Krishna - Lim Zhuo Ren, World Junior

Lim Zhuo Ren played a good middle-game and reached a Q+R+N vQ+R+B ending. His opponent has a worst minor piece and I expect at least a draw at worst for LZR. It is even possible he might win with accurate play. The position below is after White played 47...Qh5

Krishna - LZR

LZR played 47...Qh5 which I do not think is the most accurate. This can allow white to sacrifice the exchange to free his bishop and generate threats against the exposed black king , with 48.Rxe4+

White just played 48. Qa2 and black replied 48...Qe8 White is short of time having 18 minutes against LZR 56 minutes so it is possible that white might go wrong somewhere.  49. Qa7 Now black has to play 49...Qc8 and recapture with queen on c6 as 49...Qd7 50 Qb8 and white has threats of Qg8 . 49..Qd7 50. Qb8 Kf7


White has sufficient counter-play now. LZR playing too fast maybe to try to capitalize on his opponent's time. This could work against him , he could missed something.

Position after 50..Kf7

As expected white played 51. b6 with ideas of Qc7 and get a dangerous passed pawn if black exchanges queens. LZR start thinking for a long time. Maybe he missed 51...Rxh2 52 Qc7 Qe7 53. Rxg4 , white threatens Rg7 winning.  51...Qe7 52. Qc8 White has enough counter play but down to three minutes now!  52...Rxh2 53. Rxg4 Ng5 54. Qf5  It is too risky for  black to play for win now. One possible draw is 54...Ke8 55. Qc8+ Kf7 56. Qf5

Position after 54. Qf5

54....Ne4  This looks like a blunder. Now 55. Qg6+ Ke6 58 Qg8+ Qf7 59. Qc8+ Qd7 60. Qg8+ draws. White can try 60. Qxd7+ Kxd7 61. Rg7+ Kc8 62. Rg8+ Kd7 63. Rb8 with winning chances.
55. Qg6+ Ke6 58 Qg8+ Qf7 59. Qc8+ Qd7 60. Qb8 white is down to 1 min 21 secs so LZR still could win on time as I do not think there is time increment  :)  60...Rf2 61. Rg8  LZR really taking the fight to the Indian. The black king could go to f5, e4 and d3!  61...Nxc5? 62. dxc5 Qh7 63. Qc8+ 1-0 black gets mated or loses his queen. I do not see why the knight sac was made. 61...Rf1 looks alright e.g 62. Qe8+ Qxe8 63. Rxe8+ Kd7! Otherwise 62. Kc2 Rf2 may be a draw.


I am sure Zhuo Ren must be kicking himself for losing this. He did not use his time wisely. He did not analyze the position deeply enough Well, experience is the best teacher.


Addendum: Black was lost after 61. Rg8 as the threat of 62.Rd8 winning the queen or mating cannot be answered. Nevertheless black should never have got into this situation from the original diagram. He had to make two or three really bad moves to lose it.