Winners decided with a round to spare at the Russian Team Championships
And now he takes the pressure off the black centre and refrains from opening up a file on the queenside. White must now somehow try to survive the advance g5-g4 on the kingside. 14...Ne4 15.b4 h5?! Black goes for it. [Good was 15...Nc3 16.Qb3 Nxe2+ 17.Rxe2 h5! and White can’t play 18.Nxg5? due to 18...Nxd4 etc.] 16.Bb2? Once again, this is too slow. [After 16.Nxe4 dxe4 17.Nxg5 there might have followed 17...Nxd4 18.Bxh5 Nf3+ 19.Bxf3 Rxd1 20.Bxd1 and White will capture on e4, getting a slight material advantage.] 16...g4 17.Ne5 gxh3 18.Nxe4 Bxe4 19.Bf3 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Rg8 21.g3 h4