1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. b1c3  2... d7d5  3. c1f4  3... e7e6  4. e2e3  4... f8b4  5. g1e2  5... e8g8  6. a2a3  6... b4e7  7. e2g1 An original novelty. The knight on e2 is no longer needed to protect his queenside twin and can move to a more  active position. In the process, the white bishop can land on the active  b1-h7 diagonal. Still, a couple of tempos early in the game are a serious  price White needs to pay for this maneuver. 7... c7c5  8. g1f3  8... f6h5 The most obvious reaction is to swap off the white  bishop. 9. d4c5  9... h5f4  10. e3f4  10... e7c5  11. f1d3  11... g7g6 An overcautious, but slow move and  the main reason for Xiong's problems. Black is afraid of the Greek gift  sacrifice, which is not a major threat here. 12. h2h4 Carlsen cannot stand the temptation to challenge the opponent's  weakened kingside at once. 12... b8c6  13. h4h5  13... d8f6  14. d1d2  14... e6e5 A classical central counter-blow and apparently, a  decisive mistake... 15. c3d5 Not only winning the pawn, but opening more and more diagonals,  files and squares for his pieces into the attack. 15... f6d6  16. d3c4  Simply bringing more attackers in. 16... b7b5  17. c4a2 Same policy, no rush. The black king can wait for a  couple of more moves, but will not go anywhere.