[Event "CHN-RUS Summit 9th"]
[Site "Ningbo"]
[Date "2015.07.20"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Wei, Yi"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[WhiteElo "2691"]
[BlackElo "2724"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2015.07.15"]
[EventType "schev"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CHN"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 168"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2015.09.14"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "China"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "CHN"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Qa4+ Qd7 8.
Bb5 c6 9. Be2 O-O 10. Qa3 b6 11. Nf3 Bb7 12. O-O c5 13. d5 e6 14. Be3 exd5 15.
Rad1 d4 16. cxd4 Bxe4 17. dxc5 Qb7 18. Rfe1 Nd7 19. Ba6 Qc7 20. Bb5 Nf6 21. Bd4
Bf5 22. c6 a6 23. Be5 Qc8 24. Ba4 b5 25. Bb3 a5 26. Qb2 a4 27. Bxf6 Bxf6 28.
Qxf6 axb3 29. axb3 Bc2 30. Rd7 Bxb3 31. h4 Ra6 32. Ne5 1-0

[Event "EU-ch 18th"]
[Site "Minsk"]
[Date "2017.06.08"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Cheparinov, Ivan"]
[Black "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2688"]
[BlackElo "2714"]
[Annotator "Quintiliano,R"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "2017.05.30"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "BLR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 179"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.07.12"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 {I was surprised by the high number of
Catalans played in the European Championship this year, by many grandmasters,
Cheparinov being one of them to put his trust in this solid opening.} Bb4+ 5.
Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 {This move is becoming popular among
grandmasters.} (7... c6 {is the main move.}) 8. a4 $5 {Cheparinov played this
position himself with Black in round 6 against Melkumyan. That game was drawn
but White had an advantage for a long time. The idea is to keep flexibility
and possibilities to manoeuvre, like Na3, and the insertion of the moves a4-a5
gives a good possibility for White.} ({Recently, a very convincing win by
Black draw my attention to this variation} 8. Qc2 Ne4 ({earlier, in the 5th
round, Matlakov played} 8... c6 9. Rc1 b6 10. b4 $146 Bb7 11. Be1 c5 12. bxc5
bxc5 $11 {Kozul,Z (2617)-Matlakov,M (2714) EU-ch 18th Minsk 2017 (5) 1/2 and
Black had no problems -}) 9. Bf4 c6 10. Nc3 g5 11. Bc1 f5 12. b3 b6 13. Nd2
Nxc3 14. Qxc3 Nf6 15. Bb2 Bd7 16. Rac1 $6 (16. Nf3 $14 {[%cal Yf3e5]}) 16... g4
$1 17. f3 h5 $36 {[%cal Yh5h4];Mareco,S (2648)-Akobian,V (2661) St Louis
Spring-A 2017 (7) 0-1 and in some moves, Black built up a strong attack on the
kingside -}) 8... a5 {Natural and necessary, as a5 can be annoying in some
positions, seizing space on the queenside.} (8... Ne4 9. a5 c6 10. Qb3 Nxd2 $6
{this only helps White} 11. Nbxd2 f5 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. Rfc1 Bd6 14. Ne1 Nf6 15.
Nd3 Rb8 16. Nf3 Bd7 17. Nfe5 Be8 18. e3 Qe7 19. Rc2 a6 20. Bf1 Bb5 21. Nc5 Bxf1
22. Rxf1 Rfc8 23. Rfc1 $14 {Sasikiran,K (2639)-Kambrath,Y (2376) Biel MTO op
49th 2016 (4) 1-0}) 9. Qc2 c6 10. Na3 ({Melkumyan played} 10. Rc1 Ne4 11. Be3 (
11. Ne1 {was played two weeks after this game} Nd6 12. Na3 b6 13. cxd5 $1 cxd5
14. Qb3 {[%csl Gb5] another point behind the moves a4-a5 is that, in order to
complete development, Black must play b6, and then White has the possibility
to play cxd5, forcing the recapture with the c-pawn and obtaining the nice
outpost on b5 for his knight} Ba6 15. Nb5 Rc8 16. Bf4 {Aronian,L (2793)-Anand,
V (2786) 5th Norway Chess 2017 (8.4) 1/2}) (11. Be1 $5 {Carlsen,M (2851)
-Eljanov,P (2765) Norway Chess 4th 2016 (9) 1-0}) 11... Nd6 ({Melkumyan was
probably following in the footsteps of his compatriot Aronian, who played this
position in the Tata Steel this year, but that game continued} 11... f5 {
Aronian,L (2780)-Wei,Y (2706) Tata Steel-A 79th 2017 (2) 1/2}) 12. Na3 g5 13.
Rd1 f5 14. Qc1 $1 Nf7 15. Nc2 Nb6 (15... dxc4 $2 16. Na3 $1) 16. cxd5 exd5 17.
b3 Bf6 18. Nce1 Re8 19. Nd3 $14 {[%csl Ge5];Melkumyan,H (2613)-Cheparinov,I 
(2688) EU-ch 18th Minsk 2017 (6) 1/2}) 10... Ne4 11. Be3 ({Gelfand tried a
more provocative move} 11. Bf4 $6 g5 12. Be3 f5 13. Rad1 Bf6 14. Nb1 Qe7 15.
Nc3 b6 {[%cal Yc8a6] but it seems like Black finished his development with a
good position} 16. Ne5 $6 {and this looks preferable for Black} Nxe5 17. dxe5
Bxe5 18. Bxb6 Qb4 $1 19. Nxe4 fxe4 20. cxd5 $2 {White doesn't have enough
compensation for this piece} Qxb6 21. Qxe4 Qxb2 22. dxc6 Bc7 $17 {Gelfand,B 
(2724)-Ding,L (2773) Moscow FIDE GP 2017 (9) 0-1}) 11... Bd6 12. Ne1 f5 {
Recently, Black has been trying to transpose Catalan positions into Stonewall
structures, as a reliable way to get a solid position, and even promising play
for a win.} 13. Nd3 Qe7 {Black is developing pieces like a classical Stonewall,
but in White's position something is wrong - it's difficult to find a function
for the a3-knight, which normally we transfer to f3 via d2 in such structures.}
14. f3 ({And this makes me think if} 14. Nb1 $5 {[%cal Yb1d2,Yd2f3] could be
considered here} b6 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. f3 Nef6 17. Nc3 {[%cal Yc3b5]}) ({
but probably} 14. Rac1 {is the correct move, avoiding concrete ideas for while,
and isn't totally clear how Black will continue developing} Kh8 (14... Bxa3 $2
15. bxa3 Qxa3 $2 16. c5 {[%csl Ra3] and the black queen is in a very bad
situation}) 15. Qb3 $5 {[%cal Ya3c2,Yc2e1,Ye1f3]} Rg8 16. Nc2 g5 17. c5 $1 Bc7
18. f3 Nef6 19. Qc3 {with a complicated battle ahead.}) 14... Nef6 15. Bf4 $6 {
Now Black can free his position.} ({A more solid move was} 15. Bf2 $1 {and if}
e5 $2 {White's position is better prepared to face this advance} (15... Re8
$142) 16. cxd5 Nxd5 (16... cxd5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Nb5 $14 {
[%csl Gd4]}) 17. Nc4 $1 Nb4 18. Qb3 Qe6 19. Ra3 $1 Nxd3 20. Nxd6 Qxb3 21. Rxb3
Nxf2 22. dxe5 $1 {[%csl Rf2] Black's knight is going nowhere} Nxe5 (22... Nc5
23. Ra3) 23. Kxf2 Rb8 24. Rc1 $16) 15... e5 $1 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Kh1 $2 {
This creates some problems for White.} (17. cxd5 {maybe was a better try} Nxd5
(17... Nxd3 18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Qxd3 Qc5+ 20. Kh1 Nxd5 21. e4 fxe4 22. fxe4 Nf6
23. Qb3+ Kh8 24. Rac1 Qh5 25. Rce1 $132 {[%cal Ye4e5]}) 18. Bxe5 Bxe5 19. Nxe5
Qxe5 20. e4 fxe4 21. fxe4 Nf6 (21... Rxf1+ 22. Rxf1 Ne3 $2 23. Qb3+) 22. Qc3 $5
Qxc3 23. bxc3 Be6 24. Rab1 {and White has sufficient counterplay.}) 17... Nxd3
18. Bxd6 Qxd6 19. Qxd3 f4 $1 {This is a thematic idea and one of those reasons
why White should be careful when playing f3, now he faces some practical
problems.} 20. gxf4 Qxf4 21. e3 Qh4 {[%csl Ga3,Gg2] Both white minor pieces
are badly developed.} 22. Qd4 $2 {This exchange of queens has the objective to
relieve White's position, but only gives an even better position to Black.} (
22. cxd5 Nxd5 23. f4 {makes sense, but then} Be6 $15 {[%cal Ya8d8] Black is
developing actively and fast.}) 22... Qxd4 $1 {Matlakov correctly assesses
that without queens White's position is even more difficult to hold.} 23. exd4
Be6 24. Rfe1 Rae8 25. b3 Nh5 $17 {[%cal Gh5f4] The knight is coming to f4 to
add more pressure on White's position.} 26. Kg1 (26. cxd5 Bxd5 27. Nc4 Nf4 {
doesn't help.}) 26... Nf4 27. Bf1 Rf6 {The way Matlakov increases the pressure
is very instructive.} 28. cxd5 cxd5 29. Nb5 Ref8 30. Ra2 {In a practical game
it's very difficult to defend such positions, and now White loses material.} ({
If} 30. Nc7 {Black can rearrange the pieces and keep the pressure} Bd7 31. Rac1
Bc6 32. Rc3 R8f7 33. Nb5 Ng6 34. Kf2 Nh4 35. Ree3 Nf5 $17) 30... Nh3+ 31. Kh1 (
31. Bxh3 Bxh3 32. Rf2 Rxf3 33. Rxf3 Rxf3 $17 {is a sad endgame to defend.})
31... Rxf3 32. Bg2 (32. Rxe6 Rxf1+ 33. Kg2 Rg1+ $1 34. Kxh3 Rf3+ 35. Kh4 g5+
36. Kh5 Rh3#) 32... Bg4 $1 {This nice tactical point gives a big advantage
both material and positional to Black now.} 33. Raa1 Nf2+ 34. Kg1 Nh3+ 35. Kh1
h5 36. Re5 Kh7 {Stepping out of the check on d5, which however wasn't a threat.
} (36... Rxb3 37. Bxd5+ Kh7 38. Bxb3 $2 Bf3#) 37. Nc7 Rxb3 38. Nxd5 Rf2 39. Ne3
Nf4 40. Be4+ Kh6 41. Nxg4+ hxg4 42. Rg1 Rh3 {A clear and instructive win by
Matlakov, who two days later became European Champion!} (42... Rxh2+ $1 {
was nice} 43. Kxh2 Rh3#) 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.08"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A12"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[Annotator "Sumets,A"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. b3 Bf5 3. Bb2 e6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 h6 6. c4 c6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. d3
Bh7 9. Nbd2 Bd6 {I think this is a risky plan. White can play cxd5 and e4 and
Black's bishop is in danger. I would prefer 9...Bc5.} 10. a3 {I consider this
move to be the strongest one. However if Dmitry had wanted to play e4 without
including cxd5 cxd5 then I think he should have played it immediately.} (10. e4
dxe4 11. Nxe4 $1 Be7 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Bxf6 Qxf6 14. d4 O-O 15. Qe2 Rfd8 16.
Rad1 a5 17. Rd2 a4 $6 (17... Bf5 $142 18. Re1 Bg4 19. Qe3 a4) 18. b4 $1 a3 19.
c5 Ra4 20. b5 $14 g5 $6 21. Rfd1 Qf5 22. h4 $16 {Torre,E (2494) -Atalik,S 
(2550) Tekirdag TUR 2016 1-0 (49)}) (10. cxd5 cxd5 11. e4 Be7 12. e5 Ng8 13. d4
Bb4 $1 {Black needs the e7-square for his knight.} 14. a3 Ba5 15. b4 Bc7 16. a4
a6 17. Nb3 Nb6 18. Na5 Rb8 19. Qb3 $14 {Webster,A (2417)-Middelburg, T (2328)
Witley 2000 1-0 (57)}) 10... a5 11. e4 (11. Bc3 $6 {White wants to play Qc1,
Qb2 but it doesn't work due to} e5 $1 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. b4 Rc8 14. Nb1 (14. Rc1
O-O 15. Qb3 Qe7 $15) 14... O-O $15 {Telljohann,S (2415)-Spiess,G (2395)
Germany 2008 0-1 (38)}) ({I would recommend} 11. cxd5 $1 {for example} cxd5 $8
(11... exd5 $2 12. e4 $1 dxe4 13. dxe4 Bc5 14. e5 Nd5 15. e6 $16) 12. e4 $1
dxe4 13. dxe4 Be7 14. Qe2 O-O 15. Nd4 Nc5 16. Rad1 Qb6 17. Rfe1 (17. a4 $1 Rac8
18. Nb5 Qa6 19. Ba3 Rfe8 20. f3 $14) 17... Rfd8 18. Nc4 Qa6 19. f3 e5 20. Nxe5
Qxe2 21. Nxe2 Nxb3 $11 {Karlsson,L (2405)-Mnatsakanian,E (2425) Yerevan 1980 1/
2 (41)}) 11... dxe4 12. Nxe4 (12. dxe4 e5 13. Nh4 O-O 14. Nf5 Nc5 {Black is OK.
}) 12... Be7 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. d4 (14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. d4 O-O 16. Qe2 {leads to
a worse version of the game Torre,E (2494)-Atalik,S (2550) Tekirdag TUR 2016
1-0 (49). White would prefer to have his a-pawn on a2.}) 14... O-O 15. Re1 Nc5
16. Re3 $6 {Probably Dmitry missed 16...a4 17.b4 Nb3.} (16. Ne5 Bxe5 17. Rxe5
Nd3 18. Re2 Nxb2 19. Rxb2 Qc7 20. Rd2 Rfd8 21. Qe2 $11 (21. d5 cxd5 22. cxd5
exd5 23. Bxd5 $11)) 16... a4 $1 17. b4 Nb3 18. Ra2 ({Probably Dmitry should
have sacrificed an exchange after} 18. Rxb3 $5 axb3 19. Qxb3 Qb8 20. a4 b5 21.
a5 bxc4 22. Qxc4 Be4 $15 {White has some compensation for the sacrificed
exchange.}) 18... Qb6 $6 {This gives White an excellent opportunity to seize
the initiative.} ({Maxim should have played} 18... Qc7 $142 19. Bc3 Rfd8 20.
Rae2 Bf5 21. h3 Rd7 $17 {Black's next move is ...Rad8 then he will be ready to
take on d4, it is not easy to give White a good advice.}) 19. c5 Qc7 20. Bf1 $2
({White should have sacrificed the d-pawn:} 20. d5 $1 cxd5 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22.
Nd4 Nxd4 23. Qxd4 Kg7 24. f4 $44 {White has more than enough compensation for
the sacrificed pawn.}) 20... Rad8 21. Bc4 e5 $17 {In order to keep the
material balance, Dmitry should trade his light-squared bishop and it is quite
obvious that his position is difficult.} 22. Bxb3 axb3 23. Qxb3 exd4 24. Re1
Qd7 ({Another interesting option is} 24... Rd5 25. Raa1 Qd7 26. Rad1 Bg6 27.
Nd2 Bd8 $1 {Black needs to take the e5-square under control.} 28. Nc4 Bc7 $17 {
with the following ...Qh3 and ...Rh5.}) 25. Ba1 Rfe8 26. Rd1 $2 {A blunder.
Dmitry shouldn't allow his opponent to play ...Be4.} (26. Rxe8+ Qxe8 27. Qd1
Qe4 28. Nxd4 Bxd4 29. Rd2 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 Rxd2+ 31. Qxd2 Bg6 $17 {Due to the
exposed position of White's king, Black has an advantage.}) 26... Be4 27. Ne1 (
27. Rad2 d3 28. Ne1 (28. Bxf6 Bxf3 $19) 28... Qh3 29. Bxf6 Bd5 $19) 27... Bd5
$19 28. Qb1 Qh3 {Intending ...Rxe1+!} 29. f4 Bxa2 30. Qxa2 d3 31. Bxf6 gxf6 32.
Nxd3 Rxd3 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.08"]
[Round "2.7"]
[White "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Black "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C85"]
[WhiteElo "2706"]
[BlackElo "2728"]
[PlyCount "170"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. d3 Nd7 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. Nc4 f6 10. Nh4 Re8 11. Nf5 Bf8 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxf4 Nc5 14. Qg4
Bxf5 15. Qxf5 Ne6 16. Be3 b5 17. Na5 c5 18. a4 Nd4 19. Qf2 Ne6 20. Qf5 Nd4 21.
Qf2 Ne6 22. e5 fxe5 23. Qf3 Qd7 24. Qe4 Nd4 25. Rf2 c4 26. dxc4 Bb4 27. Bxd4
exd4 28. Qc6 Qe7 29. Qd5+ Qe6 30. Nc6 Qxd5 31. cxd5 Bc5 32. b4 Bd6 33. g3 Rf8
34. axb5 axb5 35. Ra5 Rae8 36. Rxb5 Re1+ 37. Kg2 Rxf2+ 38. Kxf2 Rc1 39. Nxd4
Be5 40. Ke3 Re1+ 41. Kd2 Rf1 42. Nc6 Bd6 43. c4 Rf2+ 44. Kd3 Rxh2 45. c5 Bxg3
46. Rb7 h5 47. Ne7+ Kh7 48. d6 cxd6 49. c6 d5 50. Nf5 Be5 51. Re7 Rh3+ 52. Ke2
Bf6 53. Rd7 h4 54. b5 Rc3 55. c7 h3 56. Rxd5 Rxc7 57. Rd3 Rc2+ 58. Kf1 h2 59.
Rh3+ Kg6 60. Ne3 Rb2 61. Ng4 Rb1+ 62. Kg2 Rg1+ 63. Kxh2 Rxg4 64. Rb3 Be5+ 65.
Kh3 Kf5 66. b6 Rd4 67. b7 Rd8 68. Rf3+ Bf4 69. Rb3 g5 70. Rb5+ Be5 71. Rb6 g4+
72. Kg2 Rd2+ 73. Kf1 Bb8 74. Rb5+ Ke4 75. Rb4+ Kf3 76. Rb3+ Kf4 77. Rb4+ Kg3
78. Rb3+ Kh2 79. Rb4 Rd1+ 80. Ke2 Rg1 81. Rd4 Rg2+ 82. Kd3 Kg3 83. Rd8 Bf4 84.
Rf8 Rb2 85. Rxf4 Kxf4 0-1

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.08"]
[Round "2.8"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Andreikin, Dmitry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A42"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2706"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 e5 5. Nge2 Nc6 6. Be3 f5 7. exf5 Bxf5 8.
dxe5 Nxe5 9. Nd4 Nf6 10. Nxf5 gxf5 11. Be2 Nfg4 12. O-O Nxe3 13. Bh5+ Kd7 14.
fxe3 Qg5 15. Kh1 Rad8 16. Bf3 Kc8 17. Qa4 Kb8 18. Nb5 a6 19. Nd4 Rhe8 20. Bd5
c6 21. Ne6 Rxe6 22. Bxe6 Ng4 23. Rxf5 Qxe3 24. Qa5 Re8 25. Re1 Qd4 26. Bd7 Re5
27. Rexe5 Bxe5 28. Rf8+ Ka7 29. Bxg4 Qxg4 30. Qd2 Qxc4 31. b3 Qe4 32. Rf1 c5
33. Qf2 Kb6 34. Qf3 Qc2 35. Qf2 Qg6 36. g3 h5 37. Qf5 Qh6 38. Qe4 Qd2 39. Rf7
Qc1+ 40. Kg2 Qd2+ 41. Kh3 Ka5 42. Rxb7 Bd4 43. Qc6 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.10"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D35"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[Annotator "Krasenkow,M"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 {Quintiliano,R} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5
7. Rb1 {Quintiliano,R: 'This move order allows White to prevent the check from
b4 and the subsequent exchange of bishops, which is good for Matlakov, who is
playing only for the win.'} (7. Nf3 {Quintiliano,R} cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2
Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 O-O {would be of course a better situation for Aronian.}) 7...
Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Bc4 Qc7 (9... Nc6 {is more common - see Svidler - Radjabov
in CBM 179.}) 10. Qe2 a6 (10... b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. d5 e5 $6 (12... exd5 13.
Bxd5 Bxd5 14. exd5 Bd6 15. c4 $14) 13. Rd1 Qd6 {(this blockade is too shaky)}
14. a4 a6 15. Bd3 Nd7 16. Nd2 Rfb8 17. Nc4 Qf6 18. f4 $1 exf4 19. e5 Qh6 20.
Qg4 Bc8 21. Bxf4 {1-0 (21) Wei Yi (2738)-Li,Y (2459) China CHN 2017}) 11. a4 (
11. O-O {allowed Black to comfortably develop his pieces in the recent rapid
game:} b5 12. Bd3 Nd7 13. h4 (13. a4 $5) 13... e5 14. h5 h6 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16.
dxe5 c4 17. Bc2 Qxe5 $132 {0-1 (45) Navara,D (2737)-Dominguez Perez,L (2739)
Saint Louis 2017}) 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 Bd7 (12... Qa5+ $2 {(Quintiliano,R)
wins a pawn but after} 13. Bd2 Qxa4 14. O-O $1 {Black is in trouble to develop
his pieces:} Qe8 15. Rfc1 b5 16. Ba2 Nd7 17. d5 $1 e5 18. Ba5 $1 $14) 13. O-O {
[%mdl 512] Of course, White doesn't care about his a-pawn. His initiative in
the centre is more important.} Rc8 {Hardly a useful move.} (13... Bxa4 14. Bb2
$44 {[%cal Yd4d5,Yf1c1]} (14. d5 $143 exd5 15. exd5 Re8 $13)) 14. Bd3 Bxa4 15.
d5 $1 {[%mdl 128] Quintiliano,R: 'Once the material has been accepted, White
must immediately show and use his compensation, and Matlakov takes advantage
of his better development by opening the position'} Nd7 {Quintiliano,R: 'Maybe
Aronian didn't see his opponent's strong next move.'} (15... exd5 16. exd5 Bb5
{didn't help: White kept strong pressure after} 17. Re1 $1 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 $16) (
15... e5 {(Quintiliano,R) was more solid, White has some compensation, but not
aggressive ideas like in the game} 16. Be3 (16. Bb2 Nd7 17. Rfc1 Bc5) 16... Nd7
17. Rfc1 Bc5 (17... Qb8 18. Rxc8+ Qxc8 19. Qb2 $1 {[%csl Gb7,Ge5]}) 18. h4 $5
$44 {Black has some problems like his development and the bishop misplaced on
a4, but it is not easy for White to increase the pressure, the position is
balanced}) 16. e5 exd5 $2 (16... Nc5 $1 {was the best defence. After} 17. d6
Qd7 18. Bxh7+ Kxh7 19. dxe7 Qd3 $1 ({but not} 19... Qxe7 $2 20. Ng5+ {etc.})
20. Qa2 $1 {the position remained unclear.}) 17. e6 $1 Nf8 (17... Nc5 18. exf7+
Kh8 19. Bf5 $16) 18. exf7+ Kxf7 ({Quintiliano,R: 'Not recapturing the pawn was
difficult, but it was better to play'} 18... Kh8 19. Ne5 $16 Bc2 {Quintiliano,R
} 20. Bxc2 Qxc2 21. Qxc2 Rxc2 22. Rxb7 Bd6 23. Bf4 $16) 19. Nd4 $6 {
Quintiliano,R: 'But Matlakov returns the compliment and gives Aronian the
chance to save the game.'} (19. Re1 $1 {was more precise. A nice line:} Bf6 20.
Ng5+ Bxg5 21. Bxh7 $3 Qd7 (21... Nxh7 22. Qe6+ Kf8 23. Ba3+) (21... Bxc1 22.
Qf3+) 22. Qh5+ g6 23. Bxg6+ Nxg6 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Ba3+ Be7 26. Re3 Bxa3 27.
Qxg6 $18 {->}) 19... Bf6 {Quintiliano,R: 'Aronian makes the last mistake and
misses the chance, which was pretty difficult.'} (19... Kg8 $142 $1 20. Nf5 Bf6
{and Black holds on.}) 20. Bxh7 $1 {The same blow (see above) decides in this
position, too.} Qe5 (20... Bxd4 21. Qf3+ $18) (20... Nxh7 21. Qe6+ Kf8 (21...
Kg6 22. Qf5+ Kf7 23. Qxd5+ Kg6 24. Ne6 $18 {[%cal Re6c7,Re6f4]}) 22. Ba3+ Be7
23. Qxd5 $18 {->}) (20... g6 21. Bxg6+ $1 Kxg6 (21... Nxg6 22. Qe6+ Kg7 23.
Nf5+) 22. Qg4+ Kh7 (22... Kf7 23. Nf5 $1) 23. Qf5+ Kg7 (23... Kg8 24. Qxf6 $18)
24. Bh6+ $1 Kxh6 25. Qxf6+ Kh7 26. Rb6 $18 {->}) 21. Rxb7+ Bd7 22. Qg4 Qxd4 (
22... Nxh7 23. Rxd7+ Kg8 24. Nf5 $18 {->}) 23. Rxd7+ Nxd7 24. Qxd7+ Be7 25. Re1
Qe5 (25... Qc5 26. Ba3 $1 Qxa3 27. Qxd5+ $18) 26. Bd2 Rd8 27. Qg4 (27. Qg4 Qf6
(27... Qd6 28. Bb4 $1) 28. Bg5 $1 Qxg5 29. Qe6+ Ke8 30. Bg6+ $18) 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Tbilisi"]
[Date "2017.09.11"]
[Round "3.6"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Aronian, Levon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2728"]
[BlackElo "2799"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2017.09.03"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "GEO"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 c5 8. e4 Bg6
9. Be3 cxd4 10. Qxd4 Qxd4 11. Bxd4 Nfd7 12. Nxd7 Nxd7 13. Bxc4 a6 14. h4 h6 15.
Rd1 Rg8 16. Kf2 Rc8 17. Ba2 Bb4 18. h5 Bh7 19. Rd2 Ke7 20. Rhd1 f6 21. f4 Rgd8
22. f5 Nc5 23. Kf3 exf5 24. exf5 Bxf5 25. g4 Bh7 26. Bxc5+ Bxc5 27. Nd5+ Rxd5
28. Rxd5 Bc2 29. Re1+ Kf8 30. Rd7 1-0

[Event "EU-Cup 33rd"]
[Site "Antalya"]
[Date "2017.10.10"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Najer, Evgeniy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2699"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2017.10.08"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "TUR"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 181"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2017.11.10"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Mednyi Vsadnik"]
[BlackTeam "Legacy Square Capital"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "RUS"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 dxc4 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 a6 8. e4
b5 9. Bb3 cxd4 10. Nxd4 b4 11. Na4 Bb7 12. Bxe6 fxe6 13. Nxe6 Qa5 14. Bf4 Rc8
15. Qb3 Nh5 16. Ng5 Nxf4 17. Qf7+ Kd8 18. Qxf4 Rg8 19. Rad1 Bc6 20. e5 h6 21.
Nf7+ Ke8 22. Qf5 Be7 23. Qg6 Qxa4 24. Ng5+ 1-0

[Event "Bundesliga 1718"]
[Site "Germany"]
[Date "2017.11.11"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Jobava, Baadur"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D94"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2705"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2017.10.21"]
[EventType "team-tourn"]
[EventRounds "15"]
[EventCountry "GER"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Schwaebisch Hall"]
[BlackTeam "Hockenheim"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "GER"]
[BlackTeamCountry "GER"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O Na6 8. b3
Ne4 9. Bb2 Nac5 10. Rc1 Nxc3 11. Rxc3 Ne4 12. Rc2 Bf5 13. Bd3 e6 14. h3 Nd6 15.
a4 a5 16. Ne5 Re8 17. Bxf5 Nxf5 18. g4 Nd6 19. c5 Ne4 20. f3 f6 21. Nd3 Ng5 22.
h4 Nf7 23. f4 e5 24. f5 e4 25. Nf4 g5 26. Ne6 Qb8 27. Qe1 Bh6 28. Rh2 Nd8 29.
hxg5 Bxg5 30. Nxg5 fxg5 31. Kg2 Nf7 32. Rfh1 h6 33. Bc3 Qc7 34. Rh5 Kg7 35. Qg1
Rh8 36. Be1 Rh7 37. Bg3 Qd8 38. Qh2 Kg8 39. Rb1 Ra6 40. Bc7 Qc8 41. b4 axb4 42.
Rxb4 Qa8 43. a5 Rh8 44. Qg3 Kh7 45. Rh1 Re8 46. Rhb1 Ra7 47. Qh2 Re7 48. Bd6
Rd7 49. Qh5 Qg8 50. Be5 Re7 1-0

[Event "EU-chT (Men) 21st"]
[Site "Heraklion"]
[Date "2017.11.05"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Naiditsch, Arkadij"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2730"]
[BlackElo "2702"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2017.10.28"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "GRE"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 182"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2018.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]
[WhiteTeam "Russia"]
[BlackTeam "Azerbaijan"]
[WhiteTeamCountry "RUS"]
[BlackTeamCountry "AZE"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. g3 dxc4 5. Bg2 a6 6. O-O Nc6 7. e3 Rb8 8. Nfd2
e5 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Nxc4 Be6 12. Nbd2 h5 13. f3 Rb4 14. fxg4 Bxc4
15. Nxc4 Qxd1 16. Rxd1 Rxc4 17. Bd2 Rxg4 18. Rac1 Rh6 19. Ba5 Be7 20. Bxc7 Rb4
21. Rc2 Re6 22. Kg2 Rb7 23. Ba5 Rxe5 24. Bc3 Rg5 25. e4 h4 26. Kf3 hxg3 27.
hxg3 f5 28. Re1 Kf7 29. Bd2 fxe4+ 30. Rxe4 Rf5+ 31. Kg2 Rd7 32. Be3 c5 33. g4
Rf6 34. Rec4 Rg6 35. Rf4+ Rf6 36. Rfc4 Rg6 37. Rf2+ Rf6 38. b3 Rd3 39. Rxf6+
gxf6 40. Kf3 Ke6 41. Ke4 Rd5 42. Ra4 Re5+ 43. Kf3 Kd5 44. Rxa6 f5 45. g5 Re4
46. Bf4 Re1 47. Bg3 Re4 48. g6 Rg4 49. Bf4 c4 50. bxc4+ Kxc4 51. a4 Bc5 52. Be5
Kd5 53. Bb2 Kc4 54. a5 Bb4 55. g7 Bc3 56. Bxc3 Kxc3 57. Ra7 1-0

[Event "FIDE World Cup"]
[Site "Khanty-Mansiysk"]
[Date "2019.09.15"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[Annotator "Matlakov,M"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2019.09.10"]
[EventType "k.o."]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "RUS"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 192"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 g6 8. Be2
Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne5 {This is one of the most interesting sidelines in the
Moscow Variation.Of course, I understood that I would not surprise my opponent
with this line, but what should I do against one of the best theoreticians of
the world? The main line 10.e4 was based mostly on Gelfand's games, that's why
I even didn't considered this move.} c5 {The most forced and straightforward.}
({Black has many options, such as} 10... Nd7 11. f4 Qe7 12. Qb3 $5 $13 {
with an unbalanced position.}) ({The tricky idea of developing Be2 turns out
after} 10... dxc4 {which is good with bishop on d3, but here White gets a
strong alternative:} 11. f4 $1 Qe7 (11... Nd7 12. Bxc4 Qe7 13. Ne4 $1 $14) 12.
Nxc4 c5 13. d5 exd5 14. Nxd5 Qd8 15. Bf3 $1 {That's the difference! White has
excellent coordination and totally control of the d5-square.} {For instance}
Be6 ({or} 15... Nc6 16. Qa4 Rb8 17. Qb5 $14) 16. Nd6 $1 {with initiative.}) 11.
cxd5 cxd4 12. exd4 exd5 13. Bf3 Nc6 14. Re1 Qd6 {We reached this position
spending a few minutes. We both knew that this line is completely fine for
Black, and even the stylish move} 15. Nxf7 {was not a novelty and didn't come
as a surprise for Boris.} ({Of course any of the captures on d5 leads to
nothing:} 15. Bxd5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. h3 Be6 ({also fine is} 17... Bf5) 18.
Bxe6 Qxe6 19. Qd2 Kh7 20. Nd5 {Not forced, but provoking nice simplifications.}
Rad8 21. Rad1 Rfe8 22. f4 Bd4+ $1 23. Qxd4 Rxd5 24. Qxd5 Qxd5 25. Rxd5 Rxe1+
26. Kf2 Rb1 $11) ({or} 15. Nxd5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Bxe5 17. Qd2 Be6 18. Rad1 Bxh2+
19. Kh1 Bxd5 20. Bxd5 Bf4 21. Qd4 Kh7 $11) 15... Rxf7 16. Bxd5 {During the
prep I realised it is nearly 100% that Boris analysed this sacrifice and knew
the way to a draw, but on the other side it's very tempting to make the
opponent remember the narrow path of the only moves, especially in rapid
control when you haven't much time to relax. In most cases it leads to a
5-minute draw , but sometimes you can get lucky like me in this game.} Bf5 $1 {
The only move.} ({Immediately losing is} 16... Bxd4 $2 17. Bxf7+ Kxf7 18. Qb3+
Kg7 19. Re8 Ne7 20. Re1 Bf6 21. R1xe7+ Bxe7 22. Qg8+ Kf6 23. Ne4+ {1-0 (23)
Postny,E (2601)-Veinberg,N (2401) Ramat Gan ISR 2019}) ({Also too dangerous is
} 16... Qf8 $5 17. Qb3 $1 Bxd4 (17... Nxd4 $2 {is refuted by} 18. Bxf7+ Qxf7
19. Re8+ Bf8 20. Rxf8+ $1 Kxf8 21. Qb4+ Kg8 22. Qxd4 $18) 18. Ne4 Be5 19. f4 $1
Bd4+ (19... Bxf4 20. Rf1 g5 21. g3 $18) 20. Kh1 Bd7 21. Qxb7 Rd8 22. Rad1 Be8
23. Qb3 Kg7 24. Bxf7 Qxf7 25. Qc2 Qf5 26. Qc1 {with better chances.}) 17. g4
Bd7 18. Bxf7+ Kxf7 19. Nb5 Qb4 ({The alternative} 19... Qf6 {also leads to
equality:} 20. Qb3+ Kf8 21. Re3 Bxg4 22. Rae1 {but here only} Bd7 $1 {
maintains the balance} (22... Qg5 $2 23. f4 $18) (22... Bf5 $2 23. Nc7 Rb8 24.
Re8+ Rxe8 25. Rxe8#) 23. Rf3 Bf5 24. Nc7 Rb8 25. Rfe3 Bd7 26. Rf3 Bf5 $11) 20.
Qf3+ Kg8 21. Qd5+ Kh7 22. Qxd7 Qxb5 23. Re7 Rg8 24. Rae1 Qxb2 25. Qxb7 {
The culmination of the battle.} Qc2 $2 {The decisive mistake. After} (25... Qc3
{there was nothing left than to repeat the position with} 26. R1e3 ({because
after} 26. Qc7 {Black has the saving resource} Qf3 $1) 26... Qc1+ 27. Re1 $11)
26. Qc7 $1 {That's the point! Now Black is in trouble due to the knight's pin.}
Qa4 (26... Nxd4 27. Qxc2 Nxc2 28. Rd1 $18 {White totally dominates.}) 27. Qd7
Qc4 28. Rf7 Nxd4 29. Ree7 Kh8 $1 {The best resource.} (29... Qc1+ 30. Kg2 Qc6+
31. f3 Qxd7 32. Rxd7 Ne6 33. f4 $1 {should be winning.}) 30. Kg2 (30. Rxg7 $2
Rxg7 31. Rxg7 Nf3+ 32. Kg2 Ne1+ 33. Kg1 Nf3+ $11) 30... Nc2 $2 (30... Qc6+ $1 {
was the only move to continue the game:} 31. Qxc6 Nxc6 32. Re4 (32. Rc7 Ne5 $1
{and due to the hanging pawn g4 Black wins an important tempo.} 33. Rf4 Nd3)
32... Rd8 {with good drawing chances.}) 31. Qe6 $1 {Now it is over.} Qd3 32.
Re8 Rxe8 33. Qxe8+ Kh7 34. Qe5 Ne1+ 35. Qxe1 Qd5+ 36. Rf3 Qxa2 37. Qe4 1-0

[Event "FIDE Chess.com Grand Swiss"]
[Site "Douglas"]
[Date "2019.10.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Matlakov, Maxim"]
[Black "Gelfand, Boris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D43"]
[WhiteElo "2716"]
[BlackElo "2686"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2019.10.10"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "IOM"]
[SourceTitle "CBM 193"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.12.31"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 dxc4 7. e4 g5 8. Bg3 b5
9. h4 g4 10. Ne5 Nbd7 11. Be2 Bb7 12. O-O Rg8 13. Nxg4 b4 14. Na4 Nxe4 15. Bxc4
Qa5 16. Qe2 Qh5 17. Qxe4 Qxg4 18. Qe3 Bd6 19. Be2 Qg7 20. Nc5 O-O-O 21. Nxb7
Kxb7 22. a3 Nb6 23. axb4 Bxg3 24. fxg3 Nd5 25. Qf2 f5 26. Ra3 Kb8 27. b5 cxb5
28. Bxb5 Rc8 29. Re1 Qe7 30. Rb3 Ka8 31. Ba6 Rc6 32. Bb5 Rc7 33. Re5 Qd6 34.
Be2 Rc2 35. Qe1 Qc6 36. Kh2 f4 37. Re4 Qc7 38. Re5 fxg3+ 39. Rxg3 Rd8 40. Bf3
Rxb2 41. Rxe6 Qf4 42. Qe5 Qxh4+ 43. Rh3 1-0

