and a draw was agreed after some bishop checks by Black.

After the game, Vachier-Lagrave declared that he had seen the possibility of 15...Bxh3, but simply felt it could not be correct as White had so many options. So he underestimated his opponent's possibilities: but surely he was familiar with this kind of sacrifice?!

Mikhail Tal, the 8th World Champion (1960- 1961) was born on this day in 1936.
Do you know that the " Magician from Riga" held the record for the longest unbeaten streak in top-level chess history, with 95 games, until Ding Liren of 100 games in 2017?
It's true! in fact, Tal had broken this record twice, in 1973, having played 86 consecutive games without a loss (47 wins) and then again in 1974, with 95 (46 wins)!

Sometimes a knight is bluntly planted in the middle of the board, on the protected square d5 - an offer Black can't refuse. This is a familiar sight in several openings. notably the Sicilian.

Here the knight is not attacking anything, but all white pieces are now set for the attack.

21...Re8 22.e5 Nf8 23.Nf6+

The only move

White is winning. His rook can invade Black's position and he may create a passed pawn on the queenside.

Of course, you will think now, the position calls for this characteristic sacrifice, which so often occurs in open Sicilians.
Yet, remarkably, it was only in 2008 that this move came to the fore.