4/23/2012 – Levon Aronian surprised his opponent by playing 1.e4 instead of his customary d-pawn push. Vladimir Kramnik played in pet Ruy Lopez Berlin, and a moderately tense struggle ended after three hours and 37 moves in a draw. In the post mortem a spectator showed the players a devilishly clever win that both had overlooked. You will never guess who this super-talent was.
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Zurich Chess Challenge: Kramnik vs. Aronian
The Zurich Chess Club announces a six-game chess match between Vladimir Kramnik
(Russia) and Levon Aronian (Armenia) from 21 to 28 April 2012. The numbers two
and three of the world ranking will meet in the time-honored Hotel Savoy Baur
en Ville at Paradeplatz, the venue of many a famous chess event in the past.
Kramnik and Aronian are the winners of the two most prestigious tournaments
of the last months. While the 36-year-old Kramnik gained a convincing victory
at the London Chess Classic in December, the 29-year-old Aronian won the famous
tournament in Wijk aan Zee with an outstanding score.
Swiss alpenhorns on Paradeplatz heralding the start of round two
Vladimir Kramnik and Levon Aronian wait for the clocks to be started
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Move
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Result
Elo
Players
1.e4
1,184,215
54%
2421
---
1.d4
958,932
55%
2434
---
1.Nf3
286,327
56%
2441
---
1.c4
184,722
56%
2443
---
1.g3
19,884
56%
2427
---
1.b3
14,598
54%
2428
---
1.f4
5,953
48%
2377
---
1.Nc3
3,906
50%
2384
---
1.b4
1,790
48%
2378
---
1.a3
1,250
54%
2406
---
1.e3
1,081
49%
2409
---
1.d3
969
50%
2378
---
1.g4
670
46%
2361
---
1.h4
466
54%
2382
---
1.c3
439
51%
2425
---
1.h3
289
56%
2420
---
1.a4
118
60%
2461
---
1.f3
100
47%
2427
---
1.Nh3
92
67%
2511
---
1.Na3
47
62%
2476
---
Please, wait...
1.e460 This is actually the biggest opening surprise of them all as Aronian
is a noted 1.d4 player. He explained that it was to try to surprise Kramnik,
an opponent whose preparation is so refined.e5602.Nf30Nc603.Bb50Nf60 Kramnik explained in the post-game conference that he considered
deviating from his pet Berlin, but decided to see what Aronian had prepared,
betting on his opponent's inexperience to weigh in his favor.4.0-00Nxe4605.d40Nd606.Bxc60dxc607.dxe560Nf508.Qxd8+0Kxd809.Nc30Be6180 This is the first deviation. Although the development
to e6 is nothing odd, this particular move-order plans to bring it back to c8
a few moves later. Owing to the nature of the endgame, he feels that the idea,
while exotic looking, has a good basis of logic behind it.10.Rd1+0Ke8011.Ng560Bc8 012.h3 180Be7 60 Here 84 of the 85 games on record continued with Nf3, but Aronian has a very different idea.13.Bf4 120 A theoretical novelty, but apparently not the result of any deep preparation. Considering the unusual Be6-c8 played by Kramnik, this is no surprise.Nh4 420 A deep thought, and a good reaction. Vladimir felt that as a result of his unorthodox choice, he had succeeded in tripping Levon and now stood at least equal.14.e6 1380 f6 102015.Nf7 0Rg8 6016.Bxc7 0Bxe6 017.Nd6+ 0Bxd6 12018.Bxd6 240Kf7 6019.f3 0Nf5?! 240 Here Kramnik played this rather quickly and offered a draw. In hindsight, he agrees with Aronian's choice to decline as he felt this was a very poor move that did not suit the position. There is a certain irony that the engines place it as best or top two best.20.Bc5 60b6 42021.Bf2 0Rgd8 42022.a4 60Ne7 54023.a5 120c5 360 In spite of it all, the position is equal.24.Nb5 480There was considerable debate on the engine choice of24.g4!?After examining it with the commentators IM Werner Zug and GM Yannick
Pelletier, the players conceded it was an option though it was merely a fork
in the road, and not a deal-changer. Aronian pointed out that he would reject
a move such as 24. g4 purely on principle, and the only way for it to enter
his list of candidates would be after analysing the position very deeply.24...Nc6 36025.Rxd8 840Rxd8 026.axb6 0axb6 027.Ra6 60Rd1+ 54028.Kh2 0Rd2 6029.Rxb6 0 By now, there was the question of whether they would be shaking hands soon and play a rapid game, as there was 20-25 minutes left before the three-hour rule kicked in, or whether the spectators would be deprived of the option. The players eventually played three hours and *five* minutes, and did not play a rapid, but the Armenian said that the choice was not related to the possible rapid game, but because he was under the impression he still had the better chances. Kramnik joked that he was probably not enthusiastic either of the idea of playing a rapid game with Black, since the colors would be reversed. This actually brings up a psychological question. By winning the first game as Black, and having put a bit of pressure as White, however little, would he want to risk his mental edge by possibly losing a rapid, and facing a refreshed Kramnik in game three?Rxc2 12030.Nd6+ 720Ke7 6031.Ne4 60Nd4 42032.Rb7+ 60Kf8 12033.Rc7 60Rxb2 18034.Rxc5 0Nf5 12035.Ng3 420Rxf2 2536.Nxf5 0Bxf5537.Rxf50Ra24½–½
The games were broadcast live on the official web site, and naturally on Playchess.
In addition there was a video broadcast with commentary and images from the
playing hall. If you missed it you can follow the entire four hours of action
and the press conference in this video stream:
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