s queen from playing Qh6+  37. e5 Qe3 37... Nxe5?? would be a decisive blunder because black`s will get mated after 38. Be4+ Kg8 39. Ra8+   38. e6 Mas is in time trouble somewhere around here  38. exd6 is another option for e.f 38... Qg3+ 39. Kh1 Qxd6 40. Qb2  and play for a draw.  38... fxe6 39. dxe6 Re7 White's e- pawn is safely block by Black's pieces. 40. Rb1 Rxe6 41. Qf7+  Kh8 42. Rf1

42. Rxb5?? will lost after 42...Qg3+ 43. Kh1 Re1+ 44. Bf1 Qxh3+ 45. Kg1 Qg3+ 46. Kh1 Qf4 47. Qxf4 Nxf4

42. Qxb7 Qg3+ 43. Kh1 Re1+ 44. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 45. Kh2 Qe5+ 46. Kh1 Nf4 and black is winning

 42... b4 43. Rf3 Qe5+ 44. Kh1 d5 It is clear that black have the winning advantage. His passed pawn on b and d is ready to roll. . 45. Rf6?  45. Qxb7 is the best way to play for draw  45... Rxf6 46. gxf6 Qe1+ 47. Kh2 Qg3+ 48. Kh1 Nf4 49. Qf8+  Kh7 50. Qf7+ Kh6 51. Qf8+ Kh7 52. Qf7+ Kh6 53. Qf8+ Kh7 Threefold repetition and  both player agreed to draw. 1/2-1/2

Actually black have a great winning chance with  53... Kg5! 54. Qg8+ (54. Qg7+? Ng6 55. f7 Qe1+ 56. Kh2 Qf2  and white's can queen the f pawn safetly 54... Ng6 55. Qxd5+ Kh6 56. Qxb7 b3 57. f7 Kg7 and black's passed pawn on b is more dangerous then white's on f.