1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5  3... a7a6  4. b5a4  4... g8f6  5. e1g1  5... f8e7  6. f1e1  6... b7b5  7. a4b3  7... e8g8  8. d2d3 A modest move which, however, prevents the Marshall Attack. 8... d7d6  9. c2c3  9... c6a5 Yesterday's loss was certainly a painful blow for Vitiugov, who missed a shot to play for a place in the Candidates. Nevertheless, the Russian champion managed to put himself together and went fully mobilized in this final encounter. 10. b3c2  10... c7c5  11. b1d2  11... f8e8  12. h2h3  12... e7f8  13. d2f1  13... h7h6  14. d3d4 White opens the center, despite the delay of a tempo. 14... e5d4  15. c3d4  15... c5d4 The slightly compromised pawn structure will be compensated by the active black pieces. 16. f1g3  16... c8b7  17. f3d4  17... a5c4  18. b2b3  18... c4e5  19. c1b2  19... a8c8  20. d1d2  20... d8b6 Active play, and a novelty. 21. d4f5 Sjugirov wants to maneuver his knight to a better square, but this costs him quite a lot of time. 21... g7g6  22. f5e3  22... h6h5 An important move in the battle for the e4-square. 23. b2d4  23... b6d8  24. f2f3 This modest move is more or less forced. Sjugirov needs to overprotect his most important pawn. 24... h5h4 10 minutes on the clock indicate that Vitiugov might have been choosing between this aggression... 25. g3f1 The other retreats are worse. 25... f8h6 Bringing the bishop first to control the dark squares. 26. a1d1  26... h6f4  27. d2f2  27... f6h5  28. e3g4  28... d8g5 Black is in full control. The breaks d6-d5 and f7-f5 are in the air, and there is more to add to White's woes. 29. b3b4 However, now comes a very strong idea: 29... e5g4  30. h3g4  30... f4g3 That forces the next capture. 31. f1g3  31... h4g3 The wedge on g3 acts as a piece in Black's attack, and the impression is that White would be mated at any moment. 32. f2d2  32... h5f4 Many players would simply resign to the frustration if they were in White's shoes but not Sjugirov: he finds strength and squeezes resources to continue. 33. c2b3  33... g5h6 The human way! Good enough! 34. g4g5 The only way to fight on is to create problems! An amazing resource! Petrosian's thought about the one pawn-square difference comes to mind when following this unbelievably complex, marvelous game! 34... h6h4  35. g1f1  35... c8c3 Wow, this happened! And the rook is invincible, yes! And the Rc3-d3 threat is deadly, right! And guess what, this is not the best!!! 36. d2f4 After Sjugirov eliminated the impossible, he decided that this must be the truth! (Sherlock Bojkov) 36... h4f4  37. d4c3  37... f4g5 And this obvious move actually lets White off the hook! 38. f1e2 Suddenly, the white king is out of danger, and it is time for White's attack for a change. 38... d6d5 Give me more open files! 39. e1h1 No, give me more diagonals! 39... f7f6  40. h1h3  40... b7c6 The last move in the time control completely turns the tables. 41. d1h1  41... g8f7  42. h3h7  42... f7e6  43. h1d1 Now it is Sjugirov's moment to miss things. 43... f6f5 Wow! That's the only thing to say. WOW! 44. c3d2  44... g5d8 Who's going to blink first? 45. d2e3  45... e6f6 Now the king is relatively safe... 46. d1c1  46... d8d6  47. h7a7 Sjugirov rejects the draw and chases the full point! 47... f5e4  48. e3d4  48... f6g5  49. f3f4  49... g5g4 Vitiugov tries to hide his king behind the pawn. 50. a7f7 Now White is losing again! 50... e4e3 A very important resource! 51. b3d1 The ambush again! 51... g4h5 Have I said that Black is losing again? No, I mean Black is losing again... 52. f7h7  52... h5g4 Now the evaluation switch turns on and off a few times again. 53. h7f7  53... g4h5  54. f7h7  54... h5g4  55. d4e3  55... d5d4 Missing the last chance to win. 56. e2f1  56... g4f5 And after a bunch of forcing moves 57. c1c6  57... d6c6  58. h7f7  58... f5e6  59. d1b3 Sjugirov first regained the queen. 59... c6c4 