1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5  3... g8f6  4. d2d3  4... f8c5  5. e1g1  5... c6d4  6. f3d4  6... c5d4  7. b1d2  7... c7c6  8. b5c4 A rare move. 8.Ba4 is much more popular. 8... d7d6  9. c2c3  9... d4b6  10. c4b3  10... a7a5 A useful to move to gain space and keep the bishop on the g1-a7 diagonal. 11. d2c4  11... b6a7  12. c4e3 A novelty, but not an impressive one. Overall Gukesh's play in the opening doesn't bring any particular benefits. 12... e8g8  13. d1f3  13... d6d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black has an excellent position after this move. 14. b3c2  14... g7g6 [%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A difficult decision, but it seems to be justified. The idea of the move is to prevent Ne3-f5 and to support Nh5 in some lines. 15. f1e1  15... c8e6  16. e4d5 How to resolve the central tension is always a difficult decision. The problem is that Black can play d5-d4 at some point. 16... c6d5  17. h2h3 Black couldn't ask for a better position in the Ruy Lopez: good control of the center and a great bishop on a7. 17... f8e8 [%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This is inaccurate, as the rook can be attacked. 18. c2a4 [%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 18... e5e4 The only move to justify 17...Re8. 19. d3e4  19... d5e4  20. f3e2  20... e8e7  21. e3f1 [%c_effect f1;square;f1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The knight gives way to the development of the dark-squared bishop. 21... d8c7 [%c_effect c7;square;c7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Preparing Be6-c4. 22. a4b3  22... a5a4 [%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A good move to gain space and force the exchange. 23. b3e6  23... e7e6  24. c1e3  24... a4a3 Breaking the pawn structure on the queenside. The game is equal. 25. c3c4  25... f6h5 As always, Firouzja plays for a win. He could have chosen a more positional plan with 26. g2g3  26... a7c5  27. b2b3  27... f7f5  28. e3c5  28... c7c5  29. a1d1  29... a8f8  30. d1d5  30... c5e7  31. f2f4 [%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This stops the dangerous attack generated by the advance of Black's pawn to f4. 31... h5f6  32. d5d2  32... g6g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] True to his combative spirit, Firouzja continues to create complications. 33. f1e3 [%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 33... g5f4  34. g3f4  34... e7f7  35. g1h2  35... f6h5  36. e2f2  36... e6g6  37. d2d5  37... h5g7  38. e1d1 White is preparing to place the rook on the seventh rank. Firouzja defends well. 38... g6h6 [%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 39. d1g1  39... h6g6  40. g1d1  40... g6h6 