CM

07

Rd2

Gm 1

Elista

Aronian -

Shirov

Aronian has done it again, win! Ok, it's only the first game of this match but we all know how important it is to begin with a victory. The big change in the landscape came here at 15... Ne4 [ diagram]. With this capture, Aronian will end up a rook for knight and the e pawn. Play continued with 16. Bf8 Nd2 17. Nd2 Bd2 18. Ba3 Qd5 19. Qc4 Qc4 ( 19... Bc3 20. Rab1 Rb5 21. Qd5 ed5 22. Rfd1 Ra5 23. Bb2 Ra2 24. Rdc1 = ) 20. bc4 Ne5 21. Rab1 Rd8 ( 21... Rb1 22. Rb1 Nc4 23. Bc5 e5 24. Ba7 Ba5 25. f3 += 0.75 ) 22. c5 Nc4 23. Bc1 d3 24. Rb7 c6 25. Bd2 Nd2 26. Rd1 Ne4 27. f3 Nc3 28. Rd2 Na2 nice move! 29. Rb3 ( if 29. Ra2, then 29... d2 30. Rb1 d1(Q) 31. Rd1 Rd1+ 32. Kf2 Rd5 33. Ra7 Rc5 with Black ahead ) Nc1 30. Rb1 Ne2+ 31. Kf2 e5 and from here you can see that Aronian has solidified his position and advantage. 1-0 on the 41st move.