Pinoy Teen upsets German Super GM Jan Gustaffson in Bangkok Chess Tourney
source: https://www.pna.gov.ph/articles/1248219
Sixteen year old Pinoy teen FIDE Master Christian Gian Karlo Arca pulled off a major upset by defeating top-seeded German Super Grandmaster Jan Gustafsson at the 22nd Bangkok Chess Club Open, held at the Royal Orchid Sheraton Riverside Hotel in Thailand.
Arca, playing with the white pieces, surprised the two-time champion Gustafsson (ELO 2601) with 7. Na3, a rarely played line in the Reti Opening.
The opening moves were 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 b6 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. d4 e6 5. O-O Nd7 6. c4 dxc4 7. Na3
Na3 is not usually played. The usual moves are Nc3, Qa4, Nbd2 or Qc2. The move invites Black to play Bxa3, giving up the bishop pair in exchange for White's broken pawn structure.
The game continued 7... Bxa3 8. bxa3 b5 9. a4 b4 10. a5 {a weird move for me. I would have played the obvious Qc2 instead} Rb8
Gustaffson spent over thirty minutes with his reply, Rb8. He is now down on time against his young opponent. 11. Qc2 Bd5
The last move gave Black an important tempo to expand on the center, better was Ba6. 12. e4 Ba8 13. Re1 Ngf6 14. d5 exd5??
A surprising blunder by Gustaffson, opening the e-file while his King has yet to castle. White now has the advantage. 15. exd5+ Kf8 16. Nd4 Nxd5 17. Qxc4 N7f6 18. Bg5 c6 19. Bxf6 Qxf6 20. Bxd5 cxd5 21. Qc7 Rd8
A winning position achieved by the young Pinoy FM. Black's Bishop on a8 and Rook on h8 are trapped and can't participate in the game. In contrast, White's pieces are active. However, it was not a clean win for White. There were a lot of mistakes by both sides maybe because of time scramble. 22. Re3 g6 23. Rae1 Qxd4 24. Re7 Qf6 25. Qxd8+ Kg7 26. Qc7 Rf8 27. Rd7 d4 28. f4 Kh6 29. Qd6 Qxd6 30. Rxd6 Rc8 31. Kf2 Rc5 32. Re5 Rc1 33. Rxd4 Rh1 34. Rxb4 Rxh2+ 35. Ke3 Rg2 36. Re7 Rxg3+ 37. Kd4 f5? 38. Rb8 39. Rb3 { White wins. } 1-0
