1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4 The Italian game shines again as a top-level  choice. 3... f8c5  4. e1g1  4... g8f6  5. d2d3  5... d7d6  6. c2c3  6... a7a6  7. f1e1  7... h7h6  8. a2a4  8... e8g8  9. b1d2  9... f8e8  10. h2h3  10... c8e6  11. c4e6  11... e8e6  12. b2b4  12... c5a7  13. c1b2  13... c6e7  14. c3c4  14... a6a5 A novelty which aims to stop the enemy  queenside expansion once and for all. 15. b4a5 Ding opens the b-file for his major pieces and hopes to build  enough pressure while his opponent eventually gets the pawn back. 15... e7c6  16. b2c3 An obvious move, but an inaccuracy. 16... f6d7 The world champion follows his plan but this misses an  excellent opportunity to activate his kingside pieces. 17. a1b1  17... d7c5  18. d2f1  18... e6g6  19. f1e3  19... c5e6 Yes, the knight craves the f4-square. But the lost time matters. 20. e3d5  20... a8b8  21. b1b2 Not only prepares the doubling of the rooks but also  protects the second rank. 21... e6g5 This seems like an inaccuracy. 22. f3g5 Now Ding drags the black queen away from the queenside. 22... d8g5  23. d1f3  23... a7d4  24. e1b1  24... d4c3  25. d5c3  25... c6a5 Carlsen got his pawn back, and  although his queenside remains under pressure things start to look better  for him. 26. c3d5  26... a5c6 Small tactics to re-centralize the knight. 27. d5e3 Ding also decided to relocate the knight to a better position.  From f5 it will defend the vital d4-point. But this takes precious time. 27... b7b6 Now that the b7-pawn is out of danger, it is the white isolani that will suffer on the queenside. 28. e3f5  28... b8a8  29. h3h4  29... g5f4 The tables have turned. It is Carlsen who  offers the queen swap, but the reason remains the same: the vulnerable  queenside pawn. 30. f3f4  30... e5f4  31. d3d4  31... a8a4 Carlsen decided to sacrifice the exchange. 32. d4d5  32... c6e5  33. f5e7  33... g8h7  34. e7g6  34... h7g6  35. c4c5  35... b6c5 