[Event "English Chess Championship 2026"]
[Site "Peterborough, United Kingdom"]
[Date "2026.10.26"]
[Round "2.12"]
[White "Balaji, Aaravamudhan"]
[Black "McLachlan, Matthew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2317"]
[WhiteTitle "IM"]
[WhiteFideId "436224"]
[BlackElo "2015"]
[BlackFideId "436003"]
[TimeControl "G90' + 30"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "D43"]
[Opening "Semi-Slav Defense"]
[UTCDate "2026.10.26"]
[UTCTime "14:57:42"]
[BroadcastName "English Chess Championships 2026 | Open | Classical"]
[BroadcastURL "https://lichess.org/broadcast/english-chess-championships-2026-open-classical/round-2/qdFea6FK"]
[GameURL "https://lichess.org/broadcast/english-chess-championships-2026-open-classical/round-2/qdFea6FK/6HSRJFg9"]

1. d4 { [%eval 0.15] [%clk 1:26:42] } 1... d5 { [%eval 0.27] [%clk 1:30:58] } 2. c4 { [%eval 0.22] [%clk 1:26:35] } 2... c6 { [%eval 0.21] [%clk 1:31:22] } 3. Nf3 { [%eval 0.2] [%clk 1:26:21] } 3... Nf6 { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 1:31:44] } 4. Nc3 { [%eval 0.2] [%clk 1:26:41] } 4... e6 { [%eval 0.12] [%clk 1:32:07] } 5. g3 { [%eval 0.0] [%clk 1:25:54] } 5... a5 { [%eval 0.18] [%clk 1:28:38] } 6. Bg2 { [%eval 0.25] [%clk 1:21:47] } 6... Be7 { [%eval 0.3] [%clk 1:29:00] } 7. O-O { [%eval 0.25] [%clk 1:21:36] } 7... O-O { [%eval 0.24] [%clk 1:29:26] } 8. b3 { [%eval 0.26] [%clk 1:19:13] } 8... b6 { [%eval 0.29] [%clk 1:28:26] } 9. Bb2 { [%eval 0.3] [%clk 1:17:20] } 9... Ba6 { [%eval 0.37] [%clk 1:25:36] } 10. Nd2 { [%eval 0.22] [%clk 1:09:25] } 10... Ra7 { [%eval 0.53] [%clk 1:26:01] } 11. Re1 { [%eval 0.31] [%clk 0:36:30] } 11... c5 { [%eval 0.33] [%clk 1:12:06] } 12. dxc5 { [%eval 0.4] [%clk 0:19:44] } 12... bxc5 { [%eval 0.38] [%clk 1:11:11] } 13. e4 { [%eval 0.37] [%clk 0:10:46] } 13... Rd7?? { [%eval 2.6] } { Blunder. dxc4 was best. } { [%clk 0:55:07] } 14. exd5 { [%eval 2.58] [%clk 0:04:53] } 14... Bb7 { [%eval 2.59] [%clk 0:50:08] } 15. Bh3 { [%eval 2.48] [%clk 0:04:14] } 15... Nc6 { [%eval 2.62] [%clk 0:38:31] } 16. Nf3 { [%eval 2.61] [%clk 0:01:25] } 16... g5? { [%eval 4.61] } { Mistake. Ba8 was best. } { [%clk 0:27:49] } 17. Nxg5 { [%eval 4.95] [%clk 0:01:05] } 17... Nd4 { [%eval 4.85] [%clk 0:26:10] } 18. Nf3 { [%eval 4.73] [%clk 0:01:07] } 18... Rd6 { [%eval 5.69] [%clk 0:25:24] } 19. Nxd4 { [%eval 5.57] [%clk 0:01:19] } 19... cxd4 { [%eval 5.31] [%clk 0:25:52] } 20. Nb5 { [%eval 4.57] [%clk 0:01:24] } 20... Rxd5 { [%eval 4.51] [%clk 0:25:52] } 21. Bg2 { [%eval 4.43] [%clk 0:00:46] } 21... Rd7 { [%eval 4.7] [%clk 0:25:15] } 22. Bxb7 { [%eval 4.65] [%clk 0:01:11] } 22... Rxb7 { [%eval 4.62] [%clk 0:25:41] } 23. Qxd4?! { [%eval 3.21] } { Inaccuracy. Qf3 was best. } { [%clk 0:01:25] } 23... Rd7?! { [%eval 4.98] } { Inaccuracy. Qxd4 was best. } { [%clk 0:26:02] } 24. Qe5 { [%eval 4.1] [%clk 0:00:52] } 24... Rd2 { [%eval 5.11] [%clk 0:25:51] } 25. Bc3 { [%eval 4.57] [%clk 0:00:42] } 25... Rxf2?! { [%eval 6.18] } { Inaccuracy. Rd3 was best. } { [%clk 0:26:16] } 26. Qg5+ { [%eval 5.79] [%clk 0:01:07] } 26... Kh8 { [%eval 5.8] [%clk 0:26:38] } 27. Kxf2 { [%eval 5.79] [%clk 0:01:25] } 27... Rg8 { [%eval 5.65] [%clk 0:26:24] } 28. Qf4 { [%eval 5.51] [%clk 0:01:24] } 28... Bc5+?! { [%eval 7.48] } { Inaccuracy. Rg6 was best. } { [%clk 0:25:57] } 29. Kg2 { [%eval 6.22] [%clk 0:01:35] } 1-0