Radjabov, T. – Dubov, Daniil

2759 2019 · Draw

Réti Opening, 2019: Radjabov (2759) versus Dubov (2700), a game with no slip. After 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4, the queens come off early with 17.Qxb6 axb6, and what follows is a long endgame grind — rooks and minor pieces, both sides probing, neither giving ground. Dubov pushes his f-pawn all the way to 71...f1=Q, but Radjabov simply takes with 72.Rxf1, and the liquidation 72...Rxe2+ 73.Kxe2 Ng3+ 74.Ke1 Nxf1 75.Kxf1 leaves bare kings. The engine flagged no turning point: 87% of White’s moves were at least good, 91% of Black’s. A logical draw. The lesson: promoting wins nothing when the recapture was counted first.