Game of the year | 3 January 2019

The time has come again when I award the accolade of most spectacular game of the year. It adds lustre if this is from one of the great matches. However, not one of the games from the London World Championship comes close to creating the requisite brilliance and drama. Instead, my choice falls on the game Aronian-Kramnik from the Fidé Candidates in Berlin.
 
Aronian-Kramnik: Fidé Candidates Berlin 2018; Ruy Lopez
 
1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 Nf6 4 d3 Bc5 5 Bxc6 This kind of ‘delayed exchange’ is a popular counter to the Berlin Defence  5 … dxc6 6 0-0 Qe7 7 h3 Rg8 (see diag 1) This is an extraordinary idea and shows an admirable flexibility of thought. White’s play has been a little passive and Kramnik alertly realises that he can exploit this with a rapid kingside advance. 8 Kh1 Nh5 9 c3 White needs a more robust response to Black’s aggressive plan. The alternative 9 Nc3 fits the bill so that if Black continues as in the game with 9 … g5 10 Nxe5 g4 11 d4 Bd6 12 g3 Bxe5 13 dxe5 Qxe5 then the white e-pawn is protected and he has time for 14 h4 with unclear play. 9 … g5 This shows up White’s 9th move as being too slow. The black attack now develops with terrifying speed. 10 Nxe5 g4 11 d4 11 Nxg4 is destroyed by 11 … Bxg4 12 hxg4 Qh4+ 13 Kg1 Ng3 and mate on h1 is inevitable. 11 … Bd6 12 g3 Bxe5 13 dxe5 Qxe5 14 Qd4 Qe7 Black could play 14 … Qxd4 15 cxd4 gxh3 but he much prefers to keep queens on and play for the attack. 15 h4 For the moment White has sealed up the kingside but Black now swiftly mobilises the rest of his army and quickly opens further lines.