1. e2e4  1... c7c5  2. g1f3  2... d7d6  3. d2d4  3... c5d4  4. f3d4  4... g8f6  5. b1c3  5... a7a6  6. c1g5  6... e7e6  7. d1e2 A common square for the queen, but not very popular without playing 7.f4 first. Svidler had tried this move before in 2023. 7... f8e7  8. h2h4 It becomes clear that White has no intention of playing f2-f4 and is aiming for a new way of playing against the Najdorf. This is a flexible move that fulfills many functions: It defends the h4-bishop, starts the kingside pawn advance, and paves the way for the rook development on h3. 8... h7h6  9. g5d2  9... d8b6 A typical move in the Sicilian, forcing the knight back. 10. d4b3  10... h6h5 The first new move of the game. Van Foreest avoids the advance of g2-g4. 11. e1c1  11... b6c7  12. h1h3 One of the main ideas of White's setup is this typical rook lift on the third rank. The rook is now able to attack and defend at the same time. 12... b8d7 It's also possible to develop the knight on c6, for instance: 13. h3g3  13... g7g6  14. d2g5 The bishop is back to an attacking post. 14... b7b5  15. a2a3 A necessary move to avoid b5-b4. 15... c8b7  16. e2e1 White has other possibilities, and in general Svidler got exactly what he wanted from the opening: a double-edged fight without theory. 16... a8c8 A good move, developing the rook. Castling on the queenside is not really an option. 17. f1d3  17... d7c5 [%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] It turns out this move is not very useful for Black. 18. c1b1 The good old Kb1 is always necessary in the Sicilian. 18... e8g8 This move was criticized by Svidler in the post-game interview, but it's not so bad according to the machine. The problem is that it's not easy to play with Black: He has no clear way of developing the attack on the queenside, and the king has no safe place to hide. 19. b3c5  19... d6c5 