William Steinitz, the first world chess champion, was the great expositor of positional play, the idea that the steady acquisition of small and subtle advantages would lead to victory from their cumulative effect. As influential as this school of thought has been over the 20th century, an alternative strategy has continued to flourish. It consists of striving to create an irrational position on the board and then employing superior imagination and calculation to triumph over one’s opponent. The winner of the Corus tournament in Wijk aan Zee, Levon Aronian, is an exponent of the latter style. His final-round encounter with Loek Van Wely, the decisive game in the event, is a spectacular illustration of the imaginative approach in action.

ARONIAN VS. VAN WELY (White) (Black) Slav Defense

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5. Nc3 b5 6.c5 Nbd7 7. Bd3 e5 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ng4 10.f4 Bxc5 11. Qf3 Qb6 12. Ke2!? This unexpected move was introduced several rounds before this game by Gelfand against Aronian. In Bacrot -Karjakin 2007 12. Nd1 Nh6 13.f5!? Qc7 14. Bd2 0-0 15. Rc1 Bb6 16.f6! was played leading to a complicated struggle. 12… Nh6 13.h3 No advantaged was promised for white by 13.f5 Qc7 14. Qf4 f6!? 15.e6 Qxf4 16. exf4 g6! 17. fxg6 Bxe6 18. gxh7 Bf5 with approximately equal chances. 13… Nf5! 14.g4 Ne7 15. Rb1!? Only now does Aronian deviate from what was played in his game against Gelfand which proceeded: 15. Bd2 0-0 16. Rac1 f6! 17. exf6 Rxf6 18.e4 Bd4! after which Aronian developed a winning counterattack. 15… a5! 16.e4 Bb7! The best way. Dangerous was 16…0-0?! 17.f5! 17.f5 Bd4! 18. exd5!? A paradoxical conception. White, despite having his king in the center, opens the position. More natural was 18. Bf4 0-0 19. exd5. 18… Bxe5 19. Be3 Qc7 20. Rbc1! Increasing the tension. White could not win the pawn by 20. dxc6? Bxc6 21. Bxb5 Bxb5+ 22. Nxb5 Qc2+ 23. Bd2 Rd8 and black wins. 20… b4 21. dxc6 Bxc6 22. Ne4 Rd8?! The crucial moment of the game. Black had a choice: 22…0-0!? 23.f6 Nd5! 24. fxg7 Kxg7 25. Rc5 Bxb2 26. Ng3 Rae8; or 22…f6 23.g5 (interesting as well was 23. Rxc6 Nxc6 24. Nc5) 23…0-0 24. Rhg1; or 22…Bxb2!? 23.f6 (not dangerous for black was 23. Bf4 Qd7 24. Rc2 Bc3 25. Nd6+ Qxd6 26. Bxd6 Bxf3+ 27. Kxf3 Nc6) 23…Nd5 24. Rc5 g6! (worse for black was 24…0-0 25. Qf5 Rfd8 26. fxg7) ] with highly unclear positions in all cases. Now white takes the initiative with a sudden exchange sacrifice. 23.f6! Nd5

(See Diagram)

Also in white’s favor was 23… Rxd3 24. Kxd3 Qd7+ 25. Ke2 Qb7 26. Rxc6 Nxc6 27. fxg7] 24. Rxc6!! Qxc6 25. Rc1 Qd7? This allows a brilliant combination. The only way for black to move forward was 25…Qb7 26. fxg7 Bxg7 27. Bc5! Be5 28. Bc4 although black’s position is still perilous here. For example 28…Rd7 29. Bd6! 26. Nd6+!! Qxd6 Losing on the spot was 26… Bxd6 27. Qxd5! Qe6 28. Bb5+ Kf8 29. fxg7+ Kxg7 30. Qg5+ Qg6 31. Bd4+ or 26…Kf8 27. Qxd5 gxf6 28. Bh6+ Kg8 29. Nf5 Qxd5 30. Ne7# 27. Bb5+ Kf8 28. Bc5 Nf4+ 29. Ke1 gxf6 30. Bxd6+ Rxd6 This is better than 30…Bxd6 31. Rd1 Ne6 32. Qxf6 Bg3+ 33. Ke2 Nf4+ 34. Kf3 and white wins. 31. Rc8+ Kg7 32. Rxh8 Kxh8 33. Qb7! Kg7?! Some resources for resistance were retained by 33…Rd8 34. Qxf7 Bxb2 35. Be8 Ng6 36. Ba4. 34. Be8! Kh6 35. Qxf7 Ng6 36. Qb3 Nf4 37. Qg8 Rd4 38.h4! The final elegant combination. 38… Ng2+ 39. Ke2 Nxh4 40.g5+! fxg5 41. Qe6+ 1-0