1. d2d4  1... d7d5  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. g1f3  3... c7c6  4. e2e3  4... f8d6  5. b1c3  5... f7f5 In a must-win situation Giri chooses the Stonewall. 6. f3e5  6... g8f6  7. f1e2  7... e8g8  8. e1g1  8... c8d7 Giri chooses to maneuver his bishop on the kingside, the most aggressive option. 9. f2f4 The most unpleasant approach by Aronian, taking into consideration the match situation. The blocked nature of the position allows him a chance to develop pressure without too much risk. 9... d7e8  10. c1d2  10... b8d7  11. d2e1 That's a novelty, but it is quite an obvious move as well. The bishop is heading to a better position, just like the black Be8 earlier. 11... a7a5 Disrupts the queenside expansion. 12. a1c1 Prepares a timely trade on d5. 12... f6e4 And Giri finds nothing else but to try and seize some space in return. 13. c3e4  13... d5e4  14. c4c5 So does Aronian. 14... d6e7  15. d1b3  15... d7e5 This is forced. 16. d4e5  16... d8c8  17. e1g3  17... h7h6 Giri's plan is obvious. He prepares Kg8-h7(h8), followed by Rf8-g8 and finally g7-g5. 18. f1d1  18... g8h7 While watching the game online I had no doubts what Aronian will play next. 19. d1d6 The only surprising thing was that he took more than a minute on his clock to slam the rook deep into the opponent's camp. Giri will have to accept the sacrifice sooner or later, or else his pawn on e6 would be exposed once again. 19... e8f7  20. a2a4 An important move in Aronian's plan. He fixes a weakness on a dark square, knowing that Black will soon miss the bishop on that color. 20... e7d6  21. c5d6  21... f8g8  22. b3b6 White keeps his bishop on the kingside for the defense. 22... g7g5 There is nothing else left. 23. c1c5  23... g8g7  24. c5a5  24... a8a5  25. b6a5  25... c8e8 All forces are joining the kingside efforts. 26. a5b6  26... f7h5  27. e2c4 The most active choice as always. 27... h5d1  28. b2b3  28... d1c2  29. a4a5  29... g5f4 Finally Giri opens the g-file and White has to be careful. 30. e3f4  30... e8h5 There is no more obvious an dlogical move than that, but it transpires that White can cover every single squre now. 31. b6e3 Just in time. All Aronian needs is to swap the queens when his grand-d-passer-strategy would be finally crowned. 31... h5d1  32. e3e1 