Aronian tried hard to win by sacrificing a pawn for space initiatives and a Bishop pair. Unfortunately for Aronian, Carlsen played well to defend and later capitalized on that pawn advantage. Anand is in trouble against Ivanchuk. This will be a very interesting 3-way battle for the #1 ranking.

GM Aronian (2737) – GM Carlsen (2775) [A32]
Bilbao Grand Slam, 02.09.2008

1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e6 5.g3 Bb4+ 6.Nd2 Nc6 7.Nc2 Be7 8.Bg2 0–0 9.0–0 Rb8 10.Ne4 b5 11.cxb5 Rxb5 12.Nd6 Bxd6 13.Qxd6 Bb7 14.Na3 Rb6 15.Be3 Rxb2 16.Bc5 Re8 17.Rab1 Rxb1 18.Rxb1 Ba6 19.Nb5 Bxb5 20.Rxb5 Qc8 21.a4 h6 22.Ba3 Qa6 23.Bb2 Qxa4 24.Bxc6 dxc6 25.Rb4 Qa5 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Rg4+ Kh7 28.Qxc6 Rd8 29.Qc2+ f5 30.Ra4 Qe1+ 31.Kg2 Rd1 32.Qc7 Kg6 33.Kf3 Qh1+ 34.Ke3 Ra1 35.Qc2 Rxa4 36.Qxa4 Qc1+ 37.Kf3 Qc3+ 38.Kg2 a5 39.g4 Qe5 40.gxf5+ Kxf5 41.Qe8 Kg6 42.Qf8 a4 43.e3 Qe4+ 44.Kg3 Qd3 45.h4 a3 46.Kh2 Qf5 47.Qxa3 Qxf2+ 48.Kh3 Qf3+ 49.Kh2 Kh5 50.Qf8 Qf2+ 51.Kh1 Kg4 Black wins 0–1

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