Aerosvit
07
Foros
Ukraine

Dominguez -
Shirov

Dominguez was two pawns up but down a rook for a bishop. Shirov needed to play actively to have any winning chances before Dominguez's queenside pawn majority became a very serious problem. Here, Shirov played 42...Re4, taking advantage of a whole on e4. Play continued 43. Qc5 Re5 44. Qd4 f5. The breakthrough. Here, Dominguez went for 45. ef. If instead 45. gf, then 45...Qh4 46. Ra2 Qe1+ 47. Kg2 Rh5 48. Kf3 Qf1+ 49. Ke4 Re8+ 50. Qe5 and black has a wonderful game. There is also 45. Bd1. Then, 45... fg3 46. Qg4 Qf6 ( threatening mate on f1 ) 47. Qf4 Rf5 48. Kg2 Qb2+ 49. Kg3 Rf4 and black is in good shape. Back to the game, Shirov moved 45... Re1+ 46. Kg2 Qe8 47. Bd1 Qh5 and it is too late for white [ diagram 2 ].


If Dominguez responded with 48. Bg4, then 48...Qh1 49. Kf2 Qf1 mate