1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. g1f3  2... g7g6  3. b1c3  3... d7d5  4. c1f4  4... f8g7  5. c3b5 An idea from the reversed Chigorin defense. White forces the opponent's knight towards the rim and  hopes it will never find its way back. 5... b8a6  6. e2e3  6... f6h5 In return,  Black takes care of the enemy bishop pair. 7. f4g5  7... h7h6  8. g5h4  8... c7c6  9. b5a3 It seems strange that the white knight also  sidesteps the central squares, but White needs to play c2-c4 if he wants  to fight for the center. 9... c8g4  10. f1e2  10... a6c7  11. c2c4 Aronian achieved what he wanted, but the pressure that he exerts in the center is not yet worrisome for Banikas. 11... e8g8  12. d1b3  12... a8b8  13. a1c1 Now the Greek GM decided that it is time to force  matters. 13... g6g5  14. h4g3  14... h5g3  15. h2g3  15... g4f3  16. g2f3  16... c6c5 The point. This Grunfeld-like strike opens the diagonal for  the bishop and almost exhausts the position. 17. c4d5 In a short,  after-match interview Aronian revealed that he wanted to play solid  without any risks. 17... c5d4  18. e3e4  18... e7e6  19. a3b5 The knight on c7 is about to reach the  center; therefore, he needs to go away. 19... c7b5  20. e2b5  20... e6d5  21. e4d5  21... d8b6 Correctly preparing the queen  swap. It should be equal, but some accuracy is still required by both the  players. 22. e1g1  22... f8d8 However, it seems Black got overexcited about the central  pawn. 23. g1g2  23... b6d6  24. f1e1  24... g7f6 It's likely that only here Black spotted the cheapo. 25. b3d3  25... g8g7  26. b5c4  26... b8c8  27. c1d1 Keeping the major pieces alive. White now plans to  build a battery along the a2-h7 diagonal. 27... d6b4 Active play by the Greek GM. 28. c4b3  28... a7a5  29. a2a3  29... b4b6  30. e1e2 Once again, solid play. 30... b6a6 Back to the correct idea of swapping the queens. 31. d3d2 