[Event "45th FIDE Olympiad 2024"] [Site "Budapest"] [Date "2024.09.11"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Mendez Machado, Andre"] [Black "Aronian, Levon"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2122"] [BlackElo "2729"] [Annotator "TA"] [PlyCount "90"] [GameId "2090690152978622"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] {[%evp 9,90,27,43,19,17,12,14,4,37,30,34,23,54,48,74,75,343,334,375,372,367,372,509,243,257,256,269,265,283,220,512,230,298,282,345,322,334,304,306,317,317,125,121,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,4,4,27,0,4,0,0,-8,-1,-8,-7,-17,-16,-21,0,-2,0,-8,0,0,6,-143,-145,-150,-88,-29958,-29968,-29968,-29971,-29993,-29994,-29995,-29996]} {Watching grandmasters perform at their best is expected, but observing them excel in challenging positions is remarkable. The resilience shown in the face of adversity, often necessary to surpass human limitations, is what we refer to as genius moves.} 1. e4 {[%CAl Ye2e4,Ye4e5][%mdl 32]} c5 {The Sicilian Defense} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {There is the "Great Robert 'Bobby' Fischer" favorite weapon against the Sicilian.} Nf6 {[%CAl Yg8f6,Yf6h5,Yh5g7,Yg7f5][%mdl 32]} 4. Nc3 g6 5. e5 Nh5 {The knight's position at h5 may seem peculiar, yet we cannot overlook the intentions of a Super Grandmaster.} 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. O-O Ng7 8. d3 {The position is equal.} h6 {Black's pieces are super delayed yet, I am not disregarding black's intention to castle queenside.} 9. Ne4 b6 10. Re1 {Danger...white is setting-up a nasty "WRECKING BALL"} Nf5 11. c3 g5 12. Qa4 Qc7 $2 {[%mdl 8192] An inconsistency from the American Super GM. This where the story unfolds when black must exert an effort to create something unusual to counter white's raging assault.} ({Simple but correct} 12... Bb7 $16) 13. g4 $18 {This may be an oversight, but life must continue. Super GM Aronian has no intention of conceding as long as there is still fire in his belly.} Qb7 14. gxf5 Bxf5 {When playing a Super Grandmaster's position while a piece down, it's crucial to focus on tactics that can turn the tide. This includes looking for opportunities to create forks, pins, skewers, and discovered attacks, which can help regain material or deliver a checkmate. Additionally, considering sacrifices for positional advantage or initiative could lead to a winning strategy, even when material is behind. It's also advisable to trade pawns, not pieces, to maintain chances for a comeback.} 15. d4 Bg4 16. Nfd2 {The light-squared bishop poses a significant threat, especially since the black queen is positioned diagonally from a8 to h1, offering numerous possibilities at this point in the game... almost miraculously.} (16. d5 $142 Bxf3 17. dxc6) 16... cxd4 17. Nb3 O-O-O {[%CAl Ye8c8,Yc8b8,Yb8a8,Ya8b7][%mdl 32] As required by the position, adherence to king safety is essential.} 18. cxd4 {Strongly threatening Re3.} Kb8 19. Bd2 Bd7 $2 (19... Be6 20. Rac1 Rc8) 20. Qa3 (20. Nbc5 $142 bxc5 21. Ba5 (21. Nxc5 Qb5 $18) (21. dxc5 Be6 $11)) 20... Bf5 {I prefer Black's position here; the threat is clear, and it's only a matter of time before the final blow is delivered.} 21. Rac1 e6 22. Qa4 Rc8 23. Rc3 {[%CAl Yb3a5] Hoping for Na5!} Ka8 {Yes, of course...} 24. Ng3 Bh3 {The queen and the bishop are poised for a pivotal encounter.} 25. Nf1 $2 (25. Rce3 $18 {is more deadly.}) 25... b5 $16 {[#] Black has finally gained the upper hand; it's astonishing how swiftly the tables have turned. A superb performance by Super GM Aronian—congratulations on a well-played game.} 26. Na5 $1 bxa4 $11 27. Nxb7 Bxf1 28. Kxf1 ({Don't play} 28. Nd6 $6 Bxd6 29. exd6 Ba6 $14) 28... Kxb7 29. Rc4 {Repels Bb4} Be7 30. Rxa4 Rhd8 {We have now reached an endgame where White has clear weaknesses that Black must exploit to secure an irreversible advantage.} 31. Be3 {[%CAl Yd4d5] Threatens to win with d5!} c5 32. dxc5 Bxc5 33. Re4 Bb6 34. Bxb6 axb6 {[%mdl 4096] Endgame. KRR-KRR} 35. R1e2 {Repels Rc2} Rd1+ 36. Kg2 h5 37. f4 g4 38. Kg3 Rg8 39. R4e3 Rf1 40. Rf2 {[#]} (40. Rd2 $11) 40... h4+ $1 $17 {[%mdl 512]} 41. Kg2 Rd1 (41... Rxf2+ $142 42. Kxf2 Ra8) 42. Ree2 $2 {[%mdl 8192] White is faltering as Black delivers the final blow to secure a winning game.} (42. f5 $17) 42... h3+ {Black mates.} 43. Kg3 Rg1+ 44. Kh4 g3 {It's reminiscent of the song "Killing Me Softly"; I wish to sing it accordingly...} 45. hxg3 R1xg3 {Never resign too early! Weighted Error Value: White=0.56/Black=0.36. Loses game: White=1 Black=1 Missed win: White=1 --- Mistake: White=4 Black=2 Inaccurate: White=1 Black=4 OK: White=16 Black=7 Best: White=2 Black=3 Brilliant: --- Black=1 Super GM Aronian displayed remarkable grit in his play. If the US team continues to perform at this level in each round, the prospect of clinching the Olympiad title becomes even more enticing, perhaps deserving a celebratory beer or two. Congratulations to the Super GM.} 0-1