The rapid breakthrough

Michael Adams vs Rustam Kasimdzhanov

FIDE world championship · 2004 · 0-1

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0 / 120 half-moves

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A masterpiece, move by move

The first rapid tie-break game in the 2004 FIDE final. Kasimdzhanov converts an active rook-and-knight ending.

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20... Rxc6

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Remove the invading knight. Black trades a rook for the knight on c6. White’s d-pawn recaptures, and Black’s remaining knights gain active squares against the white pieces.

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34... Qxe5

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Simplify into an ending. Black exchanges queens. The remaining rook and knight face White’s rook and bishop, with pawn weaknesses providing targets for both sides.

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56... f3+

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An in-between check. Rather than immediately addressing the bishop capture on e5, Black pushes the f-pawn with check. After Kxf3, ...Kxe5 removes the bishop.