This natural development move is rare and has never been played in grandmaster games. It deviates from conventional opening theory at the same moment as in their previous duel in this line.
1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5  3... a7a6  4. b5a4  4... g8f6  5. e1g1  5... f8e7  6. d2d3  6... b7b5  7. a4b3  7... d7d6  8. c2c3 Nepomniachtchi returns to the variation he employed in the fifth game of the match. 8... e8g8  9. h2h3  9... c8b7 