1. e2e4  1... c7c5  2. g1f3  2... d7d6  3. b1c3  3... g8f6  4. h2h3 According to my database, this is only the second time Vachier-Lagrave plays this system. It's interesting to see him avoiding a theoretical battle in his favorite Najdorf Defense. 4... a7a6 Black has many ways of playing, but including a6-a4 is useful to discourage White's plans of castling queenside in the future. 5. a2a4 Played in order to prevent b7-b5. 5... b8c6  6. d2d4  6... c5d4  7. f3d4  7... c8d7 Nepomniachtchi had played this move before. My impression is that he wants to prevent the plans with the exchange of the knight on c6 followed by a4-a5. 8. c1e3  8... e7e6  9. f1e2  9... f8e7  10. e1g1  10... e8g8 Now we have on the board a version of the Scheveningen Defense, which Kasparov liked so much, but a slightly improved one for Black, since White's pawn on h3 is not very useful. Normally this position is reached with the pawn on f4 instead of the pawn on h3. 11. f1e1 A difficult move, since this is not the classical way of playing this pawn structure. 11... a8c8  12. d4c6  12... d7c6  13. e2d3  13... f6d7 The opening was a success for Black, who has no problems whatsoever. But White retains a space advantage and the position remains balanced. 14. a4a5  14... e7f6  15. d1d2  15... d7c5  16. f2f3 A somewhat sad move, but necessary to defend the e4-pawn. 16... c5d3  17. c2d3  17... d6d5 Nepomniachtchi tries to open the game for the bishops. 18. e3b6  18... d8d6 The best square for the queen, otherwise White closes the game with e4-e5. 19. d3d4  19... d5e4  20. f3e4  20... d6d7  21. e1f1  21... f6d8  22. b6c5  22... d8e7  23. b2b4 Fighting for the initiative—the immediate bishop exchange leads to a simpler game. 23... f8d8  24. f1d1 I was surprised that this rook went to d1 and not the other one. 24... h7h6  25. d2f2  25... e7f6  26. d1d3  26... c6b5  27. c3b5  27... d7b5  28. a1d1  28... d8d7  29. d3f3  29... b5a4  30. d1d3 Although the position is still objectively equal, this move gives Black the initiative. 30... c8c5 An excellent exchange sac. 31. d4c5  31... d7d3  32. f3d3  32... a4b4 Now the position is more difficult to play as white. The pawns are very weak, Black's bishop is strong, and the king is in danger. The rook can't work miracles. 33. d3d7  33... b4e4  34. g2g3  34... e4c6  35. d7d6  35... c6c7  36. d6b6  36... f6c3 Black goes for the a-pawn. 37. c5c6  37... b7c6  38. b6a6  38... c3a5  39. a6a8  39... g8h7  40. a8a7 This natural move is not the best. 40... c7d8  41. a7b7  41... f7f5 Black now keeps three pawns for the exchange. 42. f2b2  42... a5c7  43. b2c3  43... d8d6  44. g1f2  44... c6c5  45. h3h4  45... c5c4 The endgame is not an easy one. This move makes the win problematic. 46. h4h5  46... d6c5  47. f2e2  47... c7e5 Nepomniachtchi converts the advantage smoothly. 48. c3e3  48... c5d5 