This was clearly the year of the world champion. The one in  which he demonstrated his ability to constantly create more and more  problems to his opponents until they finally crack.
1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. g1f3  3... d7d5  4. b1c3  4... c7c5  5. c4d5  5... e6d5  6. g2g3  6... b8c6  7. f1g2  7... c5d4  8. f3d4  8... f8c5  9. d4c6  9... b7c6  10. e1g1  10... e8g8  11. d1c2  11... c5b6  12. c3a4  12... c8d7  13. b2b3  13... f8e8  14. c1b2 A typical position with a pair of isolated pawns has been put on  the board and Carlsen plays novelty \E0 la Razuvaev. 14... h7h5 The  prominent Russian GM used this idea with reversed colors to win a  masterpiece against the Hungarian GM Farago. Back then it was a totally  new concept. 15. h2h4  15... f6e4  16. e2e3  16... a8c8  17. a4b6 Aronian improves the opponent's pawn  structure but gets the bishop pair in return. 17... a7b6  18. c2d1 It  seems as the h5 thrust backfired. 18... d7f5 Carlsen decides to  sacrifice the pawn. 19. d1h5  19... d8d7  20. h5d1  20... c6c5 Surprisingly enough, Black's compensation exists. He has a strong center and freedom in maneuvering. The extra pawn is not  very important yet. 21. f1e1  21... c8d8  22. a1c1  22... f5h3  23. d1f3  23... f7f6 Blunting the other bishop. 24. g2h3  24... d7h3  25. c1d1  25... b6b5 Carlsen's play is instructive as usual. Every move that he  makes improves a bit something in his camp. 26. f3g2  26... h3e6  27. f2f3 Aronian  decides that the time for concrete actions came. However, in the process  he is also weakening his king. 27... e4d6  28. g3g4  28... d5d4 The central  break does not require explanation. 29. g2d2  29... e6d5  30. e3d4  30... c5c4 Play for  blockade. The content this game reminds me of another encounter between  the two opponents: the one at the London Chess Classic in 2017. Back then  Carlsen sacrificed two pawns as well, but the major difference was the  lack of queens in the game in England's capital. With the queens on, the  Norwegian has all the reasons to play for a win. 31. b2a3 Aronian must have missed something. 31... d5f3  32. d2g2  32... e8e1  33. d1e1  33... f3c3 A tempo move which provides  the necessary time for the world champion to fulfil his plans on the  queenside. 34. e1d1  34... b5b4  35. a3b2  35... c3e3  36. g2f2  36... e3h3  37. f2g2  37... h3e3  38. g2f2  38... e3e4  39. f2g2  39... c4c3  40. b2c1  40... c3c2  41. d1f1  41... e4d4 Pawns are now equal but Black is completely  winning thanks to his safe king, active pieces and strong passer. 42. g1h2  42... d4e5  43. h2g1  43... e5c5  44. g1h2  44... d6f7  45. g4g5  45... c5e5  46. h2h1  46... d8d1  47. g5g6 The only chance for White is connected with threats against the enemy king. 47... f7d8  48. g2f3  48... d1f1  49. f3f1  49... e5e4  50. f1g2  50... e4h4 Now Black won a pawn but it is way more  difficult for him to safeguard the king. 51. h1g1  51... h4d4  52. g1h2  52... d4d1  53. g2e4 Powerful centralization. Aronian almost made it. 53... g8f8  54. e4b4  54... f8e8  55. b4b5  55... e8e7 Never mind the bollocks, the king will go and  checkmate his counterpart! 56. b5c5  56... e7e6  57. c5c8  57... e6e5  58. c1b2  58... e5e4  59. c8b7 Many people still discuss this move. Yes, super-GMs  also blunder. Especially after sixty moves of unbearable pressure and lack of time for thinking.