Kravtsiv, M. – Kovalenko, I.

2598 2025 · White wins (resignation, time or agreement)

Scandinavian, 2025: Kravtsiv (2598) against Kovalenko (2674), a game the engine finds nothing to criticise. After 2...Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5, White builds in the centre and then plays 10.g4, a flank push that opens the g-file and forces the trades on e5 and f5. The kings castle on opposite wings, the queens dive in — 18...Qxh4 and 19.Qxe7 answer each other, the rooks come off on e1, and the position stays sharp through 25...Qe3. Accuracy: 100% for White, 100% for Black, with no inflection point detected. The result is recorded 1-0 for White. The lesson: a win with no opponent blunder to punish, decided by holding the thread.