Wijk aan Zee · 2013
Anand's Immortal
White: Levon AronianBlack: Viswanathan AnandResult: 0-1 - Viswanathan Anand wins23 moves
Anand sacrifices pawns, a rook and the exchange in a Semi-Slav, and every white piece ends up a spectator. A modern classic in twenty-three moves.
The key moments
- 13... Ng4Knight to g4! Anand ignores the knight on h7.
- 15... Bc5Bishop to c5. Every black piece is aimed at the king.
- 19... f5Pawn to f5! The rook is left behind on purpose.
- 23... Be3Bishop to e3. Aronian resigns. Brilliance.
All moves
1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. a3 Rc8 12. Ng5 c5 13. Nxh7 Ng4 14. f4 cxd4 15. exd4 Bc5 16. Be2 Nde5 17. Bxg4 Bxd4+ 18. Kh1 Nxg4 19. Nxf8 f5 20. Ng6 Qf6 21. h3 Qxg6 22. Qe2 Qh5 23. Qd3 Be3 0-1
Replay it on the living board
In When Kings Fall this game is replayed with living armies: Levon Aronian commands the Light, Viswanathan Anand the Shadow. Every capture is a duel, the key moments are shown in slow motion with commentary, and the analysis mode shows Stockfish's evaluation after every move.