1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... f8c5  4. c2c3  4... g8f6  5. d2d3  5... d7d6  6. e1g1  6... h7h6  7. f1e1  7... e8g8  8. b1d2  8... c5b6  9. a2a4  9... a7a5  10. c4b5 A novelty that was played after 20 minutes on the  clock. Firouzja's move aims to clear the center from the c6-defender in  order to seize it with d3-d4. 10... f6g4 An important intermediate move by Caruana that wins a  tempo. 11. e1e2  11... c6e7  12. d3d4  12... e7g6  13. d2f1  13... d6d5 At least equalizing. 14. e4d5  14... e5d4  15. h2h3  15... g4f6  16. f3d4  16... f6d5  17. e2e1  17... d5f4 "I had a very promising  position, and also Alireza had like 15 minutes less than me so I was  extremely optimistic" (Caruana). Indeed, Black managed to bring his  knights closer to the opponent's king much faster. Plus, his bishop on b6  is way more valuable than its counterpart on b5. 18. c1e3  18... c7c6 The first  moment when Black could have grabbed the g2-pawn, starting a huge attack.  Caruana sensed the importance of the situation and tried hard to find the  follow-up. 19. b5c4 Now surprisingly the situation changes in Black's favor. 19... b6c7  20. f1g3 Now Firouzja stabilizes his kingside. It is important to mention  that he sped up at this part of the game. 20... f4d5  21. e3d2  21... d8d6 Now it is also equal, but the time spent in the opening from  both opponents will soon start to tell. 22. c4b3  22... c8d7  23. d4f3  23... f8e8  24. d1c2  24... g6f4  25. a1d1  25... e8e1  26. d1e1  26... d6f6  27. f3d4 Time for Firouzja to look for  the f5-spot. 27... a8d8  28. e1e4  28... f6g6 Caruana called this a mistake, but  is it really? 29. b3d5  29... f4d5  30. g3f5 Apparently missed by Caruana. 30... g6f6  31. e4g4 Caruana's time pressure prevents him from finding the best  defense. 31... g7g6  32. f5h6  32... g8f8 The best defense now by Caruana. 33. g4e4 Best play by the 17-year-old. 33... d5f4  34. h6g4  34... d7g4  35. h3g4  35... f8g7  36. d2f4 White forces matters in  time-trouble. 36... c7f4  37. d4f5  37... g6f5  38. e4f4  38... f6g5  39. f4f5  39... g5g4  40. f5f3  40... g4h5  41. c3c4 The time control has been reached, and  Firouzja is up a solid pawn and has good pieces. It all seems a matter of  technique now. 41... d8d4 Now the American GM gets some initiative. 42. c2c3  42... h5e5  43. f3d3 Firouzja wants to swap off the rooks rather than the queens. 43... c6c5 But Caruana wants something in return. 44. d3g3  44... g7f8  45. c3a5 The second pawn goes down, but for a moment the  queen has abandoned her king, and this gives Black a chance to create  nasty threats. 45... d4d1  46. g1h2  46... e5h5  47. g3h3  47... h5e5  48. g2g3 It seems  over, but Caruana has calculated everything carefully. 48... e5f5 "I was lucky to have ...Qf5. It was a miracle" (Caruana). Black sacrifices a  third pawn with check! But it is far more important to stick to the vital  pawn on f2, the pawn that stands on the road of his major pieces and the  white king. 49. a5a8  49... f8e7  50. a8b7  50... d1d7  51. b7h1 A last attempt to avoid the draw. 51... f5f2  52. h1g2  52... d7d2  53. g2f2  53... d2f2  54. h2g1  54... f2b2  55. h3h5  55... b2a2 But the notoriously drawish rook endgame appears on the board, and Caruana holds. 56. h5c5  56... a2a4  57. g1g2 