1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4 Every single elite tournament nowadays feature a bunch of games in the Italian Opening. The Giuoco Piano, as the name says, is characterized by slow maneuvering, and some of these games tend to be boring. Not this one, though. 3... g8f6  4. d2d3  4... f8c5  5. e1g1  5... d7d6  6. c2c3  6... a7a6  7. a2a4  7... h7h6  8. f1e1  8... c5a7  9. b2b4 There are zillions of possible plans and alternatives for both sides in the last moves. 9.b4 is not the most popular: 9.Nbd2 is most often played. 9... g7g5 Arjun deservedly has the fame of an uncompromising player who likes to wreak chaos on the board and play for a win with both colors. Usually 9...0-0 is played - what can be better than placing the king on a safe spot $2 Well, attacking the opponent's king while yours is in the middle of the board (and the center can still be opened) seems to be the answer. Kids, don't try this at home, you might get burned. 10. c1e3  10... a7e3 A new move. 11. e1e3  11... g5g4  12. f3e1 This is now a better square for the knight, and it wouldn't be available if Black had captured on e3 before playing g4. 12... h6h5 Arjun style. More conventional players would try to finish development or break on d5, but he is undisturbed and just pushes the h-pawn as if he had all the time in the world. Confidence and optimism are strong assets for a chess player. 13. d3d4  13... h5h4  14. c4e2 White's plan is to go d5-c4-c5, but this move is inaccurate. It's better to develop the b1-knight. 14... d8e7  15. d4d5 Closes the center, but the plan with c4-c5 is coming fast. 15... c6b8  16. b1d2  16... e7f8 Another difficult move. Instead of developing, Black loses more tempo to go with the queen to h6. Both Tabatabaei and Arjun are players with very unconventional play. I knew beforehand that this game would be a delight. 17. d2f1  17... f8h6  18. c3c4  18... g4g3 Arjun is optimistic as always. 19. f2g3  19... h4g3  20. h2h3 The kingside is closed and looks well protected, while the g3-pawn is hanging, White can play c4-c5 and Black's king has nowhere to go. But there's also the other side of the coin: Black may have the chance to sac a bishop on h3, and the knight can travel to f4. 20... b8d7  21. c4c5  21... d7f8  22. c5d6 There's no big reason to exchange pawns now. White could keep a more flexible pawn structure and start with 22... c7d6  23. d1c1  23... c8h3 An interesting sac, but not forced. 24. g2h3  24... f8g6  25. e3g3  25... g6f4  26. c1e3  26... f4h3  27. g3h3 White has to give back some material. 27... h6h3  28. e3h3  28... h8h3  29. e2f3 White has a bishop and knight against a rook and a pawn. These positions tend to be difficult to evaluate. With the benefit of using the computer, I can say that it's equal, but far from a draw: both sides have winning chances. 29... a8c8 Black is in time to control this important open file. 30. a1b1  30... c8c3  31. f1d2  31... e8e7  32. a4a5 Preparing b4-b5 without giving Black the chance to close the game with a6-a5. 32... f6d7 The knight is heading to f4. Other knight moves are possible as well. 33. g1f2  33... d7f8  34. b4b5  34... f8g6  35. b5a6 