1. e2e4  1... c7c6  2. g1f3  2... d7d5  3. b1c3  3... g8f6  4. e4e5  4... f6g8 A paradoxical move, reminding  of some games of Nimzowitsch. Black welcomes a closed pawn structure,  similar to the French, while accepting a loss of no fewer than three  moves. What makes it playable is the early development of the white  knights that takes away important pawn moves, c2-c3 and f2-f4. 5. d2d4  5... c8g4 This is another important detail: Black won't get stuck  with the bad Bc8. 6. f1e2  6... e7e6  7. f3g5 An interesting decision. White doesn't give much value to the  bishop pair and instead clears out for his f-pawn. 7... g4f5 A reply in kind. 8. e2h5  8... f5g6  9. e1g1  9... f8e7  10. g5h3  10... c6c5  11. h3f4  11... c5d4  12. c3b5  12... b8c6  13. b5d4  13... c6d4  14. d1d4  14... g8h6  15. f4g6  15... h7g6  16. h5e2 Somehow Duda emerged with a decent position, and  here I expected him to castle. 16... h6f5 Instead, he decided to  leave his rook on the h-file. 17. d4a4  17... e8f8  18. e2d3  18... e7c5  19. g2g3  19... a8c8  20. a4f4  20... d8b6  21. c2c3 This reasonable approach to the position has been the key to  success for Vachier-Lagrave. Throughout the whole 27 games, he kept his  head on and patiently waited for chances. 21... c5e7  22. f1e1  22... a7a6  23. a2a4  23... g6g5  24. f4f3  24... g7g6  25. a4a5  25... b6c5  26. a1a4  26... f8g7  27. g1g2  27... h8h7  28. h2h3  28... c8h8  29. e1h1  29... c5c6  30. a4g4  30... h7h5  31. c1d2  31... c6c7  32. c3c4 MVL is getting down to business. The real target is Black's  queenside pawns. 32... h8d8  33. c4d5  33... d8d5  34. d2c3  34... b7b5 This wasn't forced, but it's hard NOT to do  anything in chess and in blitz in particular. 35. a5b6  35... c7b6  36. g4a4 Just like that, White wins a pawn. 36... h5h8  37. a4a6  37... b6d8  38. d3e4  38... d5d7  39. a6a8  39... d8b6  40. a8h8  40... g7h8  41. h1d1  41... d7c7  42. d1a1  42... b6b5  43. a1d1  43... h8g7 Still, it's tough to come up with a plan of converting the  advantage. MVL decided to simplify. Part of that decision was his good  tournament situation: a draw would hardly be a disaster for him. 44. e4f5  44... g6f5  45. g3g4  45... f5g4  46. h3g4  46... c7c4  47. d1h1  47... b5d5 This should be enough to equalize the game, but it's  blitz. 48. f3d5  48... e6d5  49. h1d1  49... c4g4  50. g2h3  50... g4f4  51. h3g3  51... e7c5  52. f2f3  52... d5d4 This may work with engines moves, but in a practical game  situation, it's rarely a good idea to get your rook tangled up. 53. c3d2  53... f4f5  54. d1e1  54... g7g6  55. g3g4  55... d4d3  56. e1e4 Another one of those trademark  blitz expert moves, the main purpose of which is to keep the opponent  guessing. 56... c5f2  57. b2b4  57... f2b6 Duda found himself adrift. 58. e5e6 Finally, it is time for material gains. 58... f7e6  59. e4e6  59... f5f6  60. e6e5  60... f6d6  61. e5g5  61... g6f7  62. f3f4  62... b6d4  63. g4f3  63... d4f6  64. g5c5  64... f7e6  65. f4f5  65... e6d7  66. b4b5  66... f6d4  67. c5c4  67... d4b6  68. f3e4  68... d7e8  69. c4c6  69... e8d7  70. c6d6 