It’s down to the final two in the FTX Road to Miami, as Levon Aronian and Wei Yi started their two-day final today. The first three games of the four-game set were dramatic; the last game, not so much.
In game 1, Wei’s 16…Qb8 got him into serious trouble. Aronian didn’t manage to find all the best moves, but neither did his opponent, and after 32…g4 Aronian had a final chance to prove that his advantage was enough for a win. With a classical time control, Aronian probably would have managed, but down to around five minutes or so in a rapid game it was almost impossible. His 33.Kg2 was plausible but erroneous, and the win was gone. First Aronian and then Wei tried for more, but eventually the inevitable happened: draw.
In game 2, it was Wei Yi’s chance to hope for the full point. Aronian chose a surprisingly active approach in an opposite-colored bishop ending where a purely defensive approach would have drawn easily. Had Aronian’s activity given him any winning chances it might have been a reasonable risk, but that was not the case this time. Fortunately, a smart defensive idea and a single mistake by Wei was enough for Aronian to save the game: draw #2.
In the third game, Wei handled the opening far better than he did in game 1, and after 18.Nxd4? Ng4! 19.Qe4 Nxf2 White was busted. Aronian remained lost, off and on, for most of the rest of the game, but his opponent never managed to find a finishing blow. A narrow escape for Aronian was the result: draw #3.
One more draw would have meant that today’s set would have finished in a draw. It didn’t happen, as Wei Yi, with the white pieces, played a very poor game. Still, one side or the other enjoyed a decisive advantage in each of the first three games; this time, the dinner stayed on the plate and didn’t manage to run away. Aronian showed good technique in converting his advantage, winning the game and the first set.
Tomorrow the players will do it all over again, and if Wei manages to win that match they’ll have a blitz playoff; otherwise, Aronian wins the tournament. In the meantime, here are all four of today’s games, with my annotations.