Welcome To Planet Shirov-Aronian!

Shirov-Aronian encounter in round 2 was the most interesting games to watch compare to others ( Bareev - Leko and Rublevsky - Grischuk draw early). Aronian in a desparate position, sac his queen for Shirov's rook and Bishop. I'll be updated the game from time to time. The game was really like a rollercaster with advantage exchange hands every times. Shirov look better after the exchange sacrifiece but then around move 30 Shirov looks that he have regain the initiative untill around move 40 that Aronian comeback with a strong move 40...Bg5!

[Event "Candidate 2007"]
[Date "2007.06.07"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Shirov"]
[Black "Aronian"]
[ECO "E15"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 Bb7 6. Bg2 c5 7. d5 Shirov love this early pawn move as shown in his game with Adams in Round 1. It give Shirov the early initiative exd5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. Qa4 Nf6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. g4 Nb4 14. a3 [14.g5 Bc6 15.Qb3 is interesting but not(15.gxf6?! Bxa4 16.fxe7 Qxe7 17.Nxa4 Qxe2–+) ] 14...Nbd5 [14...Bc6 15.Qb3 Na6 16.g5 Ne8 17.Ne5+- Threatening to play move like 18.Nxc6 and also 18. g6 hxg6 19.Nxg6 trapping the f8 rook! GM Fedorowizh on ICC said that this was "The Insane Game of the Day".] 15. Nxd5 Bxd5 16. g5 Bc6 17. Qh4 Ne8 18. Ne5 Bxg2 19. Rxd7 Aronian play unexpected move 19...

Bb7!? sacrificing her queen ! 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Be3 Rd5 22.Nf3 Nd6 23.Qa4 b5 24.Qc2 Nf5 25.a4 b4 26.Rd1 ...black improve his position move by move and Shirov position starts look uncomfortable Rxd1+ 27.Qxd1 Nxe3 28.fxe3 Rd8 29.Qc2 g6 30.h4 Bd6 Shirov looks like he is having back the advantage. Shirov position is more easy to play. Aronian seems to misplay his position somewhere. 31.Kf2 a6 To prevent white playing Qb5 later. 32.Nd2 [32.b3 planning Qb2] 32...Bf8 33.Nc4 Bc8 34.Qe4 Be6 35.b3 Rd5 36.Kg3 h6 37.gxh6 Bxh6 38.Qf3 Kh7 39.e4 Rh5 40.Nd6 Bg5! 41.Nxf7?! Looks like a bad move because 41...Bxh4+ 42.Kg2 c4 43. bxc4 Aronian could try the intersting 42...Be7 because the white knight at f7 risk being trap!! 43…. Kg8 44.Nd6 Rg5+ 45.Kh1 Rg3 46.Qf4 Rh3+ ½–½ What a disappointing result for a very entertaining game. Shirov should blame himself for not winning this game where as Aronian show that he will not be beaten easily.

* all game 2 games in Round 2 were draw.