1. e2e4  1... c7c5  2. g1f3  2... d7d6  3. b1c3  3... g8f6  4. f1e2 Gukesh is not interested in a theoretical battle in the Najdorf Defense today. 4... e7e5 Black definitely prevents the opening of the center with d2-d4. This is a relatively rare move. 5. e2c4 A modern way of playing, recently tried by some strong chess players, including Carlsen. White doesn't mind moving the bishop once more, since it goes to a better diagonal. It's amazing how Carlsen's name appears in almost every opening we analyze. 5... f8e7  6. d2d3  6... b8c6  7. c1g5  7... e8g8  8. g5f6  8... e7f6  9. c3d5  9... c8e6  10. d1d2 A new move. 10... a7a6 Preparing the b7-b5 advance, which is possible even if White plays a2-a4. 11. e1g1  11... b7b5  12. c4b3  12... g8h8  13. a2a3 Now a game of maneuvering begins. 13... a8b8  14. h2h3  14... g7g6 A typical plan: remove the bishop from f6 and push f7-f5, just like in the Sveshnikov Defense. 15. c2c3  15... f6g7  16. b3a2 with a3 and c3, Gukesh hints that he wants the classical plan with b2-b4 and playing on the queenside. 16... f7f5 Black is ready for a fight and has a comfortable position, although not yet better. 17. f3g5 The beginning of a radical plan that turns out to be wrong. 17... e6g8  18. e4f5 Perhaps it would have been better to play in another way here, but this was clearly Gukesh's intention with his previous move. 18... g6f5  19. f2f4 A critical position. 19... c5c4 An interesting move in the style of the Chinese GM. There are several interesting options. 20. d3c4  20... b5c4  21. a2c4  21... e5f4 A totally wrong idea. 22. g5f3  22... c6a5 This makes things worse. 23. c4a2  23... a5b3  24. a2b3  24... b8b3 Clearly something went wrong with Black's calculations, as it's clear that his position has become considerably worse. 25. d5f4 The tension of this important match is felt by both chess players, who make more mistakes than usual. 25... d8b6  26. f1f2  26... f8b8 Now there's time to attack the pawn on b2. 27. a1d1  27... b3b2  28. d2b2  28... b6b2  29. f2b2  29... b8b2  30. d1d6  30... a6a5  31. d6d8  31... g7c3  32. f4d5  32... b2b1  33. g1f2  33... b1d1  34. d8g8  34... h8g8  35. d5c3  35... d1c1 The endgame is a draw, according to the machine, but it's certainly easier to play with the knights. 36. c3b5  36... c1c2  37. f2f1  37... g8f7  38. f3d4 The status quo will be maintained for quite some time, with the knights going back and forth and the evaluation of the position remaining the same. 38... c2c1  39. f1e2  39... f7f6  40. b5d6  40... c1c3  41. d6b5  41... c3c1  42. e2e3  42... c1g1  43. e3f2  43... g1c1  44. d4e2  44... c1b1  45. b5c3  45... b1b3  46. a3a4  46... f6e5  47. g2g3  47... b3b6  48. f2e3  48... b6b4  49. e3d3  49... h7h6  50. d3e3  50... b4b3  51. e3d3  51... b3b4 It's difficult for White to create an active plan that poses problems for Black. 52. e2g1  52... b4b8  53. g1f3  53... e5f6  54. f3d4  54... b8d8  55. d3e3  55... d8c8  56. e3d3  56... c8d8  57. c3e2 Gukesh continues to refuse repetitions of moves and maneuvers his knights patiently. 57... d8b8  58. e2f4  58... b8b1  59. f4d5  59... f6e5  60. d5c3  60... b1h1 As usual, the Chinese GM prefers an active move, which is a good choice. 61. d4f3  61... e5d6  62. h3h4  62... h1h3  63. c3e2  63... f5f4  64. f3g1  64... h3h1  65. g3f4  65... h1h4  66. g1f3  66... h4h1  67. f4f5 The f-pawn, supported by the knights, is White's last hope of victory. 67... h6h5 There is nothing really wrong with this move, but in the next continuation Black puts himself in danger, having to find a single way to draw. 68. e2c3  68... h5h4  69. c3e4  69... d6d7  70. f3e5  70... d7d8  71. f5f6 Suddenly it has become difficult to save Black's position. The game has arrived at a study-like position. 71... h4h3 The decisive error. 72. f6f7  72... h1f1  73. e4g5  73... h3h2  74. g5f3  74... d8e7  75. f3h2  75... f1a1  76. h2g4 The only winning move. 76... a1a3  77. d3d2  77... a3a4  78. g4h6 