Another Christmas Classic

Just in time for Christmas Eve, I've dug up another game played in Christmas day. It is from the 2000 Israel Championships and was between Mark Tseitlin and Lev Psakhis. The game was a fairly combative affair, but on move 26 Tseitlin overlooked the strength of Psakhis' queen sacrifice, and was forced to drop material. After that it was a matter of avoiding any tricks before Psakhis secured the point.


Tseitlin,Mark D (2445) - Psakhis,Lev (2624) [C07]
ISR-ch Ramat Aviv/Modiin (9), 25.12.2000

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bd7 7. Nxc6 Bxc6 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. c4 Bc5 10. Qa4 Ne7 11. exd5 exd5 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. c5 Bc7 14. O-O O-O 15. Bg5 f6 16. Bf4 Be5 17. Rae1 Qc7 18. Bd2 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Be5 20. f4 Nf5 21. Rf3 Bxb2 22. Rb1 Be5 23. fxe5 fxe5 24. Qg4 g6 25. Na5 e4 26. Rb7 exf3 27. Rxc7 f2 28. Kh2 f1Q 29. Qh3 Rf7 30. Rxf7 Kxf7 31. Qxh7+ Ng7 32. Nb7 Qf6 33. Nd6+ Ke6 34. Kg1 Rb8 35. Be1 Rb1 36. Qg8+ Ke5 0-1