1. g1f3  1... c7c5  2. c2c4  2... b8c6  3. b1c3  3... e7e5  4. e2e3  4... g8f6  5. a2a3  5... f8e7 One of the ways to react to White's reversed Kan Sicilian. 6. d2d4  6... e5d4  7. e3d4  7... c5d4  8. f3d4  8... d7d5 A risky line. White is getting a very favorable endgame, almost by force. 9. c4d5  9... f6d5  10. d4c6  10... b7c6  11. c3d5  11... d8d5  12. d1d5  12... c6d5  13. c1e3  13... e8g8  14. e3d4 A novelty, which does not change the character of the endgame. It is clearly favorable for Nepomniachtchi, no matter the time control. 14... f8e8  15. e1c1  15... c8f5  16. f1d3  16... a8c8  17. c1b1  17... f5d3  18. d1d3  18... e7c5 Black's best chance apparently is the rook endgame. 19. h1d1  19... c5d4  20. d3d4 Such endgames typically emerge from the Panov Attack in the Caro-Kann. But there is a major difference: the white pawns are doubled on the f-file in that opening line and represent clear objects for Black's counterplay. Therefore, the second player proved again and again that he is able to hold those endgames. However, here the situation is much different as White's kingside pawns are more flexible and can defend each other. And, at the same time Black has two obvious weaknesses: both his isolated pawns. Plus, any pawn endgame is desperately lost for Black as White can easily create an outside passer. One last thing: Nepomniachtchi used the Panov Attack quite regularly on his stellar rise to the top. 20... e8e2  21. d1d2 But for some reason White makes a slip in a simple position. 21... e2d2  22. d4d2  22... c8d8  23. d2c2 [%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The best chance to play for the full point. 23... g8f8 [%c_effect f8;square;f8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Away from the back-rank mates and closer to the centralization $1 24. c2c7 Which Nepomniachtchi prevents. 24... a7a6  25. b1c2  25... d8d6 [%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 26. c2d3 Now Black finally gets an opportunity to demonstrate some activity. 26... d6f6  27. f2f3  27... f6h6  28. h2h3  28... h6g6 Forces White to retreat. 29. c7c2  29... f8e7 The king is out. Vachier-Lagrave achieved a lot. His rook and king became more active, and what's more, he managed to open some holes for infiltration on the kingside. 30. d3d4  30... e7d6  31. b2b4  31... g6f6 [%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]