Armenian chess player Levon Aronian defeated the World Champion Vladimir Kramnik 4-2 in a fine display of active play, tactics, and execution. After losing the first game, the young Armenian reeled off three wins in a row, and then held a dramatic game 5 draw to win the match.
In game 5, Aronian came out fighting. Needing only one draw in two games to wrap up the match (leading 3-1 after the 1st 4 games), Aronian played an unorthodox opening, emerging with a precarious position out of the opening. He defended well, secured the draw, and in doing so, won the match.
In the sixth game Kramnik was unable to capitalize on a promising position, and the game spiraled into a wild finish where no one was able to predict any moves, and any of three results (1-0, 1/2/-1/2, or 0-1) was possible. The final drawn position resembled a study-like position, with white’s menacing pawns counterbalancing black’s queen. The final result, 4-2, was a well-deserved victory for the Armenian number one.
