[Event "Champions Showdown - The Kings 2025"] [Site "St. Louis"] [Date "2025.03.04"] [Round "02-03"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2748"] [BlackElo "2741"] [TimeControl "3600+15"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A37"] [Opening "English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Three Knights, Fianchetto Variation"] [StudyName "Champions Showdown: The Kings"] [ChapterName "Aronian, Levon - Dominguez Perez, Leinier"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/nVekuyCm/lRwxFQ5V"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%clk 1:00:29] } 1... c5 { [%clk 1:00:10] } 2. g3 { [%clk 1:00:41] } 2... g6 { [%clk 1:00:14] } 3. Bg2 { [%clk 1:00:54] } 3... Bg7 { [%clk 1:00:26] } 4. Nc3 { [%clk 1:01:08] } 4... Nc6 { [%clk 1:00:32] } 5. Nf3 { [%clk 1:01:11] } 5... e6 { [%clk 0:59:41] } 6. h4 { [%clk 1:01:23] } 6... h6 { [%clk 0:59:35] } 7. O-O { [%clk 1:01:14] } 7... Nge7 { [%clk 0:59:42] } 8. b3 { [%clk 1:01:25] } 8... d5 { [%clk 0:57:03] } 9. e3 { [%clk 1:01:05] } 9... d4 { [%clk 0:51:41] } 10. exd4 { [%clk 1:01:14] } 10... Nxd4 { [%clk 0:51:52] } 11. Ba3 { [%clk 1:00:29] } 11... Qa5 { [%clk 0:47:21] } 12. Nxd4 { [%clk 0:51:49] } 12... Qxa3 { [%clk 0:41:56] } 13. Ncb5 { [%clk 0:42:27] } 13... Qa5 { [%clk 0:40:41] } 14. Nd6+ { [%clk 0:41:56] } 14... Kf8 { [%clk 0:33:24] } 15. Qf3 { [%clk 0:41:56] } 15... Nf5 { [%clk 0:33:36] } 16. N4xf5 { [%clk 0:31:23] } 16... gxf5 { [%clk 0:33:49] } 17. Rab1 { [%clk 0:30:59] } 17... Qc7 { [%clk 0:27:02] } 18. Nb5 { [%clk 0:26:58] } 18... Qe7 { [%clk 0:26:14] } 19. Rfe1 { [%clk 0:26:23] } 19... a6 { [%clk 0:24:35] } 20. Nc3 { [%clk 0:26:22] } 20... Qd6 { [%clk 0:21:01] } 21. a3 { [%clk 0:26:15] } 21... Bd7!? { In their semi-classical game, Black overestimated the venom of the poisoned b7-pawn. } { [%clk 0:19:44] } (21... Ra7! $10 { is a neat idea to maneuver in a cramped position, preparing ... b7-b6 and laterally integrating the rook into the position. } { [%cal Gb7b6] }) 22. Qxb7! { Aronian is fearless, going after the pawn. Would he have played this move even if GM Yasser Seirawan was not commentating? Probably, but surely the notorious pawn-grabber approved. } { [%clk 0:25:40] } 22... Rb8 { [%clk 0:17:59] } 23. Qa7 { [%clk 0:24:55] } 23... Bf6 { [%clk 0:14:00] } 24. b4! { The key point. White's queen is not only save on the a7-square, as the bishop covers the a8-square, but she is well-placed here with c4-c5 now an idea. } { [%clk 0:19:05] } 24... Kg7 { [%clk 0:12:12] } 25. Ne2 { [%clk 0:12:42] } 25... Ba4?! { [%clk 0:06:20] } (25... cxb4 26. c5 Qe7 27. axb4 { is also good for White, but at least Black can anticipate Ne2-f4 with } 27... Bb5 28. Qxe7 Bxe7 { and hope that the backwards d-pawn provides some chances. } 29. Nd4 $16) 26. Nf4! { [%clk 0:11:41] } 26... Be7 { [%clk 0:06:21] } 27. d4 { White solves his biggest positional problem with force. } { [%clk 0:08:07] } 27... cxd4 { [%clk 0:05:11] } 28. c5 { The human way to win. } { [%clk 0:07:46] } (28. Bd5! { This unnecessary flourish, with the idea of Re1xe7 if Black captures the d5-bishop, is even more deadly. }) 28... Qd7 { [%clk 0:05:22] } 29. Qxd7 { [%clk 0:07:58] } 29... Bxd7 { [%clk 0:05:35] } 30. Rbd1 { Patience is the way to go. } { [%clk 0:08:12] } (30. c6!? Bc8 31. c7 Rb6 32. Red1 $16) 30... Rhc8 { [%clk 0:05:35] } 31. Rxd4 { [%clk 0:08:13] } 31... Ba4 { [%clk 0:05:27] } 32. Nxe6+ { White cashes in. } { [%clk 0:07:08] } 32... fxe6 { [%clk 0:05:40] } 33. Rxe6 { [%clk 0:07:22] } 33... Rc7 { [%clk 0:03:56] } 34. Rxa6 { [%clk 0:07:35] } 34... Bb5?! { [%clk 0:04:00] } (34... Bb3 { was a big safer, avoiding some of White's Ra6-b6 motifs. }) 35. Rb6 { [%clk 0:07:29] } 35... Rcc8 { [%clk 0:01:11] } 36. Bb7! { White now has a clear winning plan with four pawns for the piece. } { [%clk 0:06:53] } 36... Rxc5 { [%clk 0:00:57] } 37. bxc5 { [%clk 0:06:30] } 37... Bxc5 { [%clk 0:01:11] } 38. Rxb5 { [%clk 0:05:48] } 38... Bxd4 { [%clk 0:01:24] } 39. a4! { White is winning. } { [%clk 0:06:02] } 39... Kf6 { [%clk 0:00:48] } 40. a5 { [%clk 0:05:47] } 40... Ba7 { [%clk 0:01:01] } 41. a6 { [%clk 0:05:48] } 41... Rd8 { [%clk 0:01:13] } 42. Rb3 { [%clk 0:05:37] } 42... Ke5 { [%clk 0:01:06] } 43. Rb2 { [%clk 0:04:58] } 43... Kf6 { [%clk 0:00:55] } 44. Kg2 { [%clk 0:05:10] } 44... Rd3 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 45. Rc2 { [%clk 0:05:06] } 45... Rd6 { [%clk 0:00:25] } 46. f4 { [%clk 0:04:46] } 46... Rd3 { [%clk 0:00:21] } 47. Rc6+ { [%clk 0:04:25] } 47... Kg7 { [%clk 0:00:33] } 48. Bc8 { [%clk 0:03:56] } 48... Rd2+ { [%clk 0:00:46] } 49. Kf1 { [%clk 0:04:10] } 49... Rf2+ { [%clk 0:00:55] } 50. Ke1 { [%clk 0:04:22] } 50... Be3 { [%clk 0:00:58] } 51. a7 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 51... Ra2 { [%clk 0:00:47] } 52. Ba6 { 1-0 White wins. } { [%clk 0:03:00] } 1-0