1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... g8f6  3. f3e5  3... d7d6  4. e5f3  4... f6e4  5. c2c4 This move is not known to be wildly dangerous, and while Firouzja was playing very quickly to a point, I have to believe there was a better choice available against the Petroff. 5... b8c6  6. d2d3  6... e4f6  7. d3d4  7... f8e7  8. d4d5  8... c6e5  9. f3d4  9... e8g8  10. b1c3  10... c8g4  11. f2f3 Firouzja played this move very quickly, suggesting he was still in preparation, but I'm not quite sure what he had in mind. Black's position already looks very comfortable to me and f2-f3 makes some weaknesses. “After f3 White shouldn't fight for something because of this weakness.” (Nepomniachtchi) 11... g4d7  12. f1e2  12... c7c6 I like it $1 Black opens the center and hits back at the space advantage at the source. 13. e1g1  13... c6d5  14. c4d5  14... d8b6 “After Qb6 I didn't check Qb6, so I think I am a little better there, but I couldn't find a way to be better.” (Firouzja) 15. g1h1 “I thought he had to play something like Rb1.” (Nepomniachtchi) 15... a8c8 This was the first move Firouzja spent any substantial amount of time on, and he burned his bridges right away. I don't really blame him. It's very easy to go nuts when you are having a rough tournament and he is an aggressive player in his nature, but it really looked like tilt to me. It's hard to imagine that White can launch a direct kingside attack when the center is open and Black's pieces are all active and on good squares. 16. g2g4 Brazen, but this can't be right. 16... h7h6 A very strong response. Black wants to make sure that if White launches an attack, he has to throw all of his kingside pawns, leaving his own king unsafe. White will not be able to make use of the open h-file. 17. h2h4 Not best, but I can't imagine any other move. Nobody plays g4 and then after h6 says: \"Well, that didn't work. Let's make a more normal move and ignore the fact that I just compromised my kingside.\" 17... f8e8 Black had other moves, but I really like this one. It is bold but very strong—Black allows g5 and f4 to come but just doesn't care. 18. g4g5 