Live Game 6 Aronian-Carlsen ! (1/2-1/2)

Aronian thinking before he play 8.Ne5 in Game 6- Photo from Official site- Global Chess

Game 6 Aronian-Carlsen was the most interesting games to watch compare to others round 1 game. This because both player have produced a decisive games except game 2 that ended in a draw. Both show a tremendous fighting spirit.

So far the game were balanced until Carlsen play a dubious looking move 15...Bb4 sacrificing a pawn on g7 and Aronian take it. But a couple of move later Carlsen managed to get back the pawn on e4 and game looks more or less equal. Anyway i think Aronian will try his best to win this game especially he is playing white. He also have to avoid playoff because rapid or blitz game usually favor younger player!

Aronian - Carlsen [D17]
Candidate 2007 (1.6), 02.06.2007

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 c6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.Ne5 Nbd7 7.Nxc4 Nb6 8.Ne5 a5 9.g3 (9. f3 is another popular alternative with 10.e4 to follow but Aronian always like to fiancheto his white bishop when playing white!) Nfd7 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.e4 Bh3 12.Bxh3 Qxh3 13.Qb3 Ra6 14.Bf4 e6 Covers d5 15.Be5 Bb4 !?

(15...Qg2 would be normally expected but maybe Carlsen were worried that his pieces are not fully develop so he sacrifiece the pawn to take the initiative!)16.Bxg7 (White traps the enemy king in the center) 16...Rg8 17.Be5 Qg2 18.0–0–0 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Qxe4 20.Rhe1 Qd5 21.b3 Qd7 22.Qc2 Qe7 23.Qxh7 Rg6 24.Re3 Nd5 25.Rf3 Qf8 26.h4 ( Aronian position looks promising compare to Carlsen. The-h passed pawn could be a potential threat to Carlsen) 26...Rh6 27.Qc2 Ra8 the rook look useless at Ra8 so Carlsen move is logical because maybe later he can play Rd8. 28.Qd2 According to GM Akobian in Chess FM (ICC) this move threaten a5 and Rook on h6 and white will follow up with Kb2-Rc1–Rc5 [28.Qc5 Qxc5+ (28...Qg8 is better because if 29.Qd6 Rd8) 29.dxc5 and white have good pawn structure on queenside a4-b3-c5!; 28.Kb2 GM Akobian prefer this move follow by Rh1 and then advance the pawn on the kingside g4-h5-f4.] 28...Rh5 [28...Nb4?29.Bd6 Qg7 30.Bxb4 axb4 31.Qxb4 - lost a pawn] 29.Kb2 Qg8 30.Re1 Qg6 31.Bd6 Rd8 32.Ba3 Qg4 [32...b6 33.Rc1 Rc8 34.Qe2] 33.Rd3 Rf5 attacking f2 34.Re5 Kd7 35.Qe2 Rg8 36.Qe1 Rg6 37.Re2 Rf3 38.Rxf3 Qxf3 (Carlsen knight at d5 occupy a very strong outpost!) 39.Rc2 Qf6 40.Qxa5 Qxd4+ 41.Ka2 Rf6 42.f4 Rg6 43.Qa8 Nb4+ [43...Nc3+ 44.Rxc3 Qxc3 45.Qxb7+ Kd8 46.Qe7+ Kc8 47.Qf8+ Kc7 48.Qxf7+ lose the rook on g6!] 44.Bxb4 Qxb4 45.Rg2? [45.Rc4 is the only way to keep the advantage 45... Qd2+ 46.Ka3 Kc7 47.Qf8 Rxg3 48.Qxf7+ Kb8] 45...Rxg3 ! (Carlsen has at least a draw in hand) 46.Rxg3 Qd2+ 47.Ka3 Qc1+ ½–½

What an interesting resourcefull game by Carlsen. Aronian and Carlsen will meet tomorrow for a tie break .



Aronian should have go back and think how to beat this stubborn boy!!!