click for larger view

48.Rgc7??

<It is totally absurd, but this is actually a losing move. The correct way to preserve the drawing chances was to find the surprising resource of 48.Rf7! (immediately blocking Qf2+) with the plan of doubling on the f-file. This way, the white king on the queenside can remain in a perpetual-like position (as the lone queen cannot deliver a checkmate), and if Black tries to move the pawns, then the rooks (not being harassed by pawns, as not being on the c-file) can also create perpetual-like positions. On top of that, this way the queen cannot pin the rooks against the king. Note, 48.Rh7?? does not work, as it would be put in a fork by the queen after a Kc2. So, for example, after 48.Rf7 a5 (48...Kb6 49.Kc2 Qe4+ 50.Kc1 Qd5 51.Rcc7 or something like that keeps the balance) 49.Kc2 Ka6 50.Rcf3 Qb4 51.R7f4 Qb5 52.Rf6+ it is infinitely far from obvious how Black makes progress. I deeply believe that this position can be drawn, even in a time trouble, if you understand the idea behind. I also do believe that the starting position of chess is a draw, but let's check the rest of the game instead - it does not need annotation, it is pure beauty, delivered by GM Sulskis!>

48...a5 49.R7c4 Qf6 50.Rc5 Ka6 51.Rc7 b6 52.Ka3 Qd6+ 53.Kb3 Kb5 54.Ka2 a4 55.Rc1 Qd5+ 56.Ka1 Ka5 57.R7c2 b5 58.Rc5 Qd4+ 59.Ka2 Kb4 60.R5c2 a3 61.Re2 Ka4 62.Rh1

<Technically, a blunder, but Aronian had no hopes for survival, anyway. Sooner or later the rooks will be forced to remain on different files, and then b3 crushes very hard.>