Eljanov, P. – Ponomariov, R.

2719 2014 · Draw

Classical Slav, 2014: Eljanov (2719) against Ponomariov (2711), and the game never leaves the rails. After 8.Bd3 b4 Black claims queenside space, White recentralises, and the tension is resolved by the exchanges on e4. The engine flags no turning point at all — neither side ever lets the balance slip. The accuracy figures say the same: 93% of at least good moves for White, 88% for Black. Queens come off with 24.Qf2 Qxf2+, the bishops follow on e3, and there is simply nothing left to play for: draw. The club takeaway: a clean game doesn’t win itself. You need your opponent to stumble, and here nobody does.