Hi Sundown,
In the Topalov - Aronian game here. White to play.
Apparently Aronian said if White had played 64.Kc5 instead of 65.Ra3+
then he would have resigned. Both lines are known book draws.
We were close to seeing a top ten player resigning in a drawn position
and thus forcing a play-off with Topalov and Wes So.
It looks like Aronian missed if 65.Kc5 he has 65...Ra7.
The Winning line Aronian possibly saw.
[FEN "8/4r3/P7/2K1p3/R7/3k4/8/8 b - - 0 64"]
64... e4 {64...Ra7 draws. see next bit.} 65. Ra3+ Kd2 66. Kd4 e3 67. Ra2+ Kd1 68. Kd3 {And the Black pawn falls. The Black King cannot help the Rook to stop the a-pawn.}
The drawing line
[FEN "8/4r3/P7/2K1p3/R7/3k4/8/8 b - - 0 64"]
64... Ra7 {If now Kb6 then Rxa6+ and e4 draws.} 65. Kd5 Kc3 66. Kxe5 Kb3 67. Ra1 Kb4 68. Kd6 Kb5 69. Rb1+ {Now not 55...Kxa6 as 6. Kc6 wins. But 5...Kc4 and White must return to a1 to hold the a6 pawn. Draw.} *
Sinquefield Cup 2015
15 Aug '16 00:29
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