1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5 Nakamura decided to stick to the Ruy Lopez, but today his approach will be different. 3... a7a6  4. b5a4  4... g8f6  5. e1g1  5... f8e7  6. f1e1  6... b7b5  7. a4b3  7... e8g8  8. h2h3  8... c8b7  9. d2d3  9... d7d5 Aronian is ready to play the Marshall, even against the Anti-Marshall. According to Megabase, this move is recently more successful than 9...d6. 10. e4d5  10... f6d5  11. a2a4  11... c6d4  12. b1d2  12... d4b3  13. d2b3  13... d5b4  14. f3e5  14... d8d5  15. f2f3  15... e7d6  16. d3d4  16... a8e8 All of this is theory, and as usual, Black is getting enough for the pawn thanks to his active pieces and the bishop pair. 17. a4b5  17... a6b5  18. c1d2 On the other hand, Nakamura's approach is very pragmatic. Take the pawn and let the opponent be creative in finding counter-play, when also low on time. 18... b4c6 Aronian banged out this novelty, but it will remain a secret if he had intended to do so, or simply if he messed up the lines. 19. d2f4  19... g8h8 Prophylaxis against the possible fork on the e7-square. 20. f4h2 Prophylaxis in return, as the bishop needs protection. 20... c6e5 And Black regains the pawn. 21. d4e5  21... d6e5  22. h2e5  22... e8e5  23. e1e5  23... d5e5  24. d1d4 Nakamura's opening plan becomes clear. Without the queens on the board, his rook will dominate on the most distant file. The knight will be way more comfortable than the light-squared bishop, as the latter is biting on granite on the long diagonal. 24... e5g5  25. d4c5  25... g5c5  26. b3c5  26... b7d5  27. a1a7 A very unpleasant endgame arose for Black. The play goes for two results only and the lack of time only multiplies the defensive issues. 27... c7c6  28. c5d3  28... g7g6  29. a7c7  29... f8a8 Black is abandoning the pawn in search of activity. In principle, this is the best strategy. 30. d3b4  30... h8g7  31. b4c6  31... d5c6  32. c7c6  32... a8d8 The best try $1 Aronian needs to cut the enemy king along the second rank or to trade a pair of pawns on the queenside. 33. g2g4 A nervous move that almost spills all the advantage away. 33... d8d2  34. h3h4  34... h7h5 Trading a pair of pawns and winning a pawn. 35. g4h5  35... g6h5  36. b2b4  36... d2d4  37. c2c3  37... d4h4  38. g1g2  38... h4f4  39. g2g3  39... f4f5 Aronian should be out of the woods, but the drama is only about to start. 40. f3f4  40... h5h4 One more pair of pawns goes west. 41. g3h4  41... f5f4  42. h4g5  42... f4f3  43. g5g4  43... f3d3 Very inaccurate, at least from a practical point of view. 44. c6c5  44... g7f6  45. g4f4 Now Aronian has to solve concrete problems as he is about to lose the b5-pawn and Nakamura would enjoy two connected passers. 45... f6e6  46. f4e4  46... d3d8 Already losing. 47. c5b5 An automatic capture. 47... d8d1  48. b5b6  48... e6d7  49. b6f6 It is time for Nakamura to relax, just a few steps away from the win. 49... d7e7  50. f6f3  50... e7e6  51. f3d3  51... f7f5 The time scramble continues and both players try to advance their passers as soon as they can. 52. e4d4 