Naroditsky, D. – Tsaruk, Maksim

2619 2024 · White wins (resignation, time or agreement)

Scandinavian Defense, 2024: Naroditsky (2619) against Tsaruk (2424). After 1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5, White builds the centre and opens lines with 9.d5, then 15.f4 and 16.f5 to force exchanges in the middle. The engine flags no turning point at all: 100% of White’s moves were at least good, 89% of Black’s, which is why nothing ever swings sharply. Black grabs pawns with 21...Qxc3 and 23...Qxb4, but White takes material back with 31.Bxh7+ and 34.Bxb7 and keeps the initiative. What follows is a patient conversion with an active queen and rook, up to 56.Qe6+, 1-0. The lesson: steady accuracy, not one blunder, decided this game.