1.Nf3
c5
2.c4
Nc6
3.Nc3
e5
4.g3
g6
5.Bg2
Bg7
6.0-0
Nge7
7.Ne1
d6
8.Nc2
Be6
9.Ne3
0-0
10.d3
Qd7
This solid approach against the Symmetrical English is, in my opinion, an underestimated system. Black has a glaring weakness on d5, but on the other hand that is his only palpable weakness in the position. He will be able to advance pawns on the kingside and he can, with correct play, prevent most advances on the queenside.
11.Ned5
Bh3
12.Rb1
[12.Bh6?!
is a strategically flawed cheapo. Black wants to exchange the light squared bishops as the g2 bishop can be quite powerful in a queenside attack, but the g7 bishop is currently serving no purpose as it is stuck behind the pawns.]
12...Bxg2
13.Kxg2
Rac8
14.e4
Nxd5
15.Nxd5
Ne7
16.Nc3
White's only claim to anything here is that he can control d4 with his bishop while Black can only defend it with his own knight. Therefore the exchange of knights would instantly result in a dead position.
16...Nc6
17.Be3
f5
18.f3?!
A little over-ambitious. White should realize he doesn't have anything in the position and start thinking about maintaining the balance. [18.Nd5
Ne7
19.Nc3=
]
18...f4
Black didn't have to pick up the gauntlet like this, but there was no reason not to. [18...Rf7
was just as sound. 19.Qd2
Rcf8
20.exf5
Rxf5=
]
19.Bg1
h5
Black's kingside pawns are rolling and White hasn't been able to create anything on the queenside yet.
20.Nd5
Rf7
21.g4
[21.a3
Rcf8
22.b4
b6
This is the typical way of handling the queenside initiative. 23.Qa4
fxg3
24.hxg3
h4
when White's position on the queenside is going nowhere, but his position on the kingside is falling apart.]
21...hxg4
22.fxg4
Rcf8
23.Qf3
This bloackade would be much more successful with a knight, as opposed to a queen. But then again, the d5 knight is white's only saving grace in this position!
23...Bf6
24.Bf2?!
The bishop is badly placed in f2, as the exchange of bishops favors Black.
24...Rh7
25.Nxf6+
Aronian could not have been happy making this move. However he didn't like the prospect of black's bishop coming to h4. [25.a3
Bh4
26.Bg1
Nd8!
and when the knight gets to g5 the game will be over.]
25...Rxf6
26.Rh1
g5-/+
27.h3
b6
28.Rh2
Nd8
29.b3
Ne6
30.Kf1
b5
31.Kg2
a5
32.Rhh1
Rf8
33.Rhc1
Rb8
34.Rh1
b4
35.Rh2
a4
Black has complete control over the board, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the correct plan of action is to open another weakness on the queenside.
36.Kh1
Ra8
37.Bg1
axb3
38.Rxb3
Ra4
39.Rbb2
Ra3
White has no activity and enough weaknesses to lose. The rest is simple for Grischuk.
40.Rbg2
Qa4
41.h4
Rc3
42.Qf1
Qa3
43.hxg5
Rc1
44.Qf2
Rxh2+
45.Kxh2
Nxg5
46.Kh1
Qxd3
47.Qh4
Qh3+
It is unusual that a 2800 is defeated when he is playing White, and even more unusual as Grischuk played nothing more than natural, good moves and let his opponent undermine himself. 0-1