Featured is an excellent rapid chess game between Maxime Vachier-Lagrave and Fabiano Caruana from the Finals of the 2025 Grand Chess Tour Finals. Out of a Sicilian Sveshnikov by transposition, Caruana has the two bishops and a weakened kingside, while MVL enjoys a powerful knight outpost on d5. The game reaches a critical middlegame phase around move 16, and Caruana’s imprecise 19th move proves to be a decisive blunder. From there, MVL’s conversion playing the exchange-up is near flawless, leaving Caruana with little choice at times but to shuffle pieces as his position collapses.
#GrandChessTour #MaximeVachierLagrave #FabianoCaruana
Image of Maxime Vachier-Lagrave by Lennart Ootes
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I’m a self-taught National Master in chess out of Pennsylvania, USA who was introduced to the game by my father in 1988 at the age of 8. The purpose of this channel is to share my knowledge of chess to help others improve their game. I enjoy continuing to improve my understanding of this great game, albeit slowly. Consider subscribing here on YouTube for frequent content, and/or connecting via any or all the below social medias. Your support is greatly appreciated. Take care, bye. 🙂
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PGN
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 Nf6 8. Bg5 b5 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nd5 f5 11. Bd3 Be6 12. O-O Bg7 13. Qd2 O-O 14. c3 Kh8 15. Nc2 fxe4 16. Bxe4 f5 17. Nf4 Bd7 18. Bxc6 Bxc6 19. Ne6 Qf6 20. Nxf8 Bh6 21. Ne3 Rxf8 22. Rad1 Rd8 23. Nd5 Qe6 24. f4 a5 25. b3 a4 26. bxa4 bxa4 27. c4 Bg7 28. Qe3 Rg8 29. Qh3 Bd7 30. Kh1 h6 31. Rb1 exf4 32. Rbe1 Be5 33. Rxf4 Kh7 34. Qd3 Rg5 35. Rf3 Qf7 36. h3 Be6 37. Ref1 Kh8 38. Qe2 Qg7 39. Rb1 Rg3 40. Qf2 Rxf3 41. gxf3 Qf7 42. f4 Bg7 43. Qf3 Qa7 44. Re1 Qf7 45. Kh2 Kh7 46. Re2 Kh8 47. Rg2 Kh7 48. h4 Kh8 49. h5 Qa7 50. Qe3 Qf7 51. Qf3 Qa7 52. Qg3 Bxd5 53. cxd5 Qd4 54. a3 Kg8 55. Qxg7+ Qxg7 56. Rxg7+ Kxg7 57. Kg3 Kf7 58. Kf3 Ke7 59. Ke3 Kd7 60. Kd4 Kc7 61. Kc4 Kb6 62. Kb4