An opening win in the final

Ruslan Ponomariov vs Vasyl Ivanchuk

FIDE world championship · 2002 · 1-0

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The story behind the moves

A masterpiece, move by move

Ponomariov wins game 1 of the 2002 FIDE final in only 23 moves. White gains space while Black’s pieces are forced backward.

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18. g4

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Start the kingside expansion. White has castled long and can advance the g-pawn without exposing his own king on b1. The move also prepares to gain more space against Black’s pieces.

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22. Ng5

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Aim at f7. The knight joins White’s queen and bishop in pressure on f7. Black’s knight retreats to c8, leaving White room to advance in the center.

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23. c5

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Close the escape route. The c-pawn moves off c4, opening the bishop’s b3–f7 diagonal and gaining central space. Black’s cramped pieces face threats around f7; the recorded game ends with this move.