Aronian beats Anand, takes over lead
The reign of World Champion Viswanathan Anand in Linares was short-lived. In the second round he went for 1.d4 against Aronian and tested an early pawn sacrifice. The Armenian GM took the pawn, then gave a knight for three pawns to take over the attack but only because of a big mistake by Anand, he won the game after 53 moves. The second round also included a superb performance by Grischuk, who beat Wang Yue in great style.
From February 18 till March 8 the 26th Torneo Internacional de Ajedrez Ciudad de Linares takes place. There is no starting fee for the players this time but instead the prize fund is quite high: € 314,000. The first prize is € 100,000, the second € 75,000 and the third € 50,000.
Round 2
The answer to the question whether Anand would be using 1.d4 more often, after his match against Kramnik, can now be answered by a clear yes. In his game against Aronian he came up with the interesting novelty 12.Ng5!? which involves the sacrifice of a pawn. His compensation was clear: a strong center, nice development and good attacking chances.
With 23.g4 the Indian took some risks, and indeed by giving his knight for three pawns, Aronian took over the initiative. Anand kept on defending accurately, until 33.Rg3? (where 33.Rxd4! was necessary). In the resulting ending Black had five pawns for the piece, which was simply too much.
Grischuk's victory over Wang Yue looked very impressive and should not be missed either. Carlsen-Dominguez was spectacular for as long as it lasted; they followed Aronian-Leko, Morelia/Linares 2008 and the novelty 10...Qxf2 was analysed to a draw by Dominguez, apparently. Radjabov-Ivanchuk (yes, not the other way around!) was a King's Indian - apparently Radjabov was inspired to reach for the queen's pawn too, and Ivanchuk want to treat him with his own opening! It seemed fairly level throughout the game.
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Links:
- Official website
- Games in PGN
Founder and editor-in-chief of ChessVibes.com, Peter is responsible for most of the chess news and tournament reports. Often visiting top events, he also provides photos and videos for the site. He's a 1.e4 player himself, likes Thai food and the Stones.
Comments
Forest
2 years 11 months ago
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I think you would lose in that case, for doing an illegal move.
slint
2 years 11 months ago
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28.Ne7+ Kh7 29.Ng6: fg6: with a devastating attack!
ChessGirl
2 years 11 months ago
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Oh gosh, I´m sorry I wrote that comment too early in the morning hahaha, I meant 28.Ne7 (I got messed by the fact that Knight relly begins with K)... I hope THIS move is legal at least (I am already hearing the answer: "It IS legal, and it is also a mate in 3 for black" xD)
ChessGirl
2 years 11 months ago
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Thanks slint :)
Thomas
2 years 11 months ago
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@slint (and Chessgirl): I had [and still have] the same question .... . I could 'calculate' as far as 29.-fg6: (of course black would recapture with the pawn), but where exactly is the 'devastating attack'? I do not see anything forced, certainly not a mate in 3 - does black really have enough remaining pieces to create serious threats against the white king??
Maybe not winning even more material was a sensible practical choice by Anand. But, while quite some analysis of the Anand-Aronian game is now published here and elsewhere, I am a bit surprised that noone so far investigated (or even mentioned) that line.
Michael
2 years 11 months ago
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28.Ne7+ displays what Kasparov would probably call a lack of chess culture. Mathematically speaking, it wins the exchange, but you simply don't want to give up this great knight. It might somehow be playable, but Anand's 28.Qc3 was much better.
Thomas
2 years 11 months ago
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Thanks Michael, I think this is the best possible answer :)
paulo eduardo
2 years 11 months ago
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if i'm not mistaken aronian is now leading 5-1 against anand in classical chess.
i think aronian is the toughest opponent for anand in a possible 2011 world chess championship match as he handles both positional and tactical positions very well
Aronjanfan
2 years 11 months ago
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Levon Aronjan is the Lasker of our time! His attacking play is not so brilliant as from Shirov or Polgar. And his opening preparation is perhaps not as deep as Anands, Topalovs or Kasparovs, but when it comes to pure chess skills he is able to outplay all of the strongest opponents – even from positions which seemed to be ridiculous or inferior. Anyone here, who remembers his outstanding win against Volokitin or his great endgame tactics against Shirov?
Really great chess! I’m hopping that he soon has a real chance to play for the highest title.
ChessGirl
2 years 11 months ago
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My knowledge in chess is very limited to say the least, but I was checking out Anand-Aronian and wondered which exactly would be the consequences of playing 28.Ke7???
Castro
2 years 11 months ago
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@Forest
"I think you would lose in that case, for doing an illegal move."
Just to remind:
No one loses a classic chess game by that (unless it is, say, the third-fourth time)! ;-)
Jagdish Dube
2 years 11 months ago
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Before 2011 WCC Match,Susan Polgar wrote in her daily chess column,
Hungary‚Äô highest ranked chess player P?©ter L?©k?? will meet world champion and number one Viswanathan Anand of India for a speed game between 2-7 June in Miskolc, S?°ndor K?°li, the mayor of the city announced last Thursday. The game is part of a four-year tradition, in which L?©k?? has already played chess giants such as Michael Adams (draw), Anatoli Karpov (win), Vladimir Kramnik (loss) and 19-year-old Norwegian wunderkind Magnus Carlsen (loss). L?©k?? and Anand have met 71 times before, and the Indian grandmaster leads the duel by 42.5-28.5.
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