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Today we'll focus our attention on the game between Radjabov and Aronian. Both claimed their place in the world chess elite being very young and have a lot of fans. Levon is an active positional player who is at his best in complicated positions having the initiative. Teimour's chess is more academic but he is very dangerous when goes for the opponents King. They didn't start well in this tournament but after two rounds only it's too early to draw conclusions and there is still a lot of time for them to recover. Let's hope they'll entertain the audience today with a fascinating game as we well know they are capable of this.
1.d4 Radjabov started all of their duels but one with this move.
1... d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 e6 5.Bg5 h6 The highly fashionable Moscow variation of Slav Defense.
6.Bh4 dxc4 7.e4 g5 8.Bg3 b5 9.Be2 Bb7 10.O-O Nbd7 11.Ne5 Bg7 12.Nxd7 Nxd7 13.Bd6 a6 14.Re1 Bf8 15.Bg3 Bg7 16.Bd6 Bf8 17.Bg3 Bg7 18.e5 Up to now it was well known theory. The last move was played as a novelty ten days ago by Inarkiev in his game with Cheparinov at Baku Grand Prix. Although he eventually lost this game, at some point White got advantage. Levon seems unprepared for this opening surprise, so would he be able to find the correct reaction?
18... c5 (18... O-O was played in the above mentioned game.)
19.d5 O-O 20.Bf3 Ra7 The move looks a bit odd but Black has to coordinate his pieces somehow. Now Teimour should determine the situation with the center. 21.d6 doesn't seem not to follow the spirit of the position so 21.dxe6 comes to mind.
21.dxe6 Bxf3 (21... fxe6 22.Bg4 Qe7 23.Qd6 favors White, but would now Black have sufficient compensation for the pawn?)
22.exf7+ What has Aronian planed? (22.exf7+ Rxf7 23.gxf3 Qe8 24.e6 Re7 25.exd7 Raxd7 26.Qc1 Rxe1+ 27.Qxe1 Qxe1+ 28.Rxe1 Rd2 offers some drawing chances but I doubt that he aims for such line. Meanwhile Ivanchuk is having decisive advantage on move 9!)
22... Rxf7 23.gxf3 Qe8 Aronian's moves are forced. Clock readings: 1.02 0.48 Radjabov has an important decision to take: should he take the piece or look for other options. ( Black seems to hold after 23... Qe8 24.Qd5 b4) ( but 23... Qe8 24.e6 Re7 25.Qd5 could be dangerous.)
24.e6 Re7 25.Qd5 I guess Teimour made the right decision. His pieces are ready to get on active central squares and the Black King is considerably weakened, so keeping the Queens leaves him with good chances to create a strong attack. (25.Qd5 Nf6 26.Qxc5 Ra8 27.Qf5 Rd8 28.f4 is a possible line)
25... Nf6 26.Qxc5 Ra8 Time spent: 0.29 0.29
27.Qf5 Rd8 28.Rac1 (28.a3 seems a good alternative depriving Black of counterplay: 28... Qc6 (28... Rd2 29.Rad1) 29.Re5 Rde8 30.Rae1)
28... Qc6 29.b3 ( Lets Aronian get rid of the annoying 'e6' pawn after 29.b3 Rde8 though Radjabov may still fight for advantage 30.bxc4 bxc4 31.Re5 Rxe6 32.Rc5) (29.a4 was to be preferred: 29... b4 30.Qa5)
29... Rde8 Clock readings: 0.14 0.14
30.a4 The position begins to simplify but still anything may happen in the time trouble.
30... Rxe6 ( or 30... cxb3 31.axb5 axb5 32.Nxb5 Qd5 33.Qxd5 Nxd5 34.Rb1 b2 35.Nd6 Rf8 with equality)
31.Rxe6 Qxe6 32.Qxe6 Rxe6 33.axb5 cxb3 34.Rb1 Nh5 35.bxa6 Rxa6 36.Rxb3 Bxc3 37.Rxc3 Kf7 38.Rc4 Rf6 39.Kg2 Kg6 40.h4 Nf4+ Time control is passed and the mass simplifications lead to and ending that may be characterized as dead draw.
41.Bxf4 Rxf4 42.Rc6+ Kh5 43.hxg5 hxg5 44.Kg3 Ra4 45.Rf6 Ra3 46.Re6 Ra4 47.Re4 Ra3 48.Rd4 Rb3 49.Kg2 Kg6 50.f4 gxf4 51.Rxf4 Kg5 52.Rf3 Rxf3 53.Kxf3 Kf5 54.Ke3 Ke5 55.f4+ Kf5 56.Kd4 Kxf4 Draw agreed. Radjabov played a very good game for some time but then got lost in the abundance of promising continuations and let his advantage slip away.
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