Featured is a sharp chess game between Andrey Esipenko and Sam Shankland from the Quarterfinals of the 2025 FIDE World Cup. Out of a Philidor Defense, Lion variation, the game develops into a same-side castles battle, with both players castling queenside and fianchettoing their queen bishops. Shankland entered this game in a must-win situation. In retrospect, entering an opposite-side castles game with 9…O-O might have offered better chances, but hindsight is always clearer. After Shankland commits to 17…c5, the weakness on d5 is quickly and forcefully exploited by Esipenko. The sequence opens the center, exposing Shankland’s king, while Esipenko’s remains secure behind a solid pawn shelter.
#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. 🙂
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PGN
1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. b3 c6 6. Bb2 Be7 7. Qd2 Qc7 8. O-O-O b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. g4 h6 11. Rhg1 a6 12. h4 g6 13. Qe3 O-O-O 14. Kb1 Kb8 15. g5 hxg5 16. hxg5 Nh5 17. Ne2 c5 18. dxe5 Nxe5 19. Nc3 Rhe8 20. Be2 Bf8 21. Nxe5 dxe5 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Bxh5 gxh5 24. Nd5 Bxd5 25. exd5 Rxd5 26. Qf3 Rd8 27. g6 fxg6 28. Rxg6 Ka7 29. Qxh5 c4 30. Bxe5 Qc5 31. Qh7+ Qe7 32. Qxe7+ Bxe7 33. Rg7 Rd1+ 34. Kb2 Rd7 35. bxc4