1. e2e4  1... c7c5  2. g1f3  2... d7d6  3. f1b5 It's rare to see the French GM forgo the big fight that occurs when opening the Sicilian with 3.d4, but it seems that even he enjoys a quieter game every now and then. 3... b8d7 The most combative of all of Black's options. 4. d2d4  4... c5d4  5. d1d4  5... a7a6  6. b5e2 An interesting and modern plan, keeping the bishop. 6.Bxd7 is the main move. 6... g8f6  7. b1c3 Only the third most popular move. 7... g7g6  8. e4e5 This move leads to equality. More challenging is 8... d6e5  9. f3e5  9... d7e5  10. d4e5  10... f8g7  11. e1g1  11... c8e6 It's clear that Black has no problems. His bishops are very active and White still has to worry with the queen. 12. f1d1  12... d8c8  13. c1e3  13... e8g8  14. e3d4 An important move to reduce the strength of the g7-bishop. 14... f8d8  15. e2f3  15... c8c4 As usual, Abdusattorov plays actively. He is not worried about the pawn on b7. There are other ways of playing: 16. e5c5  16... a8c8  17. c5c4  17... c8c4  18. d4e3  18... d8d1  19. a1d1  19... h7h5 Giving some air to the king. 20. h2h3 Likewise. 20... b7b5  21. a2a3 This is a critical position. 21... e6f5 With Vachier-Lagrave and Abdusattorov playing, even a boring endgame becomes tactical and fireworks can start at any moment. The position is a bit deceptive: though the computer shows an equal evaluation after several moves, it's not so easy to play with Black. 22. f3b7 The French GM hardly misses a tactical opportunity. 22... b5b4 The only chance. 23. b7a6  23... c4c6  24. a6b5  24... b4c3  25. b5c6  25... c3b2  26. d1b1 The position is still far from simple. 26... f6e8  27. c6e8  27... f5c2  28. b1b2  28... g7b2 The passed pawn gives White excellent winning chances, but subtle play is required. It's impossible to find the deepest moves with little time on the clock. 29. a3a4  29... b2c3  30. e3b6  30... c2d3  31. a4a5  31... d3a6 Black manages to stop the advance of the pawn, but Vachier-Lagrave makes a cunning move, preparing to remove the blockader. 32. g2g3 White's plan is Bc6-g2-f1. 32... e7e5 This pawn advance creates weaknesses and now the position cannot be saved. 33. e8c6  33... f7f5  34. c6g2 Sometimes you have to go back to move forward. 34... g8f7  35. g2f1  35... a6b7  36. a5a6  36... b7c6  37. h3h4 The passed pawn pins the black pieces, and White will combine its strength with an attack on the kingside. 37... f7e7  38. f1g2 