GM Levon Aronian (Ganges Grandmasters) beat GM Anish Giri (Alpine APL Pipers) in the Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2026 (Preliminary Stage), in 61 moves.
The game turned on 53.Kh4. Before it, Stockfish had the position as winning for Black (-3.65); one move later, winning for Black (-3.67). It was played with 0:09 left on the clock.
Stockfish wanted 53.Re1 instead. Can you see why? And 53...Rh2+, the engine's best reply, came straight back.
It began as the Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation.
Replay it move by move, then take the key position on against the engine.
- White
- GM Anish Giri, 2660 · Alpine APL Pipers
- Black
- GM Levon Aronian, 2739 · Ganges Grandmasters
- Result
- 0–1 in 61 moves
- Opening
- Queen's Gambit Declined: Charousek Variation · D31
- Event
- Tech Mahindra Global Chess League 2026, Preliminary Stage · Bengaluru, India
- Key move: {0}
- 53.Kh4
- Engine’s choice
- 53.Re1