1. e4 c5 2. Nf3

Is Melekhina going to play an open Sicilian?

2... e6 3. c3

No! Melekhina continues with the c3 Sicilian that she played earlier in the event.

3... Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Nc3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bd7

A rare continuation, possibly in the hope that Melekhina hadn't seen it before since she is fairly new to this line. The usual moves are 8... Qc7

and 8... Nc6

9. Bd3 Bc6 10. Bf4 dxe5 11. Bxe5 Nd7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Re1

Black puts pressure on the c3 pawn.

13... Qa5 14. Re3

White can play either 14. Rb1 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bd6 16. Nxc6 bxc6

or 14. c4 which leads to a lot of complications after 14... Bb4 15. Re3 Bc3 16. Rb1 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 Qd8

14... Ba4 15. Bc2

Melekhina chooses the most solid continuation but the commentary room liked the pawn sacrifice 15. Qe2 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Rxc3 17. Rb1 with a lot of play for the pawn.

15... Bxc2 16. Qxc2 Nb6 17. Qb3 Qd5 18. Nd2 f6 19. Bg3 Kf7

Both sides have chances in this position.

20. Rae1 Rc6

20... Qxb3!? 21. Nxb3 Nd5 22. Rxe6 Nxc3 White cannot defend the a-pawn but has some play in compensation.

21. c4 Qxd4 22. c5 Bxc5

The queen sacrifice with 22... Qxd2 23. Rd1 Qxd1+ 24. Qxd1 Bxc5 would have produced an interesting imbalance, at least from a spectator's perspective!

23. Rxe6 Qd5 24. Rxc6 bxc6 25. Rc1! Nd7 26. Ne4?

26. Qc2 Rd8 27. Nb3 Bb6 28. Rd1= and white will regain the pawn.

26... Qxb3 27. axb3 Re8 28. Nxc5 Nxc5 29. f3 Nxb3

Black is a clear pawn up although winning the position won't be easy.

30. Rxc6 a5 31. Ra6 Re2 32. Ra7+ Ke6

How else is black going to get her a-pawn further up the board?

33. Rxg7 a4 34. Ra7 Ra2 35. Ra6+ Kd5 36. Bd6 Nc1 37. h4 Nd3 38. Bf8 Ne1 39. Rxf6 Nxg2 40. h5 Ne3 41. Rf7 a3 42. Rxh7

42. Bxa3 Rxa3 43. Rxh7 should be a draw.

42... Rg2+ 43. Kh1 a2 44. Ra7 Rf2 45. Bg7 Nf5 46. Kg1 1/2-1/2 [Bird C.]