GM Benjamin Bok (2599) beat GM Sergei Tiviakov (2653), the top seed in the Pall Mall Masters blitz in London, in 27 moves in round 4.
The count turned on 18...Qc7, played with 2:19 left. Stockfish wanted 18...bxc5. It counted a small edge for White before (+0.67) and a win after (+2.63), and 19.cxd6, its first choice, came straight back.
Then came the knight. 23.Nf6+ was check, and 24.Nd5+ opened the bishop on b2 onto the black king while the knight hit the queen on b4. The queen took the bishop, 24...Qxb2, and 25.Qxb2+ took the queen.
Bok beat Tiviakov again in round 9 and finished the blitz second, on 6/10.
Go back to 18...Qc7 and find 18...bxc5. Then play it on against the engine.
- White
- GM Benjamin Bok, 2599
- Black
- GM Sergei Tiviakov, 2653
- Result
- 1–0 in 27 moves
- Opening
- Nimzo-Indian Defense: Classical Variation, Berlin Variation, Pirc Variation · E39
- Event
- 2026 Army and Navy Club Pall Mall Masters, 2026 Army and Navy Club Pall Mall Masters - Super Blitz, Round 4 · The Army & Navy Club, 36 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JN
- Key move: {0}
- 18...Qc7
- Engine’s choice
- 18...bxc5