1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4 The Italian game was heavily discussed at the  recent World Cup. 3... f8c5  4. c2c3  4... g8f6  5. d2d3  5... d7d6  6. e1g1  6... a7a5  7. f1e1  7... e8g8  8. h2h3  8... h7h6  9. b1d2  9... c8e6  10. c4b5 Super topical! Almost all the top players have played this with either color. In particular, Mamedyarov and  Vacher-Lagrave are having some sort of a theoretical duel in this line. 10... d8b8  11. d2f1  11... b8a7  12. d3d4 Also a very hot topic! 12... e5d4  13. b5c6  13... d4c3  14. c6a4  14... c5f2  15. g1h2  15... f2e1  16. d1e1  16... d6d5  17. c1e3  17... c7c5 Anton comes first with an improvement. 18. e4e5  18... f6e4  19. b2c3  19... f7f5  20. e5f6 A funny contradiction. In order to secure good squares for his pieces, Aronian needs to open the road for Anton's  rooks. 20... f8f6  21. a4c2  21... a7b8 Played with a very concrete idea. 22. h2h1 Aronian sacrifices a pawn. 22... e6h3  23. f3d2 But White returns it at once and consolidates in  the process. 23... h3f5  24. d2e4  24... f5e4  25. c2e4  25... d5e4  26. e3c5  26... b8e5  27. c5d4  27... e5h5  28. h1g1 All of this was forced, and now Black goes for a queen swap while speculating with  mating threats. 28... f6f4  29. e1d1  29... h5d1  30. a1d1  30... b7b5 Often in these  endgames, the rook and the pawns are stronger, but here the strong  positions of White's minor pieces promise him an edge. Magnus Carlsen has  demonstrated exceptional technique in similar situations with the light  pieces. 31. a2a3 It is important not to allow the swap of the queenside pawns. 31... a8c8  32. f1e3  32... f4f7  33. d1b1  33... f7b7  34. g1f2  34... g8h7  35. e3c2  35... c8c6 Activating the rook. 36. b1h1 Aronian also tries to activate his major piece. 36... b7f7 A nice spoiler. 37. f2g1  37... f7c7 Anton prepares the sacrifice of an exchange. 38. h1h3  38... g7g5  39. h3e3  39... c7e7 An inaccuracy in time trouble. 40. e3e1  40... h7g6  41. e1b1  41... e7b7  42. g1f2  42... h6h5 Despite the missed opportunity, Black manages to  hold relatively easy. 43. f2e3  43... b7c7  44. e3e4  44... c6c3 This time the  sacrifice works. Anton gets rid of both the queenside pawns and the better minor piece at once. 45. d4c3  45... c7c3  46. c2e3  46... c3a3  47. b1b5  47... h5h4  48. b5b8  48... a3a4  49. e4e5  49... a4b4  50. b8g8  50... g6h5  51. g8d8  51... a5a4  52. e5f6  52... b4b6  53. f6f5  53... b6b5  54. e3d5  54... h5h6  55. f5g4  55... a4a3 