This Week's ChessBase Show: Something Crazy

As mentioned in the notice for last week's ChessBase show, the calm Karpov-Timman game was just a respite into sanity; this week, we'll continue with the predominant trend towards tactical melees. I try to keep up with the games from major tournaments, but with an event as huge as the recently-completed Aeroflot Open it's hard to do. I'm grateful, therefore, to the viewer who directed me to the following attacking gem between former World Junior champion Levon Aronian and Valery Popov:

Aronian,L (2684) - Popov,Val (2588) [D15]
Aeroflot Open Moscow RUS (4), 18.02.2005

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 a6 5.Nf3 b5 6.c5 g6 7.Qb3 a5 8.Ne5 Bg7 9.Nxb5 cxb5 10.Bxb5+ Kf8 11.0-0 Ba6 12.a4 Ne4 13.Nd3 Bb7 14.f3 Nf6 15.Ne5 Qc7 16.Bd2 h5 17.c6 Bc8 18.e4 Qb6 19.Be3 Be6 20.Rac1 Na6 21.f4 Nc7 22.f5 Bc8 23.Rc5 Ba6 24.Bg5 Bc8 25.Kh1 Nxe4 26.Bxe7+ Kxe7 27.Rxd5 Nxd5 28.Qxd5 Ng5 29.Nxg6+ fxg6 30.Re1+ Be6 31.Rxe6+ Kf8 32.Qd6+ Kg8 33.Bc4 Kh7 34.Re7 gxf5 35.Qf6 Rhg8 36.Qxg5 1-0

Amazing, isn't it? Join me Monday night at 9 p.m. Eastern Time as we do our best to figure out the truth about this remarkable game; with a game like this, it's a safe bet to predict you'll be thoroughly entertained! For info about watching the show (either live or once it's archived), click here.