Event: Malta Rapid Challenge 2025 - part of the World Chess Festival 2024-25
Site: Qormi, Malta
Date: 2025-06-08
White: Hopper, Paul
WhiteElo: 2047
Black: Santagati, Alessandro
BlackTitle: FM
BlackElo: 2170
Result: 1/2-1/2
ECO: B15
Opening: Caro-Kann Defense: Main Line
Variant: Standard
TimeControl: 600+5

1. e4 { [%eval 0.18] [%clk 0:10:10] } 1... c6 { [%eval 0.23] [%clk 0:10:09] } 2. d4 { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 0:10:12] } 2... d5 { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 0:10:13] } 3. Nc3 { [%eval 0.22] [%clk 0:10:11] } 3... dxe4 { [%eval 0.18] [%clk 0:10:17] } 4. Nxe4 { [%eval 0.28] [%clk 0:10:15] } 4... Nf6 { [%eval 0.32] [%clk 0:10:22] } 5. Ng3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:10:19] } 5... h5 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 0:10:06] } 6. c3 { [%eval -0.09] [%clk 0:08:14] } 6... h4 { [%eval -0.03] [%clk 0:10:08] } 7. N3e2 { [%eval -0.08] [%clk 0:08:15] } 7... h3 { [%eval 0.46] [%clk 0:10:07] } 8. Nxh3 { [%eval 0.57] [%clk 0:07:47] } 8... Bxh3 { [%eval 0.58] [%clk 0:10:09] } 9. gxh3 { [%eval 0.56] [%clk 0:07:51] } 9... Nbd7 { [%eval 0.74] [%clk 0:09:03] } 10. Qc2 { [%eval 0.65] [%clk 0:07:17] } 10... Qa5 { [%eval 0.78] [%clk 0:08:56] } 11. Bd2 { [%eval 0.37] [%clk 0:06:26] } 11... O-O-O { [%eval 0.83] [%clk 0:07:32] } 12. c4 { [%eval 0.81] [%clk 0:05:46] } 12... Qh5 { [%eval 0.68] [%clk 0:07:35] } 13. Be3 { [%eval 0.49] [%clk 0:03:37] } 13... Kb8?! { [%eval 1.24] } { Inaccuracy. Qh7 was best. } { [%clk 0:07:15] } 14. O-O-O { [%eval 1.07] [%clk 0:03:33] } 14... e6 { [%eval 1.14] [%clk 0:06:13] } 15. Bg2 { [%eval 1.07] [%clk 0:03:15] } 15... Nb6 { [%eval 1.53] [%clk 0:05:26] } 16. Kb1?? { [%eval -0.87] } { Blunder. Nf4 was best. } { [%clk 0:02:58] } 16... Be7?? { [%eval 1.42] } { Blunder. Nxc4 was best. } { [%clk 0:05:11] } 17. Rhg1 { [%eval 1.35] [%clk 0:02:40] } 17... Ka8 { [%eval 1.53] [%clk 0:03:58] } 18. Nf4 { [%eval 1.38] [%clk 0:02:23] } 18... Qh4 { [%eval 1.92] [%clk 0:03:34] } 19. d5? { [%eval 0.4] } { Mistake. a4 was best. } { [%clk 0:02:02] } 19... cxd5 { [%eval 0.34] [%clk 0:03:16] } 20. cxd5 { [%eval 0.57] [%clk 0:01:22] } 20... g5?? { [%eval 2.71] } { Blunder. Nfxd5 was best. } { [%clk 0:02:20] } 21. Bxb6?? { [%eval 0.13] } { Blunder. d6 was best. } { [%clk 0:00:49] } 21... axb6 { [%eval 0.13] [%clk 0:02:23] } 22. Qc7?? { [%eval -2.84] } { Blunder. Rd4 was best. } { [%clk 0:00:28] } 22... Bd6?? { [%eval 0.18] } { Blunder. Rd7 was best. } { [%clk 0:01:55] } 23. Qxb6 { [%eval 0.2] [%clk 0:00:27] } 23... e5? { [%eval 1.42] } { Mistake. Bxf4 was best. } { [%clk 0:01:03] } 24. Ne6 { [%eval 0.9] [%clk 0:00:20] } 24... fxe6 { [%eval 0.95] [%clk 0:01:02] } 25. dxe6 { [%eval 0.97] [%clk 0:00:24] } 25... e4?? { [%eval 6.47] } { Blunder. Qh7+ was best. } { [%clk 0:01:02] } 26. Rxd6?? { [%eval 3.1] } { Blunder. Rd4 was best. } { [%clk 0:00:24] } 26... Rxd6 { [%eval 3.01] [%clk 0:01:00] } 27. Qxd6 { [%eval 2.87] [%clk 0:00:28] } 27... Qxf2 { [%eval 2.63] [%clk 0:00:58] } 28. Qa3+ { [%eval 2.99] [%clk 0:00:21] } 28... Kb8 { [%eval 2.98] [%clk 0:01:00] } 29. Qd6+ { [%eval 2.83] [%clk 0:00:25] } 29... Ka8 { [%eval 2.6] [%clk 0:01:03] } 30. Qa3+? { [%eval 0.84] } { Mistake. Qd1 was best. } { [%clk 0:00:29] } 30... Kb8 { [%eval 0.95] [%clk 0:01:07] } 31. Qd6+?! { [%eval 0.0] } { Inaccuracy. Qg3+ was best. } { [%clk 0:00:26] } 31... Ka8 { [%eval 2.58] [%clk 0:01:12] } 32. Qa3+?? { [%eval 0.0] } { Blunder. Qd1 was best. } { [%clk 0:00:28] } 32... Kb8 { [%eval 1.21] [%clk 0:00:58] } 1/2-1/2