1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... g8f6  4. d2d3  4... f8c5  5. e1g1  5... d7d6  6. c2c3  6... a7a6  7. a2a4  7... h7h6  8. b1d2  8... e8g8  9. h2h3  9... a6a5  10. f1e1  10... c8e6  11. b2b3  11... f8e8  12. c4b5 For the next three moves White spent a significant amount of time on the clock, apparently trying to figure out how to pose problems to his well-prepared opponent. 12... e6d7  13. d2f1  13... c6b8 Swiercz too, spent a good amount of time for this retreat. Both players are slowing down at the end of the opening, although this position has already been tested in practice. 14. b5d7  14... b8d7 [#] 15. f1e3  15... c5e3  16. c1e3  16... d6d5  17. e4d5  17... f6d5  18. e3d2  18... c7c5 \"I played the opening in a terrible way as I often do in the Italian. I do not know why I keep playing it... I got a slightly worse position.\" (Caruana) 19. d1c2  19... d8c7  20. e1e2  20... e8e6 Indeed, in a reversed Maroczy-bind type of position Swiercz has extra space and the opportunity to build a kingside attack, whereas Caruana needs to sit passively and wait. 21. a1e1  21... a8e8  22. c2b1  22... d7f6 The knight is heading to the f4-square. The only problem for the second player is that he is making his moves far too slowly. This impractical approach will have dire consequences in the end. 23. f3h4  23... b7b6  24. h4f5  24... c7d7  25. f5h4  25... f6h5  26. g2g3  26... h5f6 A pity for Swiercz. 27. h4f3  27... e6e7 \"A dubious decision, which I understand. He wanted to release the tension because he had thirty seconds.\" (Caruana) 28. e2e5  28... e7e5  29. e1e5  29... e8e5  30. f3e5  30... d7h3  31. b1d1 \"I am definitely not worse anymore. He allows me a pretty risk-free position.\" (Caruana) 31... h3f5  32. d1e2  32... f5e6  33. e2e1  33... e6f5  34. g1g2  34... h6h5 Black's pieces are powerful and therefore he can afford to advance his pawns in front of his own king. 35. c3c4  35... d5c7  36. e1e2  36... c7e6  37. e5f3  37... g8f8  38. d2c3  38... g7g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 39. f3d2  39... h5h4  40. d2e4  40... f6e4 Swiercz made it to the time control, and Caruana admitted in the short after-match interview that he assessed his winning chances as very low (\"one percent\".) 41. d3e4 \"His knight is so good, I cannot create any threats, and my king is vulnerable.\" (Caruana) 41... f5h7  42. e2g4  42... h4g3  43. f2g3  43... f8e7  44. g4f3  44... h7g6  45. f3d3  45... g6h5  46. c3e5  46... e7e8  47. g2g1 [%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Now that White dominates in the center, it is Black who has to prove equality. And, as before, he is very short on time. 47... h5g4  48. e5f6  48... e8f8  49. g1f2  49... f8g8  50. d3d5  50... g4h5 An important moment. Black allows the transition into a pure minor piece endgame where the bishop will be significantly better than the knight. 51. d5a8  51... g8h7  52. a8h8  52... h7g6  53. h8h5  53... g6h5  54. f6e5 A few more pawns were traded in the coming moves. 54... h5g4  55. e5b8  55... f7f5  56. e4f5  56... g4f5  57. b8a7  57... e6d4  58. a7b6  58... d4b3  59. f2e3 And it's all come down to a position which might still be a draw, but where very precise play is required. 59... g5g4 \"This is how it kind of starts to snowball. It is draw, it is a draw, then you suddenly have to make one good decision, and suddenly it is not a draw anymore.\" (Caruana) 60. b6c7  60... f5e6  61. e3e4 Both White pieces dominate the board, while Caruana also dominates on the clock. 61... b3d2  62. e4d3  62... d2b3  63. c7f4  63... e6f5  64. f4e3  64... f5e5 The last instructive moment of the game. 65. e3h6 [%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] Caruna is perfect $1 White realises that his bishop belongs on the c3-square, from where it fully dominates the knight. 65... e5f5  66. h6g7  66... b3c1  67. d3d2  67... c1b3  68. d2e3  68... f5g6  69. g7b2 [%c_effect b2;square;b2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 69... g6f5  70. b2c3 Zugzwang. 70... f5g5  71. e3e4  71... g5g6  72. e4f4  72... g6h5  73. f4f5 Zugzwang again. 73... b3c1  74. c3a5  74... c1e2  75. a5c7  75... e2d4  76. f5e4 