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Linares R14: Levon Aronian wins Morelia/Linares Super-GM
11.03.2006 This prestigious event was won not by FIDE world champion
Veselin Topalov, nor by the other favourites Svidler and Leko, but by
23-year-old Armenian grandmaster Levon Aronian, who after all is
number five in the world rankings. Aronian achieved this by beating
Peter Leko with the black pieces in the final round. Full report with
pictures, video and commentary.
Playing with the black pieces, Aronian won with unexpected easy
against a somewhat demoralised Leko, and was proclaimed winner of this
highly animated super-tournament. Together with his triumph in the
World Cup 2005, this result consolidates the young Armenian’s position
among the leading Grand Masters at the moment. Vallejo-Topalov saw a
theoretical draw by perpetual, while in Bacrot-Radjabov a draw was
signed with all the pieces on board. The last game to finish was
Svidler-Ivanchuk. Black managed to survive in spite of having lost a
pawn right after the opening.