Followers of global chess competitions are still waiting for World Chess Champion Magnus Carlsen to return to playing in over-the-board tournaments. When these events were shut down last year by COVID-19, Mr. Carlsen organized a series of online competitions so he could continue to play serious games against high level opponents, as well as win prize money.
He has continued to play all of his tournament games online this year, even as over-the-board tournaments have returned. Russian Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi, who will face Mr. Carlsen in the World Chess Championship match scheduled to begin in November, returned to over-the-board play several months ago. Will Mr. Carlsen begin playing in over-the-board tournaments before then, or will he continue to rely on online tournaments to prepare for his World Championship match?
Most recently, Mr. Carlsen played from June 26 through July 4 in the Goldmoney Asian Rapid online tournament, where he lost in the semi-finals to Grandmaster Levon Aronian, who emigrated from Armenia to the United States earlier this year. Mr. Aronian clinched his upset victory with the following game, after Mr. Carlsen’s aggressive but unsound play rebounded in favor of his opponent.
White: Magnus Carlsen
Black: Levon Aronian
1e4 e5 2Nf3 Nc6 3Bc4 Bc5 4c3 Nf6 5d3
The gambit 4d4, cxd4 6cxd4 Bb4+ 7Nc3 used to be popular, but black has found ways to neutralize white’s attack.
5…d6 6Bg5 h6 7Bh4 a6 8Nbd2 Ba7 90-0 0-0 10a4 Na5 11Ba2 g5!?
White to Move
Carlsen-Aronian Move 12
12Bg3 Carlsen surely considered 12Nxg5!?, sacrificing a piece to expose black’s king to attack. This sacrifice is considered favorable for white, but Aronian may have found a way to improve on black’s defensive plan.
12…Nh5 13b4 (After 13Nxe5!?, threatening Qxh5, 13…Nxg3 14Nxf7 Qf6 15hxg3 Be6 white loses the knight in exchange for several pawns and some attacking chances)
13…Nxg3 14hxg3 Nc6 15Nh2 Kg7 16g4 (16Nc4 followed by Ne3 may have been a better way for white to contest the f5 square) Qf6 17g3 Ne7 18Kg2 Ng8
White to Move
Carlsen-Aronian Move 19
19f4?! A risky pawn sacrifice that has a better chance of succeeding in an online rapid game than in the longer classical games that will be played in the World Championship match. White’s gambit might have produced a strong attack against a lesser opponent, but Mr. Aronian, the fifth-ranked player in the world, responds well.
19…exf4 20d4 Ne7 21Nc4 d5 22e5 Qc6 23b5 (sacrificing a second pawn) 23…axb5 24axb5 Qxb5 25Nd2 Ng6 26Qc2 Be6 27Bb1 c5 28Ndf3 cxd4 29Rxa7 (Sacrificing this rook for the bishop is the best chance for white to continue his attack) 29…Rxa7 30Nxd4 Qb6 31Nf5+ Kh8 32Nf3 fxg3 33Rh1 Qxf2+ 34Qxf2 gxf2 35Kxf2 Ra1
White to Move
Carlsen-Aronian Move 36
36Rxh6+? The rook is out of place on h6 and his bishop on b1 is now under attack. White would still have some hope for a draw after 36Nxh6 Kg7 37Nf5+.
36…Kg7 37Bd3 Rc8 38N5d4 Nf4 39Bf5 Rxc3
White to Move
Carlsen-Aronian Final Position
White resigns. Black is well ahead in material and his king is now in less danger than white’s. To view this game on a virtual board, go to https://www.chess.com/events/2021-goldmoney-asian-rapid-knockout/06-02/Carlsen_Magnus-Aronian_Levon
Keith Holzmueller has been the head coach of the Evanston Township High School Chess Club and Team since 2017. He became a serious chess player during his high school years. As an adult player, he obtained a US Chess Federation Expert rating for over-the-board play and was awarded the Senior International Master title by the International Correspondence Chess Federation. Keith now puts most of his chess energy into helping young chess players in Evanston learn to enjoy chess and improve their play. Please email Keith at news@evanstonroundtable.com if you have any chess questions.