Freddie had played the best chess of the tournament for the first three rounds. However he seemed to run out of gas toward the end of the tourney. Matt played the tournament well the whole way. After his second round loss, Matt's play reached a higher level. He played with more confidence and simply marched his way to victory. I don't think it will be too long before Matt will be working his way up to the open tournaments.
1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
Nf6
3.Nc3
[The Nimzowitsch variation. Not very popular at grandmaster level. 3.e5
Nd5
4.Nc3
e6
5.Nxd5
exd5
6.d4
d6
7.Bb5+
Nc6
8.0-0
Be7
9.c4!+/-
]
3...Nc6
4.Bb5
[4.d4
would bring the variation to the main lines of the Sicilian.]
4...d6
5.0-0
Bd7
A good move to break the pin.
6.Re1
a6
White has played the opening well. Notice White has made one pawn move and five developing moves! Black should be cautious. A move like 6...e5 would "slow" the position down. 6...a6 isn't bad but doesn't help Black's slow development.
7.Be2
[This is a bad move. 7.Bf1
was necessary. At e2, the bishop interferes with White's pieces.]
7...g6
8.b3
Bg7
9.d3
[It would be better to put the bishop on b2 after for example 9.Rb1
; 9.Bb2
Nxe4!
]
9...0-0
[9...Nxe4!
is possible now.]
10.Bb2
Rc8!
A strong waiting move, or prophylaxis as Nimzowitsch taught. Black anticipates White playing d2-d4. And if White doesn't play it, then Black has ...b7-b5 with a strong queenside initiative.
11.d4
cxd4
12.Nxd4
Nxd4
Drawing White's queen into the gaze of the bishop on g7.
13.Qxd4
Ng4
14.Qd5
[14.Qd3
was forced. Now White loses a piece.]
14...Bxc3
15.Bxc3
Rxc3
16.Qd4
Rxc2
17.Bxg4?!
White's only hope is to keep as much material on the board as possible, for the sake of "confusing" his opponent. It's much easier to win an endgame a piece up than a middlegame a piece up.
17...Bxg4
18.h4
Qa5
Another strong move. The queen has a great view from here.
19.h5
Bxh5
White was hoping for h5-h6 and a mate on g7.
20.Rac1
Qxa2
21.Ra1
Qxb3
22.Reb1
Qc3
23.Qb6
[This time 23.Qxc3
is best. Black's queen and rook on White's second rank makes life untenable for White.]
23...Qd2
24.Qxb7
Qxf2+
25.Kh2
Qxg2#
0-1