Round 5 of the Quantbox Chennai Grandmasters 2025 pairs Jorden van Foreest against Ray Robson.
Van Foreest is looking to recover after a Round 4 loss to Murali Karthikeyan, while Robson comes in from a short, uneventful Italian Game draw with Awonder Liang.
With both players fresh and motivated, this could be the moment they trade safety for sharp play in search of a much-needed win!
Robson chooses the time-tested Queen’s Gambit Declined, aiming for a solid setup.
It’s not often we see White advancing kingside pawns instead of targeting the queenside in these Carlsbad structures - a bold deviation from tradition!
Robson meets Van Foreest head-on by advancing his own pawns on the kingside, signaling that the battle will be fought on both flanks!
Van Foreest moves his king, successfully connecting his rooks.
Robson executes a well-timed exchange sacrifice!
A slip by Robson leaves his queenside pawn structure vulnerable, opening potential targets for his opponent.
Robson is down to just one minute on the clock, while Van Foreest still has a comfortable 8 minutes remaining.
A series of precise moves by Van Foreest smoothly transitions the game into an advantageous endgame position!
Van Foreest holds a rook against Robson’s knight and pawn, and in this position, that material advantage proves decisive. Robson’s setup has too many weak targets to defend effectively.
An oversight by Van Foreest opens the door for Robson’s timely d-pawn push to equalize. Will Robson spot it in time?
Robson had a timely d-pawn push that could have equalized the game, but he missed his chance right when it mattered most!
Robson had another opportunity to level the game with a timely f-pawn break, but missed it!
Van Foreest continues the waiting game, biding his time for Robson to make a critical error.
In this position, the move played secures a win!
🧩 Puzzle Time: The move played here wins, but what if Ra8 was the choice instead? That would have led to a draw! This position is challenging - can you crack the code? Level: Extremely Difficult.
Robson is unable to create sufficient counterplay to challenge his opponent’s position.
Round 5 delivered an exciting showdown as Jorden van Foreest outlasted Ray Robson in a grueling 82-move game.
The clash began with the Queen’s Gambit Declined and a classic Carlsbad pawn structure. Van Foreest surprised by launching a bold pawn storm on the kingside instead of the traditional queenside play.
In the tense endgame, rook versus knight and pawn - Robson’s inaccuracies gave Van Foreest the edge he needed. With multiple shifts on the evaluation bar, the final phase was a rollercoaster that showcased Van Foreest’s precise technique to convert his advantage into a well-earned victory!