Levon Aronian (2767) vs Mikhailo Oleksienko (2621), Queen’s Gambit Declined, Three Knights (D37)
Bundesliga 2017/18, Round 14, SG Speyer-Schwegenheim vs OSG Baden-Baden, 04/30/18
The German chess Bundesliga is one of the strongest chess events. 16 teams are playing (with the worst 3 dropping out to the lower league) and only the strongest can dream of winning. The lineups are so strong that the teams could easily win any Olympiad or other team tournament. This game was played between Aronian and Mikhailo Oleksienko. Aronian plays for the strongest team of the Bundesliga – OSG Baden Baden, which is currently in first place with one round to go.
The list of his team mates is unbelievable: Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, Vishy Anand, Peter Svidler, Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Michael Adams, Bacrot, Hou Yifan, Shirov… Just looking at these names is terrifying. Imagine having to play against such a super-team! The other teams are strong as well. Baden Baden’s biggest rivals (currently in 2nd place), Solingen, have Giri on board one, Harikrishna, Rapport… The Bundesliga is by far the strongest team competition in chess.
Aronian’s team won round 14 with an astonishing score of 7.5-0.5 and they are in the lead coming into last round. If they do well against SV Hofheim they will win the league!
Game moves:
1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 Be6
7. e3 Nbd7 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. Bf4 Qe7 10. O-O O-O 11. h3 c6 12. Qc2
Rfe8 13. Rae1 g6 14. Bg5 Qf8 15. a3 Rac8 16. b4 b5 17. Nd2 Nh5
18. Nb3 h6 19. Bh4 g5 20. Qd1 Ng7 21. Bg3 f5 22. Bxd6 Qxd6
23. Nc5 Nxc5 24. dxc5 Qe5 25. Ne2 Bd7 26. Nd4 Re7 27. a4 Rce8
28. Bc2 h5 29. axb5 axb5 30. Qd3 g4 31. hxg4 hxg4 32. g3 Ra8
33. Ra1 Ree8 34. Qc3 Qe7 35. Kg2 Kf7 36. Rh1 Qf6 37. Rh7 Rxa1
38. Qxa1 Kg8 39. Qh1 Qg5 40. Rh6 1-0