In Round 5 of the 45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024, chess fans were treated to a superbly played Italian Game by Grandmaster Gukesh D. (India) where he instantly punishes the two mistakes played by GM Aydin Suleymanli (Azerbaijan). Of note, is how easy Gukesh makes defeating another Grandmaster seem. In reality, it is a testament to his talent that this victory was just another day at the office for the young challenger in the upcoming FIDE World Championship Match.
GM Aydin Suleymanli’s first mistake was 10… Nh5. In addition to moving the same piece twice in the opening, this placed the Knight on the rim, undefended, and where it shared a diagonal with White’s Queen.
13… Kg7 was a mistake. Better was 13… Kxf7 14. Nxh8+ Qxh8 15. hxg3 Qf6 where black is only down one pawn in material.
I recommend playing the game below on a physical chessboard to focus on tactical understanding and Gukesh D’s stellar technique.
[Event “45th FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024”]
[Site “Budapest, Hungary”]
[Date “2024.09.15”]
[EventDate “2024.09.11”]
[Round “5.1”]
[White “Gukesh D”]
[Black “Suleymanli, Aydin”]
[Result “1-0”]
[WhiteElo “2764”]
[BlackElo “2632”]
[ECO “C50”]
[Opening “Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal”]
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bg5 h6
6. Bh4 g5 7. Bg3 d6 8. c3 a5 9. Nbd2 Ba7 10. a3 Nh5
11. Nxe5 Nxg3 12. Bxf7+ Kf8 13. Ng6+ Kg7 14. fxg3 Kxf7 15. Nxh8+ Qxh8
16. d4 Kg7 17. O-O Bd7 18. Kh1 Rf8 19. Qe2 Rxf1+ 20. Rxf1 Qe8
21. Qf3 Qe7 22. Nc4 Be6 23. Ne3 Nd8 24. Nf5+ Bxf5 25. exf5 Qf6
26. Re1 Bb6 27. g4 c5 28. d5 c4 29. Re4 Bc5 30. a4 Ba7
31. Qe2 h5 32. Re7+ Kf8 33. Re8+ Kf7 34. gxh5 g4 35. h6 Qxf5
36. h7 Qb1+ 37. Qe1 Qxe1+ 38. Rxe1 1-0
