1. e2e4  1... e7e6 A big surprise! Although Firouzja has played the French before,  he did that rarely and almost always in blitz games. Maybe this has  something to do with the country that he currently lives in? 2. d2d4  2... d7d5  3. b1c3  3... g8f6  4. e4e5  4... f6d7  5. f2f4  5... c7c5  6. g1f3  6... b8c6  7. c1e3  7... a7a6  8. a2a3 The first micro-thought by Giri, and he deviates from what he had  always played before. 8... c5d4  9. f3d4  9... f8c5  10. d1d2  10... e8g8  11. f1e2 A calm developing move. 11... d8c7  12. e1g1  12... b7b6 This falls short by a move. 13. d4c6 Giri finds a good way to fix a pleasant positional advantage.  13... c7c6  14. b2b4 Removing the excellent bishop. 14... c5e3  15. d2e3  15... c8b7  16. e2d3 One more move and White will be able to maneuver with  his knight to d4 when Black's position would be positionally lost.  Therefore: 16... d5d4 Forcing an endgame. 17. e3e4  17... c6e4  18. c3e4  18... b7d5  19. e4g5 Accumulating another small advantage. 19... g7g6  20. g5f3  20... d5f3  21. f1f3 White's advantage is very pleasant. He has the more  valuable light piece, and the d4-pawn is an obvious target. Firouzja's  knight does not seem to have brilliant outposts, and the impression is  that Black's position will only deteriorate from here on. 21... b6b5  22. d3e4  22... a8d8  23. f3d3  23... d7b6 Not that fast! There is plenty of energy in this knight. 24. e4b7  24... b6a4  25. b7a6  25... a4c3 A very nice maneuver. Black gets  counterplay. 26. a6b7  26... c3e2  27. g1f2 