Greetings to all chess fans! The 46th Chess Olympiad is ongoing. The best players in each country is playing to win the top prize. A game caught my eye because of the beautiful mate in the end. It's between world championship challenger Javohir Sindarov of Uzbekistan and his opponent from Peru.
The game started with an unusual variation of the Sicilian Defense. 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 b6 4. Bb2 Bb7 5. Nc3 Nc6
Looks like White opted for a closed variation of the Sicilian. 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 11. Qxd4 Qc7
The game opens up and both sides are well developed. The game is equal at this point. 12. e5 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Ne8 14. Ne4 Qc6
White allowed the exchange of light squared bishops to clamp on Black's d6 square. But in this position, Black threatens f5, winning a piece. So White decided to break the pin on his knight but gave up a pawn on c2. 15. f3 Qxc2+ 16. Rf2 Qc6 17. Rc1 Qb7 18. Rfc2 Rd8
For the lost pawn, White can claim as compensation his control of the c file. 19. Nd6 Qa6 20. a4 Bg5
Targets the rook and encouraging White to play f4 that will open up the king. 21. f4 Be7 22. Kh3
White decides to hide his king on h3 but it's far from being safe. 22. ...Nxd6 23. exd6 Bf6 24. Qe4 Bxb2 25. Rxb2 Rc8
Leading White's rook away from his first rank. 26. Rc7 Qf1+ 27. Rg2
White pinned his own rook. Qg2 is not a good alternative because the exchange of queens will lead to an endgame where White's advance pawn will become weak. 27. ...f5 28. Qc2 Rcd8 29. Qe2 Rf6
Black leaves his queen hanging but threatens mate in one. 30. Kh4 Rh6+ 31. Kg5 Kf7 32. Qxf1 Rh3 0-1
A beautiful quiet move. White cannot escape mate with h6.
Sindarov is in top form. In contrast, the world champion Gukesh looks to be in a slump and is in danger of losing his crown.