Murphy – Fitzsimons, Irish New Year GM 2022

Here is another interesting ending from the recent Irish New Year GM Norm Event:

Murphy – Fitzsimons, Irish New Year GM Norm Event 2022 (3)
76. ?

Conor Murphy rejected 76. Kf2, presumably because 76… g5 77. fxg5 fxg5 78. hxg5 Kxg5 79. Kf3 h4 80. g4 h3 is drawn.

But in fact White has a startling resource here: after 76. Kf2 g5 77. Ke3!!, White wins. For example, after 77… gxh4 78. gxh4 Kxh4 79. Kf3!, White has all the time in the world to bring the knight back.

If the knight stood at d8 instead of a8, this would be the only way to win. As it is, both knight moves from the diagrammed position should win. The game continued 76. Nb6 Kxg3 77. Nd5 Kxh4 78. Nxf6 Kg3, reaching the second diagrammed position.

Murphy – Fitzsimons, Irish New Year GM Norm Event 2022 (3)
79. ?

And now the disastrous 79. Ne4+?? threw away half a point. Instead, the (fairly obvious) 79. Nxh5+! wins.

[Click to replay the full game.]