1. g1f3  1... d7d5  2. g2g3  2... c7c5  3. f1g2  3... b8c6  4. d2d4 Another new opening in the match. 4... e7e6  5. e1g1  5... c5d4  6. f3d4  6... g8e7 A rare move. As usual, Gukesh demonstrates a new idea early in the game. This time, however, it will backfire—White will achieve a pleasant position. Black's idea is to exchange on d4 and get the knight to c6. The downside to this strategy is that Black's king can be a bit unsafe in some positions without the knight nearby, although this may seem far from reality at the moment. 7. c2c4 The best reaction, attacking the center. 7... c6d4  8. d1d4  8... e7c6 Black follows the planned strategy. Now White has several possible queen moves. 9. d4d1 A solid choice, but the alternatives are interesting. 9... d5d4  10. e2e3  10... f8c5 A new move. 11. e3d4  11... c5d4  12. b1c3  12... e8g8  13. c3b5 Attacking the bishop and improving the knight. This is an important moment. 13... d4b6 After this inaccurate move, White achieves a clear advantage. 14. b2b3 Not the most energetic move. 14... a7a6  15. b5c3  15... b6d4  16. c1b2  16... e6e5  17. d1d2 A good square for the queen. 17... c8e6  18. c3d5  18... b7b5 A good move, breaking White's structure and trying to destabilize the knight on d5. This hint of activity bothered Ding, who inexplicably decided to simplify the position instead of fighting for the initiative. 19. c4b5 A positional mistake as the knight loses its formidable position in the center. 19... a6b5  20. d5f4 This is Ding's idea, forcing many piece exchanges.