This is the Semi-Finals match of the team Rapid tournament of the 23rd Sea Games and we face possibly the strongest team in the tournament, the Phillipines. They boast a first-team lineup of GM Eugenio Torre, GM Rogelio Antonio Jr, GM Buenaventura Villamayor (fondly known as Bong by those who know him) and rapid monster IM Mark Paragua. As many will know by now, we lost by a score of 3-1. Well, I certainly think we were not overawed by our formidable opponents and I reckon we will give them a run for their money again in 2 year's time.
1.e4
d6!?
In my database of over 3 million games, only once had GM Bong ever played the Pirc/Modern hybrid and he wasted over 1 hour of my French Defence preparation! Well, at least I'm sure he is also in unchartered territory.
2.d4
g6
3.Nc3
Bg7
4.Be3
c6
5.Qd2
Nd7
6.f3
b5
7.g4
Bb7
[ Mestel's 7...Rb8
; or Graf's (Nenashev) 7...Nb6
are sensible alternatives. ]
8.h4
h5
9.g5
e5?
Over here, Bong mixes the lines up. [ 9...a6
is a necessary preparatory move. For example, 10.Bh3
e6
11.Nge2
Ne7
Cobb,J-Seirawan,Y/Columbus 1977]
10.d5!
b4?!
[ 10...Qb8!?
11.dxc6
( 11.Bh3!?
) 11...Bxc6
12.0-0-0
b4
13.Nd5
a5
and White has an advantage, but it is not easy to breach Black's defences.]
11.dxc6
bxc3
12.Qxc3+-
12...Ne7
Bong took over 20 minutes for this move! Now I have a great time advantage of 19 minutes. I was very confident at this stage and wished I knew what was going on in the other games. Of course 12...Ne7 is lost for Black but nothing seems to work so Bong decides to give his whole house. [ 12...Rc8
13.cxd7+
Qxd7
14.Bh3+-
]
13.cxb7
Rb8
14.Ba6
0-0
15.Bxa7+-
Nc5
16.Bxb8?!
[ 16.Bxc5!
dxc5
17.Qxc5
would had been a safe way to convert the point but i was thinking, how can I not win this position? Just look what happened to me in 5 to 6 moves.]
16...Qxb8
17.Bc4
Qxb7
18.0-0-0?!
Risky play [ 18.Ne2+-
]
18...Rb8
19.a3?
with the idea of a future b2-b4 [ 19.Rxd6
; 19.Ne2
]
19...Na4
20.Qb3
Qa7
21.Bb5
Nc5
22.Qc4
d5!
Outstanding idea! With this audacious move, Black attempts to seize the initiative by freeing up f5 for the N. This is why Bong is a GM!
23.exd5?
[ 23.Qe2!
Ne6
24.a4
Nd4
25.Qe3!
Sacrificing a piece to activate the Queenside pawns 25...Rc8
( 25...Nc8
26.Ne2
Nd6
( 26...Rxb5
27.axb5
Nd6
28.Kb1+-
) 27.Nxd4
exd4
28.Qd3
dxe4
( 28...Be5
29.exd5
Nxb5
30.axb5
Qa2
( 30...Bf4+
31.Kb1
Ra8
32.Qa3
Qb7
33.Qc5
) 31.Kd2
Qxd5
32.Ke2
Rxb5
33.Kf2
Rxb2
34.Rb1+-
) 29.fxe4
Nxb5
30.axb5
Be5
31.Rhf1+-
) 26.Rh2
dxe4
27.fxe4
Nxb5
28.Qxa7
Nxa7
29.Rd7
Nac6
30.b4+/-
; 23.Rxd5
Nxd5
24.exd5
Qa5
25.Qb4
Qxb5
26.Qxb5
Rxb5
27.b4
e4
( 27...Nd7
28.c4
with a scary pawn mass.) 28.bxc5
e3
29.Ne2
Bb2+
30.Kd1
Rxc5
31.Nf4
Be5
32.Nd3
Rxd5
33.Ke2+/-
]
23...Nf5<=>
What a transformation! GM Bong made a total mess of the position and I see threats all over the place. I was contemplating offering a draw but was afraid of my captain's ( IM Petronic) reaction. My time is running down to 5mins and Bong incredibly did not use up any time since the last diagram.
Suddenly the lights went out, giving me some time to cool down and also to think about the position. OK, I was lucky here.At this point i realized we are already 2 goals down..so I can't take the easy way out.
24.a4!
Ne3
25.Qb4!
Bf8
26.Qc3
Nxd1
27.Kxd1
Nxa4
28.Bxa4
Qxa4
29.b3
Qa2?
[ 29...Qa8!-/+
with multiple threats. This is a difficult move to find as Bong had very little time left at this stage.]
30.Ke2
Qb1
31.Kf2
Bb4
32.Qc4!
Qe1+
33.Kg2
Qe3?!
[ 33...Qd2+
34.Ne2
Rd8
35.Ra1
Rxd5<=>
]
34.Nh3!
Bc5?!
[ 34...Be1!
Cutting off the R's access with mating ideas!]
35.Rd1
Now White is in the driver's seat!
35...Bd6
36.Qd3
Qc5
37.Nf2
Rc8
38.c4+-
Ra8
39.Ne4
Ra2+
40.Kg3
Qb4
41.Qc3
Qb6?
[ 41...Qxc3
42.Nxc3
e4+
43.f4+-
]
42.c5
Qa6
43.Qd3!
1-0