GM Aronian (2737) – GM Radjabov (2744) [A05]
13.09.2008, Bilbao Grand Slam Final
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 0–0 5.Bg2 c6 6.e4 d6 7.h3 e5 8.0–0 Nbd7 9.d3 Re8 10.Rb1 h6 11.Be3 a5 12.d4 exd4 13.Nxd4 Nc5 14.Qc2 a4 15.Rfe1 Nfd7 16.f4 Qa5 17.Bf2 Qb4 18.Bf1 Nb6 19.Red1 Nbd7 20.Re1 Nb6 21.Red1 Nbd7 22.Kh2 Nf6 23.Re1 Bd7 24.b3 axb3 25.axb3 Nh5 26.Red1 f5 27.Bg2 Bf6 28.Nde2 fxe4 29.Be1 Nd3 30.Nxe4 Nxe1 31.Rxe1 Bf5 32.g4 Bxe4 33.Bxe4 Ng7 34.Bxg6 Re3 35.Rg1 Ra3 36.Rg3 Re7 37.Rg2 Re3 38.Bh7+ Kf7 39.Qg6+ Ke7 40.Bg8 Ne8 41.Ng3 Kd8 42.Qxh6 Qc3 43.Nf5 Rf3 44.Re2 Qd3 45.Reb2 Bxb2 46.Rxb2 Ra1 47.Qh4+ Kc8 48.Rg2 -+ Qd1 49.Ng3 Rf2 0-1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Why Aronian played 45. Reb2 45. Rbe1 seemes much better.
Simply 46. Rb3 is winning for black then? The black king can escape to b6.
Where did that go wrong for Aronian – he was surely pushing for a win?
It’s sad when his first win is the LAST game. But I guess he can be happy to be ending on a good note.
At least one who played for some pride to avoid the last place.
John, Rb3 does not work. b6 does not turn out to be a refuge for the king. After it gets there, c5+ uncovers the Rb3 and the bishop takes it the next move