1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. g1f3  3... d7d5  4. b1c3  4... f8b4  5. c4d5  5... e6d5  6. c1g5  6... h7h6  7. g5h4  7... e8g8  8. e2e3  8... c8f5  9. d1b3  9... b4c3  10. b3c3 This is the modern move against the Ragozin. 10... g7g5 But as a leading specialist of the line, Aronian is, of  course, aware of it. With his last move, he is entering less charted  territory. 11. h4g3  11... f6e4  12. c3a3  12... b8d7 And uncorks a novelty. The  knight is heading to overprotect the vital e4-spot. 13. f1d3  13... f8e8  14. f3d2  14... d7f6  15. d2e4  15... f5e4  16. e1g1  16... e4d3  17. a3d3  17... f6e4 This does not seem to give enough.  18. g3e5 Shankland correctly saves the bishop. He will need it for the  coming kingside assault. 18... c7c6  19. f2f3  19... e4c5 Apparently, Aronian counted on this trick to hold the center. 20. d3f5 The key move. It is all about centralization. 20... d8e7  21. f3f4 Everything is coming in time. It seems as Aronian's position will collapse at any moment. 21... c5e4  22. f4g5  22... h6g5  23. f1f3  But this is inaccurate. 23... f7f6  24. e5f6  24... e7f6  25. f5f6  25... e4f6  26. f3f6  26... e8e3  27. f6g6  27... g8h7  28. g6g5  28... a8g8 An instructive decision. Aronian trades the opponent's active rook and thus secures his king. 29. g5g8  29... h7g8 It is obvious that White cannot defend his extra pawn. The question is what plan to choose. 30. g1f2  30... e3d3  31. g2g4 Shankland bets on the strength of his passers. 31... d3d4  32. f2g3  32... d4d3  33. g3h4 However, this is not natural. Why step on the road of  the passers? 33... d3d2  34. h2h3  34... d2b2  35. h4g5  35... d5d4 Black won a pawn, but far more important is the  speed of the passers. It seems as Shankland's pawns should be faster. Plus his king is supporting them, and his opponent's stands in their way, which means that they might move forward with tempi. The problem, however, is  that White cannot use his rook yet. 36. a1d1 Shankland decided to slow  the main pawn down. 36... c6c5 