Ottawa Citizen, Canada
December 20, 2008 Saturday
Final Edition
Aronian binds up Ivanchuk
by Deen Hergott, Citizen Special
There are two major events running this week — the Pearl Spring
double round-robin in Nanjing, China, and the FIDE Grand Prix event in
Elista, Kalmykia. The Elista event has been somewhat marred by the
withdrawal of several top players as a result of FIDE’s change in
regulations for the Grand Prix, but it remains a very strong field
nonetheless.
Grandmaster Teimour Radjabov of Azerbaijan is the early leader in
Elista with 2.5/3. In Nanjing, the competitors enter the second half
of their event with a three-way tie for first: GMs Bu Xiangzhi of
China, Levon Aronian of Armenia, and Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria have
3 out of 5 points each.
Aronian-Vassily Ivanchuk (Ukraine): Maroczy Bind
1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.e4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Nc2!?
Allowing an early …Nxd4 tends to provide Black with an easier
time. Black is slightly cramped and as such tends to benefit from some
exchanges.
7…Bg7 8.Be2 Nd7 9.Bd2 a5 10.0-0 Nc5 11.Qc1!
Multi-purpose. Clears the d1-square for a rook, prepares B/d2-h6, and
guards the sensitive b2-square along the long diagonal. Ivanchuk’s
reaction is a bit extreme, and probably not that good, as it leaves
Black’s K-side permanently compromised.
11…h5?! 12.Rd1 Bd7 13.Ne1!?
A bit mysterious, but White is likely just making room for his Q-side
to untangle. With the g5-square weakened, White’s knight may have a
future heading that way.
13…Nd4 14.Bf1 0-0 15.Bg5 Bc6 16.Nd5 Re8 17.f3
Simple and strong, bolstering the centre. The duo of pawns on c4 and
e4 define the "bind" aspect of the Maroczy Bind. White can profit from
his extra manoeuvring space to slowly build up his position behind the
lines.
17…b5!? 18.Be3 Nce6?!
This is too clumsy, and 18…e5!?, staking out some influence in the
centre, is probably a better call. Even if White can manage B/e3xd4
and win a pawn, Black will always have some counterchances on the dark
squares, and his pieces will remain more active than in the game.
19.Qd2 bxc4 20.Bxc4 Rb8 21.Kh1 Nb5 22.Rac1 Nc5?! 23.b4!
A well-timed punch. Black’s forces get into a real mess now.
23…axb4 24.Nxb4 Qb6
Very awkward, but 24…Bd7 25.Bxc5 and 24…Ba8 25.Bxc5 dxc5 26.Bxf7+!
win on the spot, the latter due to 26…Kxf7 27.Qf4+.
25.Ned3 Na3 26.Bb3! Ba8
Black cannot avoid losing material, but it is shocking how quickly his
position completely collapses.
27.Nxc5 dxc5 28.Bxc5 Qa5 29.Qf4 e6 30.Rd7 Rf8 31.Rxf7!
Even better than winning the Exchange on f8; this destroys the King’s
pawn shelter as well. A powerful game by Armenia’s No. 1.
31…Rxf7 32.Qxb8+ Kh7 33.Bxe6 Black Resigns.