4/28/2012 – Levon Aronian again opened with the unusual (for him) 1.e4 and Vladimir Kramnik played his pet Berlin Defence. The game remained fairly balanced, with Kramnik waiting for a chance to strike. And strike he did, with an exchange sacrifice on move 31 which almost won him the match. It was only time trouble that saved his Armenian opponent. Final report with annotated game.
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Zurich Chess Challenge: Kramnik vs. Aronian
The Zurich Chess Club staged 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 met 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 past
months. The 36-year-old Kramnik gained a convincing victory at the London Chess
Classic in December, and the 29-year-old Aronian won the famous tournament in
Wijk aan Zee with an outstanding score.
Game six
While Kramnik finally reverted to his beloved 1.Nf3 in game five, his payback
of Aronian's unexpected 1.e4 having already been made, the Armenian showed that
1.e4 was more than just a surprise weapon, and opened game six with it. The
Russian played his pet Berlin – and why not? Levon had not shown anything
especially dangerous in their first game. This time he chose to avoid the main
lines with the queen swap, and opted for the d3-c3 buildup that is typical of
so many Ruy Lopez lines.
While the game remained fairly balanced, if dynamically so, it was a combative
game that kept the momentum going of what has been a superb match all in all.
It had seemed as if Aronian had been the one with the greater potential, one
they never really worked out, but it was Kramnik's unexpected and superb 31...Rxe3!
exchange sac that threatened to end the match in his favor. Sadly, with little
time to find the perfect sequence, he missed 33...Ne7! after which he had a
small but insufficient edge, and a repetition was the result.
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1.e4e52.Nf3Nc63.Bb5Nf64.d3Bc55.Nbd2d66.c30-07.0-0Ne78.h3Ng69.Re1c610.Ba4Re811.d4Bb612.Bc2h6 Kramnik is actually quite familiar with this position - he used it twice just last year against Radjabov in the Candidate's matches.13.a413.Nf1d514.Nxe5Nxe515.dxe5Rxe516.Bf4Re817.e5Nh7Brought Radjabov nothing in both games, as much as the computer likes White's
position.13...Be614.Nf1 Since Black played Be6, d5 is no longer possible, but his position should be fine nonetheless.exd415.Nxd4Bd716.f4d5!? The start of an interesting sacrifice.17.e5Ne418.Bxe4dxe4 Black's pawn on e4 is doomed, but a funny thing about doomed pawns in chess is that they are annoying until actually taken. White can't really play Rxe4 so he must make some preparations.19.a5!? Distracting the bishop, White hopes to take on e4 while retaining his strong pawn center.19.Ng3f5∞19.Rxe4c520.Nf3Bc619...Bxa520.Ng3Bb621.Kh2c522.Ndf5Bxf523.Nxf5Qxd124.Rxd1Rad825.Be3 White is now the one that is down a pawn, but it seems certain that he will regain e4 eventually, and emerge with the better pawn structure. Black must play carefully.Rd326.Re1f6! Black breaks the center, giving up his h pawn but turning his doomed pawn into a supported passed pawn! Funny how quickly things change in chess.27.exf6gxf628.Nxh6+Kf829.Ra4! Fighting for the advantage. The e8 rook is now tied to e4.Rd530.c430.Ng4seemed more
logical to me.Kg731.Bc1trying to Blockade. Maybe white has a little pull
here.30...Rd331.b4? Black has several good moves here to retain equality, but Kramnik sees a chance to go for it.Rxe3!31...cxb432.Bxb6axb633.Rxb4Nxf434.Rxb6Kg735.Ng4Rd236.Ne3Rh837.h4leaves White with an advantage.31...Nh432.Ng4does so too.32.Rxe3cxb433.Rg3!? Seeking counterplay.e3? Missing a chance to win the match.Fritz 13 and all engines
in the Let's Check cloud were yelling for33...Ne7!This move is a little
strange but it gave Black excellent winning chances. The knight is restricting
two of White's pieces and the passed pawn will still roll. It's hard to believe
White will survive, as Bc7 is also in the air.34.Rxb4Bc735.Rg435.Rxb7?Bxf4is deadly.35...e3and White is in deep trouble.34.Rxg6e235.Ra1Bf236.Rg8+In Let's Check
Rybka and Houdini were proposing36.g4e1Q37.Rxf6+Kg738.Rxe1Rxe138...Bxe139.g5Re2+39...b340.Rf7+Kg641.Rf6+is a perpetual.40.Kh1Bc341.Rf7+Kg642.Rxb7and Black can no longer win.Fritz 13 preferred36.Rxf6+ first.36...Ke737.Rg7+Kd638.Rxb7e1Q39.Rxe1Bxe140.Nf5+Kc540...Kc641.Rxa7b342.Nd4+Kb643.Ra1Bc344.c5+Kc745.Nxb3Bxa146.Nxa1=is very likely a draw since the knight can't actually
be trapped. 41.Rb5+Kc642.Nd4+Kc743.Rc5+Aronian
has found an amazing resource, as we could see on Kramnik's face in the live
stream.43.Rc5+Kb643...Kd844.Rd5+Ke745.Nf5+Kf846.Rb5is in fact
good for White.44.Rb5+Kc745.Rc5+and draw by perpetual.½–½
Vladimir Kramnik in the postmortem session after the game
Levon Aronian checking attacking lines in the opening
Generally satisfied: Aronian and Kramnik at the closing ceremony
No, only daddy and the other nice gentleman get prizes, Daria darling
Marie Laure Kramnik, wife of the former world champion, mother of Daria
Guests of honour: Petra and Viktor Korchnoi
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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