Pressure, Space, and Relentless Endgame Technique

This game is a long and instructive battle that shows how early positional decisions echo all the way into the endgame. Abdusattorov plays with great patience, slowly squeezing space, fixing weaknesses, and then converting a complex rook endgame through superior activity and king placement. Nothing happens quickly, but everything happens for a reason.

Opening: Solid Structure and Early Clarification

The game begins with 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6, a classical Queen’s Gambit structure. With 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3, White develops naturally and keeps options open. Black’s 4…h6 is a quiet waiting move, preventing Bg5 but slightly slowing development.

White immediately clarifies the center with 5.cxd5 exd5, creating a symmetrical pawn structure. With 6.Bf4, White develops actively, placing the bishop on a strong diagonal. Black answers with 6…Bd6, challenging the bishop, and after 7.Bxd6 Qxd6, queens come into early contact.

White plays 8.e3, reinforcing the center and opening lines for the dark-squared bishop. Black responds with 8…Bf5, placing pressure on c2 and e4. White jumps forward with 9.Nh4, forcing the bishop to decide. After 9…Bh7, White continues development with 10.Bd3.

Black castles with 10…O-O, but White immediately chooses clarity with 11.Bxh7+, exchanging bishop for knight structure and slightly weakening Black’s king. After 11…Kxh7, the king is forced onto h7, where it will later become a long-term target.

Middlegame: Queenside Space and Long-Term Pressure

White now activates the queen with 12.Qb3, eyeing b7 and adding queenside pressure. Black defends with 12…Nbd7, while White calmly castles using 13.O-O. Black responds with 13…Rab8, fully committing to queenside play.

White begins a clear space-gaining plan with 14.a4, followed by 15.a5. These pawn advances fix Black’s queenside pawns and limit counterplay. Black replies with 14…c6 and 15…g6, preparing a solid kingside structure.

With 16.Nf3, White completes development and prepares central and kingside play. Black improves king safety with 16…Kg7. White then repositions the queen with 17.Qa3, keeping pressure while staying flexible.

Black retreats with 17…Ne8, a defensive regrouping. White continues expanding with 18.a6, creating a dangerous passed pawn. Black blocks with 18…b5, but the queenside tension is now permanent.

White exchanges queens with 19.Qxd6 Nxd6, simplifying into a structure that favors long-term pressure. With 20.Rfc1, White places a rook behind the queenside pawns. Black mirrors with 20…Rfc8.

Structural Decisions and Heavy-Piece Play

White stabilizes the queenside with 21.b3, while Black pushes forward with 21…b4, trying to generate counterplay. White jumps to the edge with 22.Na4, targeting weak squares. Black defends actively using 22…Rb5.

White reroutes with 23.Ne1, heading toward d3 and f2. Black breaks in the center with 23…c5. White responds precisely with 24.dxc5, opening lines at the right moment.

After 24…Nxc5 25.Nxc5, White forces exchanges. Black recaptures with 25…Rcxc5, and after 26.Rxc5 Rxc5, the position simplifies into a rook-heavy middlegame.

White improves piece placement with 27.Nd3, attacking the rook and gaining tempo. Black retreats with 27…Rb5. White supports the center with 28.f3, limiting knight activity.

Black jumps forward with 28…Nc4, attacking weak pawns. White calmly activates the king with 29.Kf2, following endgame principles early. Black retreats again with 29…Na5.

Transition to the Endgame

White centralizes a rook using 30.Rc1, but Black captures with 30…Nxb3, winning a pawn. White responds actively with 31.Rc7, invading the seventh rank. Black pushes with 31…d4, seeking counterplay.

White captures with 32.Rxa7, grabbing material on the queenside. After 32…Nc5 33.Nxc5 Rxc5, more exchanges occur. White recaptures in the center with 34.exd4, opening files for the rooks.

Black plays 34…Rc6, defending laterally. White places a rook aggressively with 35.Ra8, while Black brings the king forward using 35…Kf6. White continues with 36.Ke3, centralizing the king.

Black pushes 36…b3, creating a dangerous passer. White answers confidently with 37.a7, creating one of his own. Black stops it with 37…Rc7, but the tension is high.

King Activity Takes Over

White plays 38.h4, fixing kingside pawns. Black replies with 38…h5. White marches forward with 39.Ke4, dominating the center. Black checks queenside activity with 39…Rb7.

White doubles down with 40.Rb8, and after 40…Rxa7, material balances but activity favors White. With 41.Rxb3, White removes the passed pawn. Black plays 41…Ra2, staying active.

White prepares a kingside breakthrough with 42.g3 and 43.f4. Black centralizes with 43…Ke6. White pushes the passed pawn with 44.d5+, forcing the king back.

After 44…Kd6 45.Rb6+ Ke7 46.Rb7+ Kf6, White keeps the king tied down. White then retreats with 47.Rb3, preparing a decisive pawn break.

The Final Breakthrough

White strikes with 48.f5, opening lines. Black captures with 48…gxf5+, but this only helps White activate the king. After 49.Kxf5, White dominates the position.

Black tries to create counterplay with 49…Rd2, but White keeps control with 50.Re3+ and 51.Re5, cutting off escape squares. The king steps forward with 52.Kf6, becoming a decisive attacking piece.

White wins material with 53.Rxh5, removing key pawns. Black gives checks with 53…Rf3+, but after 54.Ke5, the threats continue. White advances with 55.Kd6, tightening the net.

After 55…Ra3, White plays 56.Re5, maintaining total control. Black tries 56…f6, but White calmly steps back with 57.Re1. Black captures with 57…Rh3, but it is too late.

White advances the passer with 58.Kc6 and 59.d6, creating an unstoppable threat. After 59…Rc4+ 60.Kd5, Black resigns.

Final Position – After 60.Kd5

White’s king and rooks dominate the board, and the passed pawn cannot be stopped. Black has no useful checks or counterplay remaining.