The Rook in the Stone

Levon Grigori Aronian – Richárd Rapport
32nd European Chess Club Cup; Novi Sad, November 8, 2016
Chigorin Defence D07

1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nf3 e5 6. dxe5 Bb4. For 6. ... Be6 7. Bg5 Nxc3 8. Qxd8+ Nxd8 9. bxc3 h6 10. Bh4 Nc6 11. e3 Bd5 12. Bb5 g5 13. Bg3 0-0-0 14. 0-0 a6 15. Bxc6 bxc6 16. h4 Rg8 17. hxg5 hxg5 18. Nd4 see Navara – Rapport, 48th Internationales Schachfestival, Biel/Bienne 2015. 7. Bd2 Nxc3 8. bxc3 Ba5 9. e3 0-0 10. Qa4 Bb6 11. Qf4 Qe7 12. h4? A bit too venturesome. 12. Bc4 Be6 too doesn’t promise anything special, but should lead to more balanced scenarios. 12. ... f6! Thematically centered. 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. Qc4+ Kh8 15. Bd3 Bf5 16. Bxf5 Rxf5 17. Ng5 Ne5 18. Qe4 Qd7. White’s position doesn’t inspire trust. 19. 0-0 Re8 20. Qc2 h6 21. Ne4 Rh5 22. Ng3 Rxh4 23. Rad1 Rf8 24. Bc1 Qg4 25. Rd5 Qg5. The pyrotechnic line 25. ... Qxg3 26. fxg3 Rh1+! 27. Kxh1 Rxf1+ 28. Kh2 Ng4+ 29. Kh3 Nxf2 30. Qxf2 Rxf2 was also tempting, but Rapport aims for more satisfaction. 26. Qe2 c6 27. Rd4

27. ... Rh1+!! We would have expected 27. ... Ng4 (that wasn’t bad), but Rapport came up with a far more spectacular special effect! 28. Kxh1. 28. Nxh1 Nf3+ costs White the Queen. 28. ... Bxd4 29. f3. Also after 29. exd4? Qh4+ 30. Kg1 Ng4 31. Re1 Qh2+ 32. Kf1 Qxg3 33. Be3 Rf6 Black’s attack would be too strong. 29. ... Bb6 30. Ne4 Qh5+ 31. Kg1 Bc7 32. Kf2? The last chance was 32. Ba3 Rd8 (not 32. ... Ng4? because of 33. g3!) leaves Black clearly better, but at least avoids an immediate disaster. 32. ... Qh2! Threatening a catastrophe on f3. The escape of the White King avoids the immediate danger, but not the fury of Rapport’s attack. 33. Ke1? 33. f4! Re8! would be a little better, but most likely not enough to save the game. 33. ... Rd8 34. Bd2 Nd3+ 35. Kd1 Qe5 36. g4 Qb5 37. Qg2 Nb2+ 38. Kc2 Nc4 39. Bc1 Rd5 40. g5 Na5 41. Bd2 Qd3+ 0 : 1.

Levon Grigori Aronian vs. Richárd Rapport
Photo: Lennart Ootes