Deeplight

Levon Grigori Aronian – Vincent Keymer

Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T. Challenge; Quarterfinal match game 2; time control: 90 minutes per 40 moves plus 30 minutes for the rest of the game plus 30 seconds per move starting on move 41; Wangels, February 12, 2024

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Position #607

1. d4 f5 2. c3 g6 3. Nd2 Nd6 4. g3 e5 5. dxe5 Bxe5 6. f4 Bg7 7. Qd3 a5? A sensibe move, but made at the wrong time. 7. ... c6 8. Ncb3 (8. Bc5 Nf7 9. Ncb3 Qc7 10. e4 fxe4 11. Nxe4 d5) 8. ... b6 9. Kc2 Kc7 10. a4 a5 is a much better version of Black’s intended plan.
8. a4! Ne6 9. Ncb3 g5

10. 0-0-0! gxf4 11. Nc5 Bh6 12. Kb1 fxg3 13. Qxg3 Bxd2. Seeking relief through simplifications, but in vain.
14. Rxd2 Nxc5 15. Bxc5 Ra6

16. e4! fxe4 17. Bxe4 Nxe4? Keymer is heading straight into a tactical catastrophe, but 17. ... Be6 18. Bd5 is also very bad for Black.
18. Rxe4! Rae6. Black cannot play 18. ... Rxe4 as then 19. Qg5+! with mate in three moves.
19. Qg7 d6

20. Rxd6+! 1 : 0. A delightful finish. 20. ... cxd6 21. Bb6+ Kc8 22. Rc4+ is followed by mate in one, while 20. ... Rxd6 21. Rxe8+ Kxe8 22. Qxg8+ would cost Black the Queen.

Lest we forget, Aronian is a two-time unofficial World Fischerandom Chess Champion (2006 and 2007). Photo: Amruta Mokal and Sagar Shah/ChessBase India.