Featured is an instructive chess game between Sam Shankland and Andrey Esipenko from the Quarterfinals of the 2025 FIDE World Cup. Out of a Queen’s Gambit Declined, Exchange variation with 3…Be7, we reach a key moment after Esipenko recaptures Shankland’s light-squared bishop on h7. Shankland then allows his dark-squared bishop to be captured on f4 by a knight. The resulting structure, combined with Esipenko’s excellent piece activity along the e-file, creates long-term pressure against Shankland’s king. Esipenko follows a textbook plan of opening lines, creating a dynamic environment that ultimately poses practical problems which become increasingly difficult for Shankland to withstand.
#FIDEWorldCup #AndreyEsipenko #SamShankland
Image of Andrey Esipenko by Lennart Ootes
lennartootes.com
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. 🙂
★ LICHESS.ORG https://lichess.org/@/Chess-Network
★ CHESS.COM https://www.chess.com/member/chessnetwork?ref_id=1552369 (affiliate link)
★ TWITCH http://twitch.tv/ChessNetwork
★ TWITTER http://twitter.com/ChessNetwork
★ FACEBOOK http://facebook.com/ChessNetwork
★ PATREON https://www.patreon.com/ChessNetwork
★ DONATE https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=QLV226E6FUUWG
PGN
1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Nge2 Nd7 8. h4 Nf8 9. h5 Nf6 10. f3 h6 11. Ng3 Bh7 12. Bd3 Ne6 13. Bxh7 Nxh7 14. Nf5 Nxf4 15. exf4 O-O 16. Qd3 Bd6 17. g3 Re8+ 18. Kf2 Qd7 19. Nd1 Re6 20. Nde3 Rae8 21. Rac1 Nf6 22. Rc2 b6 23. Kg2 c5 24. dxc5 Bxc5 25. Ng4 Nxg4 26. fxg4 d4 27. Rd1 Qd5+ 28. Kh3 Re1 29. Rxe1 Rxe1 30. a3 a5 31. b4 axb4 32. axb4 Bf8 33. Rh2 Rh1 34. Qxd4 Qf3 35. Qb2 b5 36. Rxh1 Qxh1+ 37. Qh2 Qe4 38. Qg2 Qxb4 39. Qd5 Qc5 40. Qd3 b4 41. Ne3 Qb6 42. Nc4 Qb5 43. Qb3 Qd5 44. Kh2 Bc5 45. Qc2 Qd4 46. Ne5 b3 47. Qg2 Qg1+