1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5  3... g8f6  4. e1g1  4... f6e4  5. d2d4  5... e4d6  6. b5c6  6... d7c6  7. d4e5  7... d6f5 Vachier-Lagrave is one of the few elite grandmasters still trying to break the Berlin by playing the endgame. He is a player with well-defined convictions—for this reason his opening repertoire is predictable, but very well-studied. 8. d1d8  8... e8d8  9. b1c3  9... c8d7 The most classical line, as it was played at the time of the famous match between Kasparov and Kramnik. Lately players have preferred 9...Ke8. 10. h2h3  10... h7h6  11. b2b3  11... b7b6  12. c1b2  12... d8c8  13. a1d1 A well-known position. 13... a7a5  14. a2a4  14... c6c5  15. c3d5  15... c5c4 [%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Black decides to advance before White plays c2-c4. 16. d5f4 A new move, but Vachier-Lagrave probably confused the move order. 16... d7c6 [%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the difference. Now the knight jump to d4 is not so strong, since it can be captured. 17. e5e6  17... c4b3 [%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 18. e6f7 [%c_effect f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The French grandmaster is always very quick to find tactical possibilities. His games often turns chaotic all of a sudden, as we'll see in a few moves. 18... b3c2  19. d1d2  19... f8b4  20. d2c2  20... c6a4  21. c2c1  21... h8f8  22. f3e5  22... a4b3  23. f4g6  23... f8f7  24. e5f7  24... b3f7 After this sequence of logical moves, we have an endgame with an advantage for Black, who has an avalanche of pawns on the queenside. 25. g6e5  25... f7b3  26. b2c3  26... b4a3  27. c1a1  27... a3d6  28. f1b1  28... b3d5  29. b1d1  29... d5b3  30. d1b1  30... b3g8  31. g2g4 [%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] White seeks counterplay by advancing the pawns on the kingside. 31... f5h4  32. f2f4  32... g7g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 33. b1f1  33... c8b7  34. f4f5  34... g8d5  35. a1d1  35... c7c6 [%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 36. f5f6  36... d6e5  37. c3e5  37... h4f3  38. f1f3  38... d5f3  39. d1d7  39... b7a6  40. f6f7  40... f3d5 We arrive at the most fascinating part of the game. The endgame that follows can be analyzed for hours and has variations that resemble compositions. 41. d7d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This move loses. 41... c6d5  42. e5g7  42... b6b5 [%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 43. g7h6  43... b5b4  44. f7f8q  44... a8f8  45. h6f8  45... a6b5  46. h3h4 [%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 46... a5a4  47. h4g5  47... a4a3  48. g5g6  48... b5c4  49. g6g7  49... a3a2  50. g7g8q  50... a2a1q  51. g1g2 The machine never misses the right checks, indicating a draw. In a practical game, Black's situation is not so simple. The players had seconds on the clock and they did what was possible with such limited time. 51... a1b2  52. g2g3  52... b2c3  53. g3h4  53... c3e1  54. h4h5  54... b4b3  55. f8g7  55... e1h1  56. h5g5  56... h1c1  57. g5g6  57... c1c2  58. g6f7  58... c2f2 [%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 59. g7f6 [%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 59... b3b2  60. g8c8  60... c4b4  61. c8b7  61... b4a3  62. g4g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 62... d5d4  63. g5g6  63... a3a2  64. b7a6  64... a2b3  65. a6b5 [%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 65... b3a2 [%c_effect a2;square;a2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 66. b5a4  66... a2b1  67. g6g7  67... b1c1  68. g7g8q  68... b2b1q  69. g8g5 