Canada's second highest rated player, GM Eric Hansen, traveled to Uruguay to participate in this year's Continental Championship. While he was aiming for a World Cup spot and ultimately came up short, he still played a good tournament. Have a look at his second round game in which he demolished his 2281 opponent in a sharp Najdorf Sicilian. He also vlogged about his experience in South America on his youtube channel.
[Event "10th American Continental"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hansen, Eric"]
[Black "Muniz, Rafael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[WhiteElo "2580"]
[BlackElo "2281"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
{The following game is pretty one-sided, but I chose it because of the way
Eric dismantled his opponent's Najdorf seemingly easily. It was a smooth win
against a strong master.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6
6. h3 {From a practical standpoint, it makes a lot of sense that Eric would
steer clear of the main Najdorf lines.} e5 7. Nb3 (7. Nde2 h5 8. Bg5) 7... Be6
8. f4 $5 {Enterprising. Positionally, the move doesn't make a whole lot of
sense, as White creates some weaknesses and gives himself an isolated e-pawn.
On the other hand, the move surely came as a surprise to the Black player, who
is now forced to start thinking on his own (a big advantage when playing down
300 points)} (8. Be3 Be7 9. Qf3 Nbd7 10. g4 {is the traditional approach.
White is doing quite well here too}) 8... exf4 9. Bxf4 Nc6 10. Qe2 $146 (10.
Qd2 {is the natural move, as it keeps pressure on the d6 pawn. However, Eric
had other ideas}) 10... Be7 11. O-O-O Qc7 12. g4 Ne5 13. Kb1 (13. g5 {was a
strong alternative} Nfd7 14. Nd4 $14) 13... O-O 14. g5 Nfd7 15. Nd5 Bxd5 16.
exd5 {Let's take stock. White has fixed his pawns and has more space and the
two Bishops in an open position. The opening has clearly been a success. It is
now time to start the attack!} Rfe8 (16... Rfc8) 17. h4 a5 18. a4 (18. Nd4 {
was surely another candidate move}) 18... b5 $5 {This looks desperate, but it
is objectively very reasonable! Otherwise, White was threatening to really
clamp down on the position with Nd4 - controlling b5 and f5} (18... Bf8 19. Qg2
$1 $16 {with the idea of playing h5 or Bb5 next}) (18... Nb6 19. Bxe5 Bf8 20.
Bxd6 Bxd6 21. Qb5 $16 {but now Black gets some play}) 19. Qxb5 Reb8 20. Qe2 Rb4
21. Rd4 Rab8 22. Rh3 (22. Bd2 $1 Rxb3 (22... Rxd4 23. Nxd4 {the Knight
threatens going to b5 or f5. Black is in dire straits} Qc5 {Black's best try}
24. Qe4 Nb6 25. Nb3 Qxd5 26. Qxd5 Nxd5 27. Bb5 $16 {since the a5 pawn will fall
}) 23. cxb3 {and Black does not get sufficient compensation for his material})
(22. Rxb4 Rxb4 23. Bd2 Rxa4 24. Qb5 $1 Re4 25. Nxa5 {was another good option.
For example} Qb6 26. Nc6 Bf8 27. Qxb6 Nxb6 28. Nxe5 dxe5 29. Bd3 Rg4 30. Be2
Rg2 31. Ba5 $18) 22... Qb7 $6 (22... Nc5 $1 {would have led to complications.
Perhaps} 23. Rxb4 (23. Bxe5 dxe5 24. Rxb4 Rxb4 25. Nxc5 Bxc5 26. b3 {and I
believe Black should be holding this position due to White's weaknesses on the
dark squares}) 23... Rxb4 24. Bd2 Rxa4 25. Rc3 $13) 23. Qd1 (23. Qe4 {probably
more accurate. There are ideas of Bd2 or Bb5}) 23... Bf8 24. h5 $40 Nb6 $2 ({
again} 24... Nc5 {puts up more resistance. But after} 25. Rxb4 Qxb4 26. Bxe5
dxe5 27. g6 $16 {White is in very good shape}) 25. Bb5 ({Eric missed the best
continuation} 25. Rxb4 $1 axb4 26. Bxe5 dxe5 27. a5 Nxd5 28. a6 $1 {Passed
pawns need to be pushed!} Qa8 (28... Qc6 29. a7 Rd8 30. Rd3 $1 {when Black is
defenseless against all of White's threats - especially Rd2 and Bg2}) 29. g6 $1
$18) 25... Rxd4 26. Qxd4 Nxd5 ({Rafael likely didn't like the look of the
endgame that ensues after} 26... Qxd5 27. Qxd5 Nxd5 28. Bxe5 dxe5 29. Nxa5 $18)
27. Bxe5 dxe5 28. Qxe5 Nb4 29. g6 {It's all over now} Rc8 30. c3 Qg2 31. Qf5
hxg6 32. hxg6 Qg1+ 33. Nc1 Qxg6 34. Qxg6 fxg6 35. Bd7 {not only threatening
the rook but actually threatening mate on e6!} Rc6 36. cxb4 {A powerful win}
1-0
