UTC+03:00

Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov – Levon Grigori Aronian
Candidates Tournament; Moscow, March 13, 2016
English Opening A29

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Bg2 0-0 6. Nd5 e4 7. Nh4 d6 8. Nxb4 Nxb4 9. a3 Nc6 10. d3 d5 11. 0-0. For 11. dxe4 dxe4 12. Bg5 Qd4 see de Verdier – Korneev, 21st Bunratty Chess Festival, Bunratty 2014. 11. ... exd3 12. Qxd3. Quite optimistically Topalov decides to sacrifice a Pawn. 12. exd3 was simpler and good. 12. ... Ne5 13. Qd4 Nxc4 14. e4 Be6 15. b3 Na5 16. Qa4 Nc6 17. Rd1? The sacrifice of the second Pawn appears totally unsound. The best try was probably 17. exd5 Nxd5 18. Bb2 with not-unrealistic chances of getting compensation. 17. ... Nxe4 18. Bb2. Alas for Veselin Aleksandrov, 18. Bxe4? is met by the zwischenzug 18. ... Qf6. 18. ... Qe7 19. b4 a6 20. Qc2 f6 21. Rac1 Rad8 22. Bf1 Rd7 23. f3 Nd6 24. Re1 Qf7 25. Bd3 g5 26. Ng2 Nc4 27. f4 Nxb2 28. Qxb2 Bh3 29. a4 h6 30. b5 axb5 31. axb5 Ne7 32. Qf2 Nf5 33. Qf3 Kg7 34. Kh1 Re7 35. Rxe7 Qxe7 36. Qh5. Once again Topalov renounces to win back a Pawn, still hoping for an attack. His optimism will be severely punished. 36. ... Bxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Ne3+ 38. Kg1 f5 39. Qe2 Rf6 40. Qb2 gxf4 41. gxf4 Kh7 42. Kh1 Qg7 43. Qe2 d4 44. Qf3

44. ... c6. Aronian conducts the final attack with merciless energy. 45. bxc6 bxc6 46. h3 Rg6 47. Rb1 Rg3 48. Qh5 Qd7 49. Kh2 Rg2+ 50. Kh1 Qd5 0 : 1. The threat is 51. ... Rg1++ 52. Kxg1 Qg2 mate, and if 51. Rb7+ then 51. ... Rg7+ and mate in three moves.

Veselin Aleksandrov Topalov vs. Levon Grigori Aronian
Photo: moscow2016.fide.com