Featured is an instructive chess game between Luke McShane and Alireza Firouzja from Round 2 of the Elite section of the 2025 London Chess Classic. Out of a Sicilian Defense, Najdorf variation with 6.Be2, McShane launches an early kingside pawn storm. After 10.f5, questioning Black’s bishop on e6, the struggle centers around the key d5-square while both players primarily focus on the queenside. Once Firouzja successfully breaks with the thematic …d5, his position becomes preferable. After 20…O-O, McShane commits a big blunder that drops a piece, and Firouzja converts effortlessly, with McShane resigning after only 33 moves.
#LondonChessClassic #AlirezaFirouzja #LukeMcShane
Image of Alireza Firouzja by Lennart Ootes
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 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. f4 Be7 9. g4 h6 10. f5 Bd7 11. Be3 Bc6 12. Bf3 b5 13. a3 Nbd7 14. Qe2 Nb6 15. Na5 Rc8 16. O-O-O Ba8 17. Bd2 Qc7 18. Kb1 d5 19. exd5 Nfxd5 20. Rhe1 O-O 21. Qxe5 Qxe5 22. Rxe5 Nxc3+ 23. Bxc3 Bxf3 24. Rd3 Bf6 25. Rxf3 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Bxe5 27. Rc6 Rb8 28. h3 Nc4 29. Rxa6 Bxb2 30. Nc6 Re8 31. a4 Bc3 32. Ka2 Nd2 33. axb5 Re1