1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5  3... a7a6  4. b5a4  4... g8f6  5. e1g1  5... f6e4 Definitely not a surprise by Mamedyarov. The Open Ruy Lopez was his bread and butter long before he reached Niemann's age. 6. d2d4  6... b7b5  7. a4b3  7... d7d5  8. d4e5  8... c8e6  9. b1d2  9... e4c5  10. d1e2 And Niemann chooses a rare continuation in order to avoid the Azeri's heavy preparation. 10... g7g6  Taken by surprise Mamedyarov chooses \"an interesting sideline,\" at least according to Chessbase. 11. c2c3 The most logical reply, and some thought. 11... f8g7 That's the point, but White is not too concerned about the pawn. 12. f3d4  12... c6e5  13. f2f4 The game has been opened in White's favor, and Niemann launches a nasty attack against the black king. 13... e5d3  14. f4f5 Anand, who was annotating for the official site, could not hide his amazement about Mamedyarov's opening choice. White has more than enough compensation for the pawn. 14... d3c1 Black was also burning time on his clock. 15. a1c1  15... g6f5  16. d4f5  16... g7f6 Aaaand, this is a novelty $1 But it is very likely that neither player was aware of it. 17. b3c2 Niemann's desire to keep this piece alive is perfectly understandable. With the bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal, Black can never even think about castling short. 17... c5d7  18. f5d4 All of this looks logical, but actually releases the tension. 18... d8e7 Taking half a breath. 19. c1e1 This piece also stood too well to be moved. 19... f6d4  20. c3d4  20... e8c8 The king escaped the guillotine, and it is anyone's game. 21. d2b3  21... e7d6  22. a2a4  22... b5a4 White might have underestimated this. 23. b3a5  23... d6b6 A double attack. The next moves are more or less forced. 24. e2d2  24... d8g8  25. c2a4  25... g8g4 Both players are on the attack. 26. a5c6 As obvious as this move is, it is not optimal. The knight is too valuable to be traded easily. 26... d7b8 That's the problem. White loses his stability and has to follow a forced sequence: 27. h2h3  27... b8c6 The best move. Mamedyarov wins two pawns for the exchange and opens all the windows into the enemy king's castle. 28. h3g4  28... c6d4 After brief hesitation Black opts for the attack. 29. d2e3 Now White's king is slowly getting cold feet. 29... h8g8  30. a4d1  30... e6g4  31. f1f2  31... g4d1  32. e1d1  32... g8g4 The central knight deserves all the support it might be given. 33. d1d3  33... g4e4  34. e3h3 Pushing the black king into safety. 34... c8b7  35. d3e3  35... f7f5 When everything is defended, Mamedyarov is ready to bring his pawns into motion. 36. g1h1  36... d4b5 A nice maneuver that places the knight optimally, both for the passers' support and for the defense of the king. 37. e3e4  37... f5e4  38. f2f8  38... b5d6  39. h3h7  39... b6b2 All is set for the baby queens to start moving. 40. h7g8  40... b2a1  41. h1h2  41... a1e5  42. g8g3  42... e5h5  43. h2g1  43... h5d1  44. g1h2 Which Niemann did not use. 44... d1h5  45. h2g1  45... d5d4  46. f8f1  46... h5c5 The pawns are unstoppable, Mamedyarov confidently converts his advantage. 47. f1b1  47... b7a7  48. g3f2  48... d6b5  49. b1a1  49... b5c3  50. g2g4  50... e4e3  51. f2f6  51... c5c4 