[Event "Grand Chess Tour Finals 2025"] [Site "https://lichess.org/broadcast/2025-grand-chess-tour-finals--semifinals/blitz-game-3/D9n90pna/6OsU1Qj7"] [Date "2025.09.30"] [Round "7.2"] [White "Aronian, Levon"] [Black "Caruana, Fabiano"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "2744"] [WhiteTitle "GM"] [WhiteFideId "13300474"] [BlackElo "2789"] [BlackTitle "GM"] [BlackFideId "2020009"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "E70"] [Opening "King's Indian Defense: Kramer Variation"] [StudyName "Grand Chess Tour Finals"] [ChapterName "Aronian, Levon - Caruana, Fabiano"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/zgASARMb/1eqRFdJI"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/ChessLifeOnline"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { [%clk 0:05:03] } 1... Nf6 { [%clk 0:05:03] } 2. Nc3 { [%clk 0:05:04] } 2... g6 { [%clk 0:05:04] } 3. e4 { [%clk 0:05:05] } 3... d6 { [%clk 0:05:05] } 4. d4 { [%clk 0:05:05] } 4... Bg7 { [%clk 0:05:06] } 5. Nge2 { [%clk 0:05:05] } 5... O-O { [%clk 0:05:03] } 6. Ng3 { [%clk 0:05:06] } 6... a5 { [%clk 0:05:02] } 7. Be2 { [%clk 0:04:48] } 7... e5 { [%clk 0:04:46] } 8. d5 { [%clk 0:04:48] } 8... Na6 { [%clk 0:04:46] } 9. h4 { [%clk 0:04:38] } 9... h5 { [%clk 0:04:43] } 10. Bg5 { [%clk 0:04:38] } 10... Qe8 { [%clk 0:04:18] } 11. Nf1 { [%clk 0:04:31] } 11... Nc5 { [%clk 0:03:55] } 12. Nd2 { [%clk 0:04:21] } 12... Bd7 { [%clk 0:03:50] } 13. f3 { [%clk 0:04:11] } 13... Nh7 { [%clk 0:03:30] } 14. Be3 { [%clk 0:04:11] } 14... f5 { [%clk 0:03:31] } 15. Nb3 { [%clk 0:03:50] } 15... b6 { [%clk 0:03:22] } 16. Nxc5 { [%clk 0:03:44] } 16... bxc5 { [%clk 0:03:22] } 17. a4 { [%clk 0:03:36] } 17... Nf6 { [%clk 0:03:13] } 18. Bd3 { [%clk 0:03:27] } 18... Rb8 { [%clk 0:02:56] } 19. b3 { [%clk 0:03:24] } 19... Rb4 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 20. Nb5 { [%clk 0:02:46] } 20... fxe4 { [%clk 0:02:40] } 21. Bxe4 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 21... Nxe4 { [%clk 0:01:35] } 22. fxe4 { [%clk 0:02:47] } 22... c6 { [%clk 0:01:20] } 23. dxc6 { [%clk 0:02:09] } 23... Bxc6 { Caruana got the better position out of the opening (a King's Indian Defense via an English Opening move order), boasting the safer king and the bishop pair. But, with a slight disadvantage on the clock and so much to calculate, it's still a three-result position. } { [%clk 0:01:21] } 24. Qc2? { [%clk 0:02:05] } (24. Rb1 { or }) (24. Rf1 { were White's best moves. But, in blitz, there is not time to calculate the ramifications of committal decisions, so avoiding giving up castling rights in either direction was certainly logical. }) 24... Rf4? { A very attractive Exchange sac to unleash the dark-squared bishop and claw some time back on the clock! But } { [%clk 0:01:07] } (24... Qd7 { or even }) (24... Qe6 { would simply defend the d6-pawn with a great position. After } 25. Rd1! Bxb5 26. axb5 a4 $17 { White's position crumbles on the queenside. }) 25. Nc3?! { [%clk 0:01:39] } (25. Nxd6 { It turns out the pawn was not poisoned! } 25... Qb8 26. Bxf4 exf4 27. e5! $13 { The counterplay is now on the g6-pawn. }) 25... Rg4 { [%clk 0:01:07] } 26. O-O-O?? { Played instantly, and a huge oversight from Levon. } { [%clk 0:01:38] } (26. O-O { was, apparently, best, even after } 26... Rxh4 { as } 27. Rae1 Rg4 28. Bd2 { repels Black's rook, due to threats of Nc3-b5 winning an Exchange, and } 28... Rb7 29. Rf3 $15 { could reach the kind of fixed game where the bishop pair is actually a disadvantage. } { [%cal Gc3d1,Gd1e3] }) 26... Qb8! { There is no satisfactory way to save the b3-pawn! } { [%clk 0:01:04] } 27. Kb2 { [%clk 0:01:39] } (27. Bg5 { Giving up the b3-pawn was no better: } 27... Rxb3 28. Nb5!? { aims to trap the rook, but } 28... Rb4 29. Bd2? { Or } (29. Rhe1 Kh7 $19 { wins more prosaically, and }) 29... Bxe4 $19 { is decisive. }) 27... Rxc4 $19 { It's not just the pawn: Black has all the counterplay and went on to win the match thanks to his dominant pieces in the remainder of this game. } { [%clk 0:01:01] } 28. Rd2 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 28... Bxe4 { [%clk 0:00:57] } 29. Qd1 { [%clk 0:00:52] } 29... Rxc3! { [%clk 0:00:34] } 30. Kxc3 { [%clk 0:00:53] } 30... d5 { [%clk 0:00:35] } 31. Rxd5 { [%clk 0:00:26] } 31... Bxd5 { [%clk 0:00:28] } 32. Qxd5+ { [%clk 0:00:27] } 32... Kh7 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 33. Qxc5 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 33... Rxg2 { [%clk 0:00:29] } 34. Rd1 { [%clk 0:00:04] } 34... e4+ { [%clk 0:00:30] } 35. Rd4 { [%clk 0:00:03] } 35... Qg3 { [%clk 0:00:27] } 0-1