1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. c2c4  2... e7e6  3. c1f4 Nihal repeats the same variation that gave him an important win in his match against Giri in the semifinals. 3... d7d5  4. c4d5  4... f6d5  5. f4g3  5... c7c5  6. e2e4  6... d5f6  7. b1d2  7... d8d4 So is prepared and plays this critical move. In my analysis of Sarin vs. Giri, I wondered why nobody had ever tried this. 8. g1f3  8... d4d8  9. e4e5  9... f6d5 Where does White's compensation come from $2 Mainly in the space advantage granted by the pawn structure and in the possibility of an attack on the kingside. If the attack works, then the pawn won't be missed. But So is one of the best defenders in the world (if not the best). 10. a2a3 White could develop the bishop on d3 immediately, without worrying about the knight jump to b4. Honestly, it won't make that much of a difference, as a3 will come in handy sooner or later. 10... f8e7  11. f1d3  11... c8d7 Castling before White would be dangerous because of the possibility of an attack with h2-h4. So plays a useful move and waits for White to castle. 12. d1e2  12... a7a6 I really like this move. The main idea is to play Bb5 at some point, even if it's giving the pawn back. With that, Black avoids a mating attack because, without the d3-bishop, it doesn't exist. Perhaps White, recovering the pawn, will achieve equality, but let's remember that So needed only two more draws to decide the match. For him, the most important thing was to play solid chess. 13. e1g1  13... e8g8  14. a1d1  14... d7b5  15. d2c4 Risky, but the best chance to fight for a win. In case of 15... b8c6  16. h2h4  16... c6a5  17. e2e4  17... g7g6  18. c4e3  18... d5e3  19. e4e3  19... d8c7 Black is now a clean pawn since White cannot create dangerous threats in the kingside. So plays the remainder of the game with admirable precision. 20. f3d2 Trying to bring the knight to e4 and then f6, but So keeps a cool head. 20... b5d3  21. e3d3  21... f8d8  22. d3e3  22... a5c6  23. d2e4  23... c6d4 The knight heads to f5. 24. e4f6  24... g8g7  25. g3f4  25... d4f5  26. e3h3  26... g7h8 Black has other good options, but the move played is more than enough. Now 27...Bxf6 is threatened. 27. f6e4  27... d8d1  28. f1d1  28... a8d8  29. e4d6  29... h8g8  30. h4h5  30... g6g5 Now the game is over. The d6-knight can be captured, and Black can even play h7-h6 if he wants to close the kingside. Nihal decides to sacrifice a piece in desperation. 31. h5h6  31... g5f4  32. h3g4  32... g8f8  33. d6f5  33... d8d1  34. g4d1  34... e6f5 Since a loss in this game means the match is over, White decides to play a few more moves. 35. d1d3  35... c7e5  36. d3d7  36... e5d6  37. d7c8  37... e7d8 