White has a beautiful position, but this is no guarantee of anything when we have bishops of opposite color in the endgame.
1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... f8c5  4. b1c3 One of the many possible ways to play the Italian Opening. Usually this square is reserved for the pawn, so that White can fight for the center with c3-d4, while the knight is maneuvered via d2 to f1 and g3. To make sense of the knight's positioning on c3, White must maneuver it to g3 via e2, place it on d5, or chase the black bishop with Na4 at some point. 4... g8f6  5. d2d3  5... e8g8  6. c1g5 The good old pin. 6... h7h6  7. g5h4  7... c5e7 The most solid way to play. Black doesn't need to commit to g7-g5 while it's possible to end the pin in a more relaxed way. 8. a2a4 [%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A rare move in this exact position, but gaining space with a2-a4 is an Italian classic. 8... d7d6  9. h4f6 Why White captures the knight now instead of castling is something that will become clear in the next few moves. White still hopes for an attack on the kingside. 9... e7f6  10. c3d5  10... g7g6 The first new move. 11. h2h4 This move is necessary to justify White's play, otherwise Black can play Bg7 and then Ne7, with a comfortable position. 11... f6g7 The right way to deal with h4-h5 is to ignore it. 12. h4h5  12... g6g5  13. d5e3  13... c6e7 Black prepares c6-d5 or Kh8-f5. 14. f3d2  14... c7c6  15. g2g4 [%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Fixing the pawn structure on the kingside in order to prevent the liberating f7-f5. Now White can try to play against the bishop on g7, which becomes a piece with limited mobility. The computer is not very impressed with all this, but to play at a high level nowadays you need to ignore some of the machine's evaluations and think about whether the position is comfortable for playing - that's enough. Rapport was still in preparation, as he played all of this quickly. 15... d6d5  16. c4b3  16... g8h8 Now Rapport started to think. 17. d2f1 Considering Black's next move, it makes a lot of sense for White to start with a4-a5 first. 17... d8a5  18. d1d2  18... a5d2  19. e1d2  19... f8d8  20. f1g3  20... d5e4 [%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Taking the chance to activate the pieces. 21. g3e4  21... f7f5  22. g4f5  22... e7f5  23. e3f5  23... c8f5 With the strong knight on e4, White can argue that his position is a little more comfortable, but not enough for real pressure. 24. a1e1  24... a7a5  25. e4c5 Seeking to take the game to a position of bishops of opposite colors. 25... b7b6  26. c5e6  26... f5e6  27. b3e6  27... d8f8  28. h1f1  28... a8d8  29. e1e4  29... d8d4  30. c2c3  30... d4d6 A difficult decision. Capturing the rook on e4 leaves the light squares weakened, but what must be calculated is whether Black can set up a fortress, the typical strategy for those defending in opposite-colored bishop endgames. 31. e6g4  31... f8d8  32. g4e2  32... c6c5 Another difficult move. Aesthetically it's ugly, as it weakens more light squares, but Aronian wanted to fight against the b4-advance. 33. d2c2  33... h8g8  34. c2b3  34... g8f7 