context: 1. e2e4  1... e7e6 The French may not be very popular among the elite, but it's one of the favorite defenses among amateurs, and it's always good to see it in action, as it promises a complicated game. Ding had already played it in the match against Nepomniachtchi at the suggestion of his second, GM Rapport. This move certainly didn't come as a surprise to Gukesh. 2. d2d4  2... d7d5  3. b1c3 