This great game was played at the 2014 Quebec Amateur Championships. For once, Qiyu Zhou was on the losing side, although she still managed to put up a solid fight. Sicilian fans will definitely love the game and might get some new attacking ideas :)
[Event "Quebec-ch Amateur"]
[Site "Montreal CAN"]
[Date "2014.10.12"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Libersan, Thierry"]
[Black "Zhou, Qiyu"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B53"]
[WhiteElo "2215"]
[BlackElo "2111"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2014.10.10"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 {This move is rarely played at high
level, but can create interesting complications. There is no doubt White
wanted to get Black out of the book as soon as possible} a6 {White had the
choice between c4 with a Maroczy Bind structure or Be3 followed by Nc3 and
0-0-0.} (4... Nc6 {Black wanted to avoid the main line, which gives Black the
bishop pair and White some space advantage.} 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6) 5. c4 Nc6
6. Qe3 $5 (6. Qd2 {Is the main move, although it may seem odd at first glance.
The idea is to instead fianchetto the dark-squared bishop.} g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. b3
Nf6 9. Bb2) 6... g6 7. h3 {Not as much to prevent Bg4 as to prevent Ng4 once
the black knight will be in f6.} Bg7 8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O {This
position is not as easy as it seems to play for Black. One need to find a good
plan or White could quickly grab a seizable advantage.} Be6 {This moves adds
pressure on c4 and frees the rooks, but white may play Nd5 or Ng5 at some
point. Other options included :} (10... Nd7 11. Rb1 a5) (10... Rb8 11. Rd1 Nd7)
11. Rb1 Nd7 12. b3 ({Also worth considering was} 12. Nd5 Nc5 13. Ng5) 12... Nc5
13. Bb2 Qa5 14. Nd5 Qxa2 $4 {It's hard to imagine Qiyu didn't realize how
risky this move is. Not only does it allow White to exchange the dark-square
bishop and weakean Black's position, but Black's queen is nearly trapped.} 15.
Bxg7 Kxg7 16. b4 $1 Nd7 17. Qc3+ $4 (17. Ra1 $1 Qc2 18. Rfc1 Qb2 19. Rcb1 Qc2
20. Bd3 {And Black loses the queen.}) 17... Nce5 18. Rb2 Qa4 19. Nd4 Nf6 {
White's position is crushing, but Black's queen is no longer trapped and Black
can still put up a fight.} 20. Nb6 (20. f4 Nxe4 21. Qe3 Bxd5 22. cxd5 {Would
have won a piece.}) 20... Qe8 21. Nxa8 Qxa8 22. f4 Nc6 23. Nxe6+ $6 {This was
not necessary. Black's bishop was not doing much.} (23. Nxc6 bxc6 24. f5 {
Would have probably ended the game sooner.}) 23... fxe6 24. b5 $6 {Again it
seems like White cannot find a way to convert his advantage to a win. Playing
Qe3 first would have been much more logical.} Qa7+ 25. b6 Qb8 26. c5 $6 {This
gives Black an opportunity to seize the center} d5 $2 (26... e5 $1 27. fxe5
Nxe4 28. Rxf8 Qxf8 $11) 27. e5 Ng8 28. Bg4 Kf7 29. Qg3 Nd8 $2 {A pretty big
mistake, but Black's position is very hard to play at this point.} (29... Qc8
$1) 30. Qh4 $2 (30. f5 $3 exf5 (30... gxf5 31. Bh5#) 31. Bxf5 gxf5 32. Rxf5+
Ke6) 30... Kg7 31. c6 bxc6 (31... Nxc6 {Might have been better, as it
prevented White from getting a strong passed pawn, but Black is still losing.})
32. Kh2 Qb7 33. Qf2 Nh6 34. Be2 Ndf7 35. Qc5 Rb8 36. Ra1 {White's plan is
pretty simple at this point. Protect the b6 pawn and add pressure on both a6
and c6.} Ra8 37. Bxa6 $1 Qd7 (37... Rxa6 38. Rxa6 Qxa6 39. b7) 38. Bd3 Rb8 39.
Ra7 Rb7 40. Ba6 Nd8 41. Bxb7 Nxb7 42. Qa3 {Black's position is now hopeless.}
Nf7 43. Rxb7 Qxb7 44. Qa7 Nd8 45. Rc2 d4 46. Qxb7 Nxb7 47. Rxc6 d3 48. Rc3 Nc5
49. Rxd3 Nxd3 50. b7 Nxf4 51. b8=Q 1-0
