The Guardian reflects on Aronian

The world No2, Levon Aronian, looks poised to win at Tata Steel Wijk this weekend. The Armenian has led all the way and is one and a half points clear going into the final two rounds, The Guardian reports.

The British daily reflected on Grandmaster (GM) Levon Aronian, who plays first board for the three-time World Chess Olympiad champions and the previous World Team Chess champions, Armenia, and who is ranked second in the World Chess Federation (FIDE) ratings.

“Aronian’s rival [GM] Hikaru Nakamura, the US No1, had a dreadful first half at the Dutch elite event while Aronian, though still 50 rating points behind Norway’s world champion, Magnus Carlsen, has soared 40 rating points clear of the chasing pack.

“Aronian, 31, is the favourite to win the eight-player world title candidates, scheduled for Russia in March, which will decide who will challenge Carlsen for the crown in a multi-million dollar series in November this year.

“The problem is that Aronian’s track record in the final stages of world title competition is fragile. It is starting to be reminiscent of Paul Keres, the Estonian who is now considered by his admirers as the best player never to be world champion.

“Aronian is a national hero in Armenia. He is also a well-liked cosmopolitan, speaking excellent English, with a home in Germany and an Australian girlfriend. If he can overcome his candidates block, he can give Carlsen a hard fight,” The Guardian writes, in particular.

Aronian will face GM Leinier Domínguez (Cuba) in the Round 10 games at the 2014 Tata Steel Chess Tournament being held in Wijk aan Zee, the Netherlands.

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