1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... f8c5  4. d2d3  4... g8f6  5. h2h3  5... d7d6  6. c2c3  6... a7a6  7. b1d2  7... c5a7  8. c4b3  8... e8g8  9. d2f1 As always, many plans are possible in the Italian Opening. None give White an advantage, but all promise a lively middlegame. White delays castling to move the knight quickly to g3, but the problem is that this allows immediate play in the center. 9... c8e6  10. b3c2  10... d6d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 11. e4d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Only played once before. This move allows for a comfortable game for Black. 11... e6d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 12. f1g3  12... f8e8  13. e1g1  13... e5e4 A move that aims to simplify the position. 14. d3e4  14... f6e4  15. c1f4 [%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Developing and protecting the g3-knight. The best moves in chess are those that fulfill more than one function. 15... e4g3  16. f4g3  16... a7b6 [%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Very good play. Lazavik protects the pawn on c7, which was threatened. 17. f1e1  17... e8e1  18. d1e1  18... d8f6  19. e1e2 [%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Excellent play by Firouzja, who doesn't mind the capture of the knight on f3 and the resulting doubled pawns. By now he is threatening Qd3, with an eye on the bishop and the pawn on h7. 19... d5f3 This capture can be postponed, but it's probably the best move anyway after 20. g2f3 White's pair of bishops is a more important factor than the pawn structure. Black's position is not easy to defend, but Lazavik shows his class. 20... g7g6 Necessary to give air to the king and restrict the light-squared bishop. 21. a1e1  21... a8d8  22. g1g2 [%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Simply reinforcing the position, without rushing. 22... g8g7  23. c2a4 A tempting move, as the knight protects the e5-square that can be used by the bishop. 23... d8d7  24. e2e8 White has some tempting alternatives. 24... d7d8  25. e8e4  25... d8d7  26. g3h4 A tempting move, forcing a concession from Black. He has to take a difficult decision between 26...Qf5 or 26...g5. 26... f6f5  27. e4f5  27... g6f5  28. a4c6  28... b7c6  29. h4g5  29... f7f6  30. g5f4  30... g7f7  31. g2f1 Black is very close to a draw, but Firouzja's great merit was to fight until the end. 31... d7d3 [%c_effect d3;square;d3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 32. f1e2  32... d3d8  33. e1d1  33... d8d1 The rooks will be exchanged sooner or later, for instance: 34. e2d1  34... b6f2 [%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This is Black's only big mistake in the game. It's hard to criticize a decision made with seconds on the clock, but this is the dynamic of a rapid game. Black's problem is that the f2-pawn doesn't make much of a difference for White, while the c7-pawn is essential for Black's defense, since without it White can create a passed pawn on the queenside. 35. f4c7 It may still be possible to save the game with perfect play, but this is very unlikely to happen with seconds on the clock when White's moves are simple and Black has to make difficult decisions. 35... f7e6  36. d1e2  36... f2c5  37. e2d3  37... e6d5  38. b2b4  38... c5f2  39. c3c4  39... d5e6  40. d3c3  40... f2e1  41. c3b3  41... e6d7  42. c7f4  42... d7c8  43. f4e3  43... e1g3  44. a2a4  44... c8b7  45. b4b5 That's the problem: White creates a passed pawn. 45... c6b5 [%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] The decisive mistake, since this opens the path for White's king. 46. c4b5 The win is straightforward now. 46... a6b5  47. a4b5  47... b7c7  48. b3c4  48... c7d6  49. e3c5  49... d6e6 