1. d2d4  1... d7d5  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. g1f3  3... g8f6  4. b1c3  4... f8b4 Sargissian is an expert in the Queen's gambit declined (4...Be7), but he has recently added the slightly more dynamic Ragozin defense to his repertoire. 5. d1a4 This check forces Black to put his knight in front of the c-pawn, which could be considered a small opening achievement for White. Nevertheless, practice has shown that Black obtains good counterplay by focusing on …e6-e5 instead of the usual …c7-c5 break in this type of position. 5... b8c6  6. e2e3  6... e8g8  7. c1d2 White prepares to play 8.a3 when he could recapture with the bishop on c3 if Black goes 8...Bxc3. 7... d5c4 This is the main line. Usually, Black waits with this capture until White moves his light-squared bishop, but here he wants to secure the d6-retreat for his bishop. 8. f1c4  8... b4d6  9. a4c2 There is no way to prevent Black's central break, so Gukesh recentralizes his queen. All this is well-known opening theory, anyway. 9... e6e5  10. d4e5  10... c6e5  11. c4e2 A prudent, practical choice. This sideline surprised the Armenian grandmaster, who spent 20 minutes on his next move. 11... e5f3 A principled yet double-edged choice. Gukesh was probably looking forward to this move since it provides a dynamic game with attacking chances. 12. g2f3 This is the point. Thanks to this ''anti-positional'' recapture, White gets action on the g-file, and the game suddenly becomes very sharp. 12... a7a6  13. e1c1  13... b7b5 Logically, Sargissian counter-attacks on the other flank. 14. h1g1  14... b5b4 This is another move that took some time off the Armenian's clock. It's not wrong according to the engines, though it looks a bit loose. 15. c3e4 Gukesh decided to exchange the main defender of the opponent's kingside. 15... f6e4  16. f3e4 Another recapture that might seem counter-intuitive at first. However, this structural transformation only increases the dynamic potential of white pawns. 16... d8e7  17. f2f4 The pawns are rolling, and Black needs to start making some difficult decisions. 17... a6a5 Sargissian played this natural move relatively quickly, but it turns out to be an inaccuracy. 18. e4e5  18... d6c5  19. g1g5 This unexpected move took a big chunk of Gukesh's clock. 19... c8a6  20. d1g1 A stylish intermezzo. The bishop on e2 is taboo due to the mate in 2 threat. 20... g7g6  21. e2a6  21... a8a6  22. f4f5 The critical position of the game. Both players were down to their last 30 minutes before the time control on move 40. This should be enough time to figure out the proper continuation. However, it is significantly more challenging to find accurate defensive than attacking moves, and, upon a 13-minute think, Sargissian errs with 22... c5a7 Presumably, he wanted to prepare the queen trade on c5 to take the sting out of White's attack. 23. e5e6 Surprisingly, this natural advance gives Black a lifeline. 23... g8h8 Sargissian misses the last chance to try to save the game. 24. c1b1 Gukesh finally realizes the importance of this quiet move. With his king safe, the attack should unfold on its own. 24... g6f5 Gukesh finds a winning tactic: 25. d2b4 A beautiful clearance sacrifice. White prepares to swing his queen over to the g-file with a tempo, and Black has no defense against this threat. 25... e7b4  26. c2g2  26... b4e4 The queen trade only postpones the inevitable. 27. g2e4  27... f5e4 There is no checkmate in sight. Did Gukesh miss something $2 No, he had foreseen a promotion combination: 28. e6e7  28... f8e8  29. g5g8  29... e8g8 