1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. f1c4 \"Probably the only sensible way to avoid the Petroff.\" (Nepomniachtchi) 2... g8f6  3. d2d3  3... c7c6  4. g1f3  4... d7d5  5. c4b3  5... a7a5  6. a2a4  6... f8b4  7. c2c3  7... b4d6  8. e4d5  8... c6d5  9. c1g5  9... c8e6  10. b1a3  10... b8d7  11. a3b5  11... d6b8  12. d3d4  12... e5e4 You get similar positions more commonly in the Italian but with colors reversed. Black has the strong center, whereas White tries to put strong pressure on it. 13. f3d2  13... e8g8  14. d2f1 \"A nice idea to gain some time. Normally White castles here.\" (Nepomniachtchi) 14... h7h6  15. g5h4  15... b8f4 \"I could not remember any lines; that is why I decided to play by common sense.\" (Nepomniachtchi) 16. h2h3  16... f8e8 In order to transfer the knight to the g6-square. The Russian GM was not certain about this move as the rook can be quite useful on the f8-square too, supporting the f7-f5-f4 advance. 17. g2g3 Firouzja plays very concretely in turn and surrounds the central black pawn. 17... f4b8  18. g3g4  18... d7f8  19. f1e3  19... f8g6  20. h4f6  20... d8f6  21. b3d5  21... e6d5 A moment of hesitation for Black. 22. e3d5  22... f6g5  23. c3c4 Black has obvious compensation for the pawn, especially if he manages to break open the central files and launch an attack against the white king. However, Black's next move slows him down. 23... b8f4  24. d1b3 An obvious move, which controls the third rank. 24... h6h5  25. d5e3  25... g5h4  26. g4h5  26... h4h5 \"A pawn is a pawn, and all the endgames are kind of decent (for White). There is also the threat of Nb5-c7, and I was not sure about the exchange sacrifice.\" (Nepomniachtchi) 27. b3d1  27... h5h6  28. e3f5 