Levon Aronian fails to convert his menacing attack! ⎸2018 Candidates, Round 8

March 20, 2018 NHaselton Uncategorized

Hanging PawnsTue, March 20, 2018 2:44pmURL:
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Ding Liren – Levon Aronian, English Opening, Agincourt Defense, A13
2018 Chess Candidates Tournament, Round 8

An absolutely brilliant attacking game by both players! Ding Liren opened with 1.c4, the English Opening, but the game quickly transposed into an Open Catalan hybrid which brought much excitement as they soon got out of main line theory and entered unknown territory.

Ding Liren made a mistake in the early middle game and allowed Aronian to create a menacing attack which could have ended in checkmate had white not been careful. Levon even sacrificed a piece and a pawn temporarily to increase his initiative but, unfortunately, he didn’t manage to convert and several exchanges occurred after which the game became drawing and boring.

Despite the result, it was a great attacking game in which neither Ding Liren, nor Levon Aronian have shown fear, which is rare in tope level chess and always a treat for the fans!

2018 Chess Candidates, standings after round 8:

Fabiano Caruana 5.5/8
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov 5/8
Alexander Grischuk 4.5/8
Ding Liren 4/8
Sergey Karjakin 3.5/8
Vladimir Kramnik 3.5/8
Levon Aronian 3/8
Wesley So 3/8

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