1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 b6 8. Qb3 Bb7 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rd1 Re8 12. Bd3 c6

A little passive. Fan could well have prepared this line against Baginskaite but it would be interesting to find out if she did, why she didn't play the same move that scored Mkrtchian a relatively quick win a few years back 12... c5 13. Bb1 Nd7 14. O-O cxd4 15. exd4 Nf8 16. Rfe1 Ne6 17. Qc2 g6 18. Qd2 Bg7 19. a3 Qf6 20. Ba2 Nxd4 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Nxd4 Qxd4 23. Qc1 Qe5 24. Nxd5 Qxb2 25. Qc4 Qd4 26. Qc1 Qe5 27. h3 Qe4 28. Qc7 Qe1+ 0-1 Baginskaite,C (2365)-Mkrtchian,L (2409)/Bled 2002

13. O-O Nd7 14. Rfe1 Nf8 15. e4

Because of this push the game takes on a different complexion from the one previously mentioned.

15... Ne6 16. e5 Be7 17. Bf5 Bf8 18. g3 Bc8 19. Qc2 Ng5 20. Nxg5 Bxf5 21. Qxf5 Qxg5 22. Qxg5 hxg5

Fan is slightly cramped but her position is solid.

23. f4 gxf4 24. gxf4 g6 25. Kf2 Bh6 26. Kf3 Re6

26... Kf8 with the idea of putting the king on e7 and using the h-file for the rooks should be equal.

27. b4 a6 28. Na4 Rb8 29. Rg1 Kh7 30. Rdf1 Bf8 31. a3 a5 32. Rb1 axb4 33. axb4 f6

Fan may not have liked the look of the rook ending after 33... b5 34. Nc5 Bxc5 35. bxc5 Ra8 36. Ra1 Ree8 37. f5!?

34. Rgc1 fxe5 35. fxe5 Bh6 36. Rf1 Re7 37. Rb3 Ra7 38. Nc3 Bd2

38... Rf8+ 39. Ke2 Rxf1 40. Kxf1 b5 is equal. The white pawns will become targets for the black bishop and rook.

39. Ke2 Bg5 40. b5 c5 41. dxc5 bxc5 42. Nxd5 Ra2+?!

42... c4! 43. Rbb1 (43. Nf6+ Kg7 44. Rb4 Ra2+ 45. Kf3 Bxf6 46. exf6+ Kxf6=) 43... Re8 44. Nf6+ Bxf6 45. Rxf6 Rxe5+=

43. Kd3 Rxh2 44. b6 Rh4 45. Kc3 Rd4 46. Nf6+

46. Rf7+! wins but this is one of those silly computer lines. How many people would see to put their king on a1 and give up the d5 knight just so the b-pawn can advance? 46... Kg8 47. Rd7 Rf8 48. Rb5! Rf3+ 49. Kb2 Rd2+ 50. Ka1 Rf1+ 51. Rb1 Rff2 52. Ra7 Rxd5 53. b7

46... Kg7 47. Rb2 Rf4??

A blunder in a difficult position but Fan only had a few minutes left for the rest of the game. Taking on f6 doesn't save the position 47... Bxf6 48. exf6+ Kf7 49. Rh2!

Black's best may have been 47... Bf4 48. Nd7 Rxd7 49. Rxf4 Re7 50. Rf6 Rxe5 51. Rc6 g5 52. Rc7+ Kf6 53. b7 Ree8 54. Kc4 g4 55. Kxc5 Rg8 with no immediate win in clear sight for white.

48. Rxf4 Bxf4 49. Nd7

The white king will penetrate into c6.

49... Rb7 50. e6 Bd6 51. Kc4 g5 52. Kd5 Bf4 53. Kc6 Rb8 54. Nxb8 Bxb8 55. e7 1-0 [Bird C.]