Viswanathan Anand, as befits his position as the incumbent world champion, won the intercontinental tournament recently held in Mexico and Spain. But in racking up his top score, Anand did manage to lose one game. Anytime a world champions loses a game, it is a sensation in the chess world. What happened, and why? It seems that his encounter with Levon Aronian revolved around the eternal question in chess: what is more important, possession of a material advantage or possession of the initiative? In this instance, it turned out be the initiative.

ANAND VS. ARONIAN (White) (Black) Ruy Lopez

1.e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 0–0 8.c3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 c6 12. Re1 Bd6 13.g3 Re8 In 2004 Aronian won brilliantly against Shabalov after 13…Bf5 14.d4 Qd7 15. Be3 Rae8 16. Nd2 Bg4 17. Qb1 Bf5 18. Qc1 Re6 19. Nf3 Bg4 20. Ng5 Rg6 21.f3 Bxf3!! 22. Nxf3 Bxg3! But in 2007 Anand embarked on this same line against Svidler (Svidler played 18…Re7) and won. Aronian understandably decided not to check what improve Anand had found on the line played in his own game against Shabalov. But in analysis after the game, Aronian recommended an interesting pawn sacrifice: 13… h5!? 14. Qxh5 Re8 winning time to develop an initiative. 14.d4!? This is more consistent then 14. Rxe8+ Qxe8 15.d4 Ra7 16. Nd2 Re7 17. Nf3 f6! with black’s initiative, as in the recent game, Almasi-Position after 30. Nf3?!

Jakovenko 2007. 14… Rxe1+ Probably more exact was 14…Ra7. 15. Qxe1 Ra7 16. Be3 An approximately equal position would arise after 16. Nd2 Re7 17. Qf1 Bg4!? 18.f3 Bf5 19. Ne4 Bxe4 20. fxe4 Rxe4 21. Bd2. 16… Re7 17. Nd2 Qe8 18. Nf1 Safer but less ambitious was 18. Bxd5. 18… h5!? Developing an initiative around the white squares on the kingside. In case of 18…Bh3? 19. Qe2 white would control white squares on the king side. 19.a4 In the case of 19. Qd1 Bg4 20. Qd3 Qd7 black has compensation for the pawn. 19… Be6 Prematurely was 19…h4 20. axb5 axb5 21. Qe2 hxg3 22. hxg3 and not good for black 22… 22…Nxe3 23. Nxe3 Bxg3 24. Ra8 Bf4 25. Qf3 g5 26. Qh5 with a strong white attack. 20. Bd1!? An interesting plan: white transfers his bishop to the kingside. In case of 20. Bc2 Bh3 21. Qe2 g6 black has good compensation for the pawn. 20… h4?! Risky. More prudent was 20… Bg4!? 21. axb5 axb5 22. Qd2 Qd7. 21. axb5 axb5 22. Bf3 Bh3 23. Bxd5 cxd5 24. Qd1 f5! To maintain the initiative, black has to sacrifice a second pawn. No good was 24…hxg3 25. hxg3 Bxf1 26. Qxf1 Bxg3 27. Bg5 f6 28. Bxf6 gxf6 29. fxg3 with an advantage for white. 25. Bg5!? A position similar to that of the game would arise in the event of 25. Qb3!? Qf7 26. Bg5 Re4 ( the exchange sacrifice 26…hxg3?! 27. Bxe7 gxh2+ 28. Kh1 Bg4 29. Nd Bxe7 30.f3 was dubious) 27. Bxh4 Kh7 28. Qd1 Qg6 29. Bd8 f4. 25… Re4 26. Bxh4 Qg6 27. Bd8 f4 28. Qd3?! Anand overestimates his chances. Not particularly good was 28. Bb6?! Re8 29. Bc5 Bc7 with a significant initiative. The safest path was; 28. Bh4!? f3 29. Qxf3 Rxh4 30. Qxd5+ Kh7 31. Ra8 Qb1! (white has some winning chances after 31…Qe4 32. Qxe4+ Rxe4 33. Ne3) 32. Qg8+ with a draw by perpetual check. 28… Qh5 29. Nd2? After this active move, white’s position is already defenseless. Anand had to choose 29. Bb6 Bb8 30. Bc5 Qe2! (worse was 30…Qe8 31. gxf4) 31. Qxe2 Rxe2 32. gxf4 Bxf4 and despite two extra pawns white is not better because of the activity of the black pieces. 29… Re2 30. Nf3?!

(See Diagram)

This loses on the spot. But other moves did not save the day. For example, 30. Bh4 Rxd2 31. Ra8+ Bf8 32. Rxf8+ Kxf8 33. Qxd2 Kg8! 34. Qd3 Qe8 35. Qb1 Qe2 with decisive threats. Or 30. Qf3 Bg4 31. Qd3 Rxf2! 32. Nf1 Be2 and black wins. 30… Re3! 31. fxe3 Qxf3 32. Qc2 fxg3 33. hxg3 Qxg3+ 34. Kh1 Bf5! 0–1