WITH A SOLID VICTORY AT LINARES, ARONIAN JOINS THE GAME’S ELITE
By Robert Byrne

The New York Times
March 19, 2006 Sunday
Late Edition – Final

In the final two rounds of the Linares tournament, which was held
in Morelia, Mexico, and Linares, Spain, Peter Leko of Hungary, the
leading player throughout, lost twice and dropped back to fourth
place with 7 1/2 points. Levon Aronian of Armenia kept up the most
hectic pace of all, finishing the last round with a sizzling victory
over Leko and a total of 8 1/2 for first place.

Tied for second, with 8 points, were Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan
and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria, who is in negotiations for a world
championship match in the fall with Vladimir Kramnik of Russia. After
Topalov lost three of the first six games, he buckled down. Quite a
heroic performance under such adverse circumstances.

In Aronian’s final-round victory against Leko, he looked as though he
was going to play passively for a draw, but then produced an attack
with a spirited counter to the Anti-Marshall Ruy Lopez.

Aronian turned the Ruy Lopez upside down. It is Black who is supposed
to endure the Spanish Torture, but this time it was White whose trees
were felled by lightning. It was a great moment for him, as he took
on the role of pathfinder in an old opening.

Somehow Leko staggered into an endgame. It was hopeless, and Aronian
made it even more so by precision play that brooked no resistance. He
was not going to let this tournament victory get away from him.

In his other games, Aronian also played spiritedly, forcing his
opponents to defend against breathtaking gambits. This was his greatest
success so far, and he must now be welcomed into the inner circle of
players who have a right to eye the world championship.

After 7 Bb3 0-0, since 8 c3 can run into the tempestuous Marshall
Attack with 8 d5!?, Leko chose an Anti-Marshall Attack with 8 a4.

Supposedly this avoids risks.

After 13 Kh8, playing 14 d4 Nd4 15 Nd4 ed 16 Qd4 Rd8 17 Ne3 c5 18 Qd3
d5 would have given Aronian the initiative, but it was the best Leko
could have done.

Leko’s 17 Ba4 was inaccurate. He should have played 17 ef Rf5 18 Bd2.

With 20 Ng6, the black pieces were bearing down on the kingside,
but the white pieces had no targets.

Leko’s 22 Ra2 was a purely defensive move, but he had to guard his
king position.

With 22 Qb7, Aronian attacked the kingside and the queenside
simultaneously, in the best Alekhine style.

With 24 Nd3, 25 Qd3 Qc4, Aronian won a decisive pawn, and the endgame
was his.

Finally, after 40 Reh3, Leko gave up.

White Black Leko Aronian 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 Nf6 5 0-0
Be7 6 Re1 b5 7 Bb3 0-0 8 a4 b4 9 d3 d6 10 a5 Be6 11 Nbd2 Qc8 12 Nc4
Rb8 13 Bg5 Kh8 14 h3 Ng8 15 c3 bc 16 bc f5 17 Ba4 fe 18 Bc6 ef 19 Be7
Ne7 20 Bf3 Ng6 21 Bg4 Nf4 22 Ra2 Qb7 23 Bf3 Qb3 24 Rc2 Nd3 25 Qd3 Qc4
26 Qc4 Bc4 27 Bc6 Rb3 28 g3 g5 29 Re3 Ra3 30 Be4 Ra5 31 g4 Bd5 32 f3
Be4 33 fe Ra1 34 Kg2 Rff1 35 Ree2 Rg1 36 Kh2 Rh1 37 Kg3 Rag1 38 Rg2
Re1 39 Rgf2 Re3 40 Kg2 Reh3 41 Resigns.