Aronian, L. – Demchenko, A.

2785 2022 · White wins (resignation, time or agreement)

Aronian (2785) versus Demchenko (2654), 2022: an Old Indian in which Black gives up the centre with 9...exd4 and looks for counterplay on the kingside. White pushes the g- and h-pawns, trades the dark-squared bishops and keeps a steady grip; the accuracy figures — 97% for White, 91% for Black — tell the story. The turning point comes on move 27: after 27...Rf7 the evaluation jumps from +2.1 to +4.5 for White, a missed chance that turns a clear edge into a winning position. From there White converts directly, collecting material up to 33.Nxa8 before Black resigns. The lesson: under pressure, one passive defensive choice can double the gap.