Alekseev, Evgeny – Jakovenko, Dmitrij

2715 2008 · Draw

Petroff Defense, 2008: Alekseev (2715) against Jakovenko (2737), a game where neither side blinks. White clears the centre early with 9.cxd5 and brings the queen out with 12.Qh5, but Black answers move for move and collects the c3-pawn with 14...Qxc3. The engine flags no turning point at all: 100% of White’s moves at least good, 96% of Black’s, with a single inaccuracy that never dents the balance. Queens come off on move 23, the rooks neutralise each other, and 31...Rxa6 seals the split point. The takeaway: a draw at this level isn’t an empty game, it’s a game where neither side ever offers a handle to grab.