1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5 7.Nc3 0–0 8.Nd5 Nxd5 9.Bxd5 Rb8 10.0–0 Ne7 11.Nxe5 Nxd5 12.exd5
So Carlsen has won a pawn, but Aronian's compensation lies in the long-term potential of his bishop pair. For a while this looked insufficient, but it is extremely hard for White make his material advantage count. 12...Re8 13.d4 Bf8 14.b3 Bb7 15.c4 d6 16.Nf3 Qf6 17.Be3 Bc8 18.Qd2 Qg6 19.Kh1 h6 20.Rac1 Be7 21.Ng1 Magnus was critical of this move in the commentary afterwards, saying that he underestimated Aronian's reply. Suddenly Black's pieces start to coordinate well and White looks weak on the light squares. [21.Qa5 was mentioned as an interesting alternative.] 21...Bg5! 22.Bxg5 Qxg5
23.Rfd1?! Aronian even went so far as to call this a blunder. The queen exchange is favourable for Black, whose pieces become very active in the endgame. The next phase of the game is interesting, and nobody seemed sure how to evaluate the position! 23...bxc4 24.bxc4 Qxd2 25.Rxd2 a5 26.h3 Rb4 27.Nf3 Bf5 28.c5 Kf8 29.Nh2 Reb8 In my opinion, a critical moment in the game. Aronian refuses to win his pawn back, instead ambitiously playing for the initiative. However, Magnus is now somehow able to unravel. [29...Be4! was the simple way to play, winning the d5-pawn and retaining some advantage at no risk. 30.Nf1 Bxd5 31.Ne3 Be4] 30.Ng4 Rb1 31.Rxb1 Rxb1+ 32.Kh2 a4 33.Ne3 Bg6 34.Kg3 Rb4 35.Kf3 Ke7 36.Ke2 Kd7 37.f3 Rb5 38.Nd1 Rb4 39.c6+!? Committal, but this advanced pawn sets the scene for White's forthcoming attempts to make progress. 39...Kc8 40.Nc3 f6 41.Ke3 Rc4 42.Ne2 a3 [perhaps 42...h5 was possible, although Carlsen would still be able to advance his kingside pawns. Aronian was very unhappy with his play around this stage, saying that he was too compliant with Carlsen's plans.] 43.h4 Rb4 44.g4 Rb1 45.h5 Bh7 46.f4! The first signs of real progress. The immediate (positional) threat is f5 and Nf4, and Aronian's bishop will never see the light of day. 46...f5 [46...Bg8 47.f5 Bxd5 48.Nc3! is an important finesse.] 47.g5 Rh1 48.Ng3 Rh3 49.Kf3 hxg5 [49...Kd8! would have been far more tenacious: 50.g6 Bg8 51.Kg2 Rh4 52.Nxf5 Rxf4 53.Nxg7 Bxd5+ and the situation is not entirely clear.] 50.fxg5 Carlsen conducts the final part of the game expertly, not giving away any chances. 50...g6 51.Re2 Kd8 52.hxg6 Bxg6 53.Re6 Bf7
54.g6! Bg8 [54...Bxe6 55.dxe6 Rh8 56.g7 Rg8 57.Nxf5 is a pretty position. White can walk his king to h7 at will; his knight and pawns dominate Black's king and rook.] 55.g7 f4 56.Kxf4 Rh2 57.Nf5 Rxa2 58.Rf6 Re2 59.Rf8+ seeing that 59...Re8 would be met by 60.Nxd6!, Aronian resigned. 1–0
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