[Event "Club Championships 2026"]
[Site "Mechanics Institute"]
[Date "2026-05-28"]
[White "Ryan Lambrou"]
[Black "Jasan Barnett"]
[WhiteElo "706"]
[BlackElo "1014"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 exd6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. h3 Bh5 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. Be3 Qd7 { Wanted the option to O-O-O in case of 11.g4 Bg6 12.Bxg6 } 11. g4 Bg6 12. Bxg6 hxg6 13. b3 Qxg4!! { Even though White had serious chances later on, because this move gave black a material advantage for the rest of the match, I feel as though this move was the biggest reason for black's victory. Also, this was the first time I had ever made a successful queen sacrifice in an over-the-board classical game. Certainly, Ryan's eyebrows were raised half way up his forehead when he came back to board and saw this position. Nice that Stockfish confirmed this as the best move as well. } 14. hxg4 Rxh1+ 15. Ke2 Rxd1 16. Rxd1 O-O-O 17. d5 Ne5 18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. c5 Na8?? { Somehow I didn't do the best move 19...Nd7 because I convinced myself I would end up having to trade for my b7 pawn, which I didn't like (two isolated pawns). (The engine says I had nothing to be worried about) } (19... Nd7 20. c6 Nb6 21. cxb7+ Kxb7) 20. Nb5 a6 21. d6?? { I saw this move coming before it happened and it petrified me as I could only see two options for myself: 21..cxd6 and 21..Bf8. I disliked them both (even though the engine says I am still ok. I finally saw the move that would result in me not only surviving but winning another pawn } 21... axb5 22. dxe7 Re8 { Fortunately, 23.Rd8+ does not finish me off, here as any queening is immediately taken back } 23. Rh1 Kd7 24. Rh7 Rg8 25. Kd3 Kxe7 26. f4 Ke6 27. fxe5 Kxe5?! { I knew I would lose the g7 pawn but figured I was still going to be a pawn up after the dust settled } 28. Bd4+ Kf4 29. Bxg7 Kxg4 30. Bf6?! Kf5 31. Rxf7?! Ke6 32. Rg7 Rxg7 33. Bxg7 c6 34. Kc3 Nc7 35. Kb4 g5 36. Ka5 Kd7 37. Kb6 Kc8 38. a4 Nd5+ 39. Ka7 b4 40. Bd4 g4 41. a5 g3 42. a6 bxa6 43. Kxa6 Kd7 44. Kb7 g2 45. Bg1 Nc3 46. Kb6 Ne2 47. Bf2 Nc1 48. Ka5 Nxb3+ 49. Kxb4 Nc1 { White resigns } *