1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... f8c5  4. b1c3 It is fascinating to see our child openings coming into the spotlight. 4... g8f6  5. d2d3  5... d7d6  6. c3a4  6... c5b6  7. a2a3 White is basically opting for an somewhat improved Italian where his knight will trade the black dark-squared bishop via a faster route (rather than the standard Nb1-d2-c4 one, which requires a tempo for the Bc4 retreat.) 7... h7h6  8. h2h3  8... e8g8  9. e1g1  9... c8e6  10. c4e6 [%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Nowadays more popular than 10.Nxb6. In the not-so-distant past, Black was always considered to get an easy kingside game with the maneuver Qd8-e8-g6, Nf6-h5-f4, and an attack along the f- and g-files. 10... f7e6  11. b2b4  11... d8e8  12. c2c3  12... c6e7 Nihal took some time on his clock before producing this novelty. 13. f1e1  13... e7g6  14. a1a2 [%c_effect a2;square;a2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A nice, semi-waiting but useful move. The rook is overprotecting the f2-pawn and is ready to join the battle along the second rank. Black is in a mini-zugzwang, longing for alternative improvement moves. 14... a8d8  15. a4b6 Now that the black rook has abandoned the a-file the bishop is removed. 15... a7b6  16. a3a4  16... e8f7  17. f3h2 Why is White better $2 It is the pawn structure $1 His pawns are more elastic and he has a pleasant choice on how to modify the situation in the center and the kingside. The main drawback of the double-pawns is that they are static, they can only wait for the opponent to attack them. 17... g8h7  18. g2g3  18... f7d7  19. c3c4 [%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Sindarov initiates a central fight. 19... d6d5  20. a2d2  20... f8f7  21. d1c2 Now White's plan is to force the central fixation. He does not mind having the black d5-pawn neither traded nor fixed on the d4-square. 21... c7c5  22. b4b5 Closing the queenside. White is also moving toward a one-sided kingside play. 22... d7d6  23. g1g2  23... d8f8  24. c2d1  24... d6d7  25. e1f1 Sindarov's patient play has been exemplary. He knows that the opponent's position cannot be improved and carefully avoids any random tactics. 25... f8d8  26. d1e2  26... d8a8  27. e2d1  27... a8d8  28. d1c2  28... d7e8  29. d2e2  29... d5e4 At last, the center is locked $1 30. d3e4  30... f7d7  31. e2e3 [%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The same smothering policy. 31... f6h5  32. g2g1 [%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 32... e8f7  33. h2f3 White's plan is clear: pressurize the e5-pawn with every piece that he has, and if needed, use the h-pawn too. If this does not work, then White can open up the kingside with f2-f4 and thus clear the bishop's road toward the g7-pawn and the black king. 33... h7g8  34. g1h2  34... h5f6  35. c1b2  35... f7f8  36. b2c3  36... f6h7  37. c2e2  37... f8f6  38. h2g2  38... h7g5  39. f3h2 [%c_effect h2;square;h2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] No trades at all $1 Sindarov intends to push the black knights back instead with tempi. 39... g5f7  40. h3h4  40... g6f8  41. h2g4  41... f6g6  42. h4h5 [%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Launching the decisive kingside attack that was brewing ever since the center was locked. 42... g6g5  43. f2f4  43... g5e7  44. f4f5  44... f8h7  45. f5f6  45... h7f6 Now Nihal stands no chance at all. 46. g4f6  46... g7f6  47. e3f3 