Instead, 25...Qc5 = (0.00 @ 36 ply, Stockfish 8) gives the Black Queen sufficient mobility to defend against White's aggressive Kingside attacking intentions.

Black threatens Qxc1+ and mate next.

Hmmm, Had it been my game and my set-up then 45.Qxf8+ would have been closer to instantaneous. But coming in cold, it takes a few seconds to recognize the mating position and then check the board out to see if it works. When I posted that I wondered if ten seconds was too much time for seeing such a slam dunk, but after reading your post I got out my stopwatch and ten seconds seems about right.

Because it was so cut and dried, I also wondered if this was a blitz game since it went all the way to the mate.

Maybe I should have posted:

Material is not level.

White has a pawn majority on the queenside.

This is balanced by the Black king being nearer the centre than his opponent.

White controls 15 central squares, but Black only controls 10 centre squares.

White has a weak pawn on f6. It is isolated and will be attacked by ..Qa8 and ...Qd5.

We are therefore looking for a drawing attempt.

The only drawing method is a stalemate.

The only possible solution is therefore

15. Qa8+ Rxa9 [sic]
20. Rd8 double check
20...Rxd8.
{diagram]
25...Qxf6 stalemate.

It is tempting to assume any move that allows a short (here, 2 moves) mating combination in reply is a blunder, and it seems Black could have prolonged his agony (i.e., postponed mate for a number of moves) with 44. … Qd6. Nevertheless, it is understandable that GM Mista did not relish the prospect of suffering through the endgame resulting from 45. Qxd6 Bxd6.

So, he presumably thought (in the true spirit of the would-be swindler), why not play 44. … Qe3?/!? and give White the opportunity to play a genuine and catastrophic blinder with 45. Rc8???