Beth vs Borgov: the Rossolimo
Matt and Mike talk the crowd through the opening as Borgov sidesteps Beth's Sicilian with a rare line; 'Borgov's not a machine' - 'That you know of.'
Tag
#borgov
11 moments.
Beth recounts the loss, then finds Alma
Beth tells her mother the game felt like a foregone conclusion, Borgov's face showing no doubt and no weakness, before realizing Alma is not answering.
Harry Beltik calls with condolences and an offer
Out of nowhere, Harry phones Beth about her loss to Borgov and offers to train her for the Soviets; she tells him to come over right now.
Wiped out five times: Harry tells Beth to read Borgov's games
After beating Beth repeatedly at speed chess, Harry insists Borgov needs years more work and hands her Leningrad 1962; she mocks him alone.
The one player who scares Beth
Beth recaps her Open wins and Benny Watts's legend to Alma, then admits the only name that frightens her is the Russian, Borgov.
Pillow talk: Benny tells Beth to play the Sicilian against Borgov
In bed, Benny's mind goes straight back to chess: play your own line, never his, and nobody says check at the big tournaments. Beth is unimpressed.
Paris press conference: Beth's Adam's apple retort
Borgov says he will likely die with his head on a chessboard; asked if she is too glamorous to be serious, Beth answers with a perfect one-liner.
Hungover Beth loses the final to Borgov
Woken by hotel staff with the hall waiting, Beth stumbles into the rematch against Borgov, cannot see the board clearly, and resigns.
Borgov declines the Queen's Gambit and the final game begins
Commentary walks through the opening of Beth versus Borgov: her Queen's Gambit, his surprising rare line, her deviation from the Albin, through to adjournment.
Borgov offers a draw and Beth refuses
The adjourned game resumes, Borgov goes off script and then offers Beth a draw; commentary weighs it, but Elizabeth Harmon loves to win.
Beth sees the board on the ceiling and Borgov hands her his king
Beth visualizes the endgame sober, Borgov resigns and gives her his king, the hall erupts, and Jolene watches at home.