[Event "FIDE World Cup 2025"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/fide-world-cup-2025--round-4/game-1/JKQGyfeO/yMVg3pPA"] [Date "2025.11.10"] [Round "31.15"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteTeam "USA"] [WhiteFideId "13300474"] [BlackElo "2660"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackTeam "Poland"] [BlackFideId "1118358"] [TimeControl ": 90 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the gamewith an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move 1"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C26"] [Opening "Vienna Game: Mengarini Variation"] [StudyName "2025 World Cup"] [ChapterName "Aronian, Levon - Wojtaszek, Radoslaw"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/TDcaHygI/tISvHDTo"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 { [%clk 1:30:56] } 1... e5 { [%clk 1:30:55] } 2. Nc3 { [%clk 1:31:22] } 2... Nf6 { [%clk 1:31:15] } 3. a3!? { An interesting waiting move. } { [%clk 1:31:47] } 3... d5 { This has to be the move White wanted to see. It's principled, opening up the center after a slow move from White, aiming to take the initiative. But White has some ideas. } { [%clk 1:28:38] } (3... Nc6 4. Nf3 d5 { transposes into a Four Knights Scotch with reversed colors. One plan for White in that opening (so, a plan for Black here) is to pin the queenside bishop, so a2-a3 is useful prophylaxis against ... Bf8-b4. }) 4. exd5 { [%clk 1:30:47] } 4... Nxd5 { [%clk 1:29:04] } 5. Qh5 { Now, we're in something resembling a ... Qh4 Scotch with colors reversed. There, one of White's plans involves Nd4-b5, so, again, the a3-pawn is useful preventing ... Nd5-b4. } { [%clk 1:31:11] } 5... Nc6 { [%clk 1:20:42] } 6. Bb5 { Without the ... Nd5-b4 resources, Black has a harder time handling this position than White does in the "normal" ... Qh4 Scotch. } { [%clk 1:30:46] } 6... Be7 { [%clk 1:16:50] } 7. Qxe5 { [%clk 1:28:51] } 7... Nxc3 { [%clk 1:16:48] } 8. Bxc6+ { [%clk 1:28:07] } 8... bxc6 { [%clk 1:17:08] } 9. Qxc3 { White has the extra pawn and the more intact structure. Black has the bishop pair, a slight lead in development, and open lines for the bishops and rooks. Still, it's Black's job to prove this is enough for the pawn. } { [%clk 1:28:34] } 9... O-O { [%clk 1:16:54] } 10. Nf3 { [%clk 1:29:00] } 10... c5 { [%clk 1:02:14] } 11. d3 { [%clk 1:28:25] } 11... Bb7 { [%clk 1:02:36] } 12. Be3 { The first critical moment. } { [%clk 1:28:39] } 12... Re8?! { This natural move, not committing to any exchanges, turns out to throw away any hope of initiative. } { [%clk 1:00:17] } (12... Bxf3 { is the engine's preference, but it's counterintuitive to both part with the bishop pair and to give White the g-file. }) (12... Bf6 { is also promising, when White must accept the gift with } 13. Qxc5 { and now } 13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 Bxb2 { is a messier version of the 12. ... Bxf3 line, which might be the kind of game Black needs to justify playing pawn-down. }) 13. O-O-O! { The king turns out to be quite safe despite the half-open b-file. Without knights, Black lacks pieces to coordinate on the b2-square. } { [%clk 1:26:22] } 13... Qd5 { [%clk 0:56:37] } 14. Rhe1 { [%clk 1:15:59] } 14... Qf5 { [%clk 0:53:54] } 15. Nd2! { Returning the pawn in order to take over the initiative. } { [%clk 1:00:20] } 15... Bxg2 { Else, g2-g3 and White stabilizes the position while remaining pawn-up. } { [%clk 0:43:59] } 16. Rg1 { [%clk 1:00:19] } 16... Bf6 { [%clk 0:44:25] } (16... Qh3 { would be the alternative, going after the h2-pawn if White captures on c5. But } 17. Ne4 $36 { just brings another piece to the party. }) 17. Qxc5 { With tempo on Black's queen, there's no time to get a rook to the b-file. So, White will not have to worry about much of an attack, and gets the pawn back, to boot. } { [%clk 1:00:35] } 17... Qxc5 { [%clk 0:41:47] } 18. Bxc5 { [%clk 1:00:59] } 18... Bc6 { [%clk 0:41:37] } 19. Nc4 { Now, Aronian handles his pieces quite well. Black needs White to err, and it doesn't happen. } { [%clk 0:56:25] } 19... h6 { [%clk 0:36:35] } 20. Rde1 { [%clk 0:52:33] } 20... a6 { [%clk 0:30:51] } 21. Kd2 { [%clk 0:51:47] } 21... Kh7 { [%clk 0:28:49] } 22. f4 { [%clk 0:47:51] } 22... Rxe1 { [%clk 0:26:51] } 23. Rxe1 { [%clk 0:47:56] } 23... Bh4 { [%clk 0:27:18] } 24. Re5 { [%clk 0:45:26] } 24... Re8 { [%clk 0:21:00] } 25. Be3 { [%clk 0:40:35] } 25... Rxe5 { [%clk 0:19:42] } 26. Nxe5 { [%clk 0:41:01] } 26... Be8 { [%clk 0:20:09] } 27. c4 { [%clk 0:38:25] } 27... Be7 { [%clk 0:19:31] } 28. d4 { [%clk 0:35:45] } 28... f6 { [%clk 0:19:38] } 29. Nd3 { [%clk 0:35:51] } 29... Kg6?! { [%clk 0:19:48] } (29... c6 { is the engine's best try. But White will keep grinding with nothing to fear. }) 30. d5 { Gaining space without actually conceding either the c5- or e5-square. } { [%clk 0:35:54] } 30... c6 { [%clk 0:15:19] } 31. Bc5 $18 { The dark-squared holes will be too much for Black to survive. } { [%clk 0:35:43] } 31... Bd8 { [%clk 0:15:47] } 32. d6 { [%clk 0:36:01] } 32... Kf5 { [%clk 0:15:51] } 33. Ba7 { [%clk 0:31:46] } 33... Ke6 { [%clk 0:15:36] } 34. c5 { [%clk 0:28:20] } 34... f5 { [%clk 0:08:47] } 35. Bb6 { [%clk 0:28:46] } 35... Bf6 { [%clk 0:09:14] } 36. Nb4 { [%clk 0:29:12] } 36... Bxb2 { [%clk 0:09:04] } 37. a4 { The a-pawn will decide things. } { [%clk 0:29:40] } 1-0