After defeating Leinier Dominguez to win the Elimination Bracket of the American Cup, Levon Aronian analyzed the match with tournament commentator Cristian Chirila. Excerpts below.
Q: Levon didn’t have much time to think about yesterday’s roller coaster against Fabiano but what was the strategy going into today’s match?
A: Try to avoid what happened yesterday (laughing)
Q: Yesterday was a bit too crazy for your taste?
A: Yeah (nodding)
Q: Tell us about the first game because that’s when you took full reigns of this match.
A: Yeah so I knew there is this idea with the pawn sacrifice, but honestly today I think I spent at least two hours walking around the park and I thought to myself I shouldn’t really prepare.
I mean of course black can play like this and there’s nothing wrong with it but white has no risk so it’s type of a play I wanted to get in. This type of a technical play.
Q: Were you watching this game between Wesley and Hikaru and who do you expect to join you in the finals?
A: I don’t really care (smiling). I’ve survived yesterday so now all of this is just a bonus.
