Bartel, Mat – Meskovs, N.

2636 2021 · White wins (resignation, time or agreement)

Filed as a Bird’s Opening, played as an open Sicilian: Bartel (2636) and Meskovs (2550) met in 2021 with castling on opposite wings, White long, Black’s king left in the centre on e7. Bartel pushed f4-f5, picked up the h5 pawn with the knight and kept the initiative. Move 32 is the hinge: 32.Rg1 gives part of the edge back, from +2.9 to +1.3, but 32...Bf5 misses the chance and hands it all back, from -1.3 to -3.9. Meskovs errs again with 48...Qe8, from -6.4 to -8.1, and 51.Qa8+ ends it. Accuracy: 90% White, 88% Black. The lesson: after the opponent slips, the very next move decides.