1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... f8c5  4. d2d3  4... d7d6  5. c2c3  5... c5b6 \"Fabiano [Caruana] made this move popular. He played it in Paris two years ago.\" (So). Black keeps his kingside knight undeveloped for the time being in order to avoid the pin with Bc1-g5. 6. e1g1  6... h7h6  7. b1d2 There is no need to invent anything extraordinary. The normal development is a good way to face Black's idea. 7... g8f6  8. c4b3  8... a7a5 [%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A rare move. Black wants to preserve his dark-squared bishop. Why this pawn stands better here than on a6 is somewhat of a mystery. 9. f1e1  9... e8g8  10. h2h3 \"I thought I was slightly worse out of the opening, but nothing special.\" (So) 10... c8e6 \"I like this move.\" (So) 11. b3e6  11... f7e6  12. d2c4  12... b6a7  13. c1e3 The bishop is too annoying to be tolerated. 13... a7e3  14. e1e3  14... a5a4  15. d3d4 Until here Firouzja played very quickly and confidently. This was an important moment in the game, and an important decision was taken. As it often happens, the immediate attempt to seize the center leads to relieving trades for the second player. 15... e5d4  16. c3d4  16... d6d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] \"I equalized quickly after this.\" (So) 17. e4d5  17... e6d5  18. c4d2  18... d8d6  19. a2a3 [%c_effect a3;square;a3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Fixes a weakness. Now White has something to play for. 19... d6f4 Somewhere around here So starts to hesitate and shuffles his queen around without clear aim. 20. d2b1 [%c_effect b1;square;b1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Firouzja intends to aim two pawns at the same time. 20... f6e4 [%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Which of course cannot be allowed. 21. b1c3  21... e4c3  22. e3c3  22... f4d6 Admitting that the queen was more of a scarecrow. 23. a1c1 Whereas White brings his rooks out of slumber. 23... f8f7  24. c1c2  24... f7f4 So, too, searches for sore points in the enemy position. 25. c3e3 Now both players start a little dance around the opponent's weaknesses. 25... d6f6  26. e3d3  26... a8e8  27. c2c5  27... f6d6 A small tactical defense. 28. c5c3  28... f4e4  29. g2g3 Finally White is ready to capture the pawn. 29... e4e2 But Black is again in time to generate counter-threats. 30. d3d2  30... e2d2  31. d1d2  31... d6g6 Surprisingly, this active move allows White a chance. 32. g1g2  32... g6b1 Now it is back to balanced. 33. c3c1  33... b1f5  34. c1c3  34... f5b1  35. h3h4 Firouzja wants more than a draw, but as we shall see, this move is not without issues of its own. 35... e8e7  36. c3c1  36... b1f5  37. d2d1  37... g7g5 [%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] \"I am pretty sure he missed this move. He had little time.\" (So) The drawback of the h-push is now evident and White's position becomes too loose. 38. h4g5  38... h6g5  39. d1d2  39... g5g4 Suddenly, both the d4-pawn and the white king are in danger. Firouzja needs to switch to the defense. 40. f3h4  40... f5e4  41. g2h2 This turns out to be a mistake. 41... e4d4  42. d2g5  42... e7g7  43. g5f5  43... g7f7  44. f5g5  44... g8f8 [%c_effect f8;square;f8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] So kept an extra pawn and got his favorite extra-material type of position. 45. h2h1  45... d4e4  46. h1g1  46... f8e8 Out of the checking zone. 47. g5d2  47... f7e7  48. c1d1  48... d5d4  49. d2g5  49... c6e5 The powerful centralization secures Black of any perpetual checks. 50. g5d2  50... d4d3  51. d2f4  51... e4f4 This turned out to be enough for the full point. 52. g3f4  52... e5c4 