The game enters the most beautiful and dramatic phase.
1. e2e4  1... c7c6  2. d2d4  2... d7d5  3. b1c3  3... d5e4  4. c3e4  4... c8f5 The solid Caro-Kann. 5. e4g3  5... f5g6  6. h2h4  6... h7h6  7. g1f3  7... b8d7  8. h4h5  8... g6h7  9. f1d3  9... h7d3  10. d1d3  10... e7e6  11. c1d2  11... g8f6  12. e1c1  12... f8e7 Players now tend to castle short in the Caro-Kann. The dangers  of checkmates have been carefully checked by the machines, and they  apparently approve the way that the second player goes. 13. c1b1  13... e8g8  14. g3e4  14... c6c5 And Duda sank into deep thought. More than half an hour was  spent on his clock, while the commentators were contemplating the reason  for the thinking. Ultimately they came to the conclusion that he is not  certain about his opening knowledge. 15. d2e3 A very risky choice, called "very passive" by Firouzja. 15... f6e4  16. d3e4  16... d7f6  17. e4b7 "I thought I will always have  compensation" (Firouzja). 17... f6d5 For the pawn Firouzja gets a  tremendous initiative. Black often strives to the open the queenside  anyway, and here he was assisted by his opponent. 18. b7a6  18... a8b8  19. e3d2 After this Black firmly takes over the initiative. 19... c5d4  20. f3d4  20... e7f6 Duda temporary blocks the queenside, but the black pieces  keep coming closer easily. 21. d4b3  21... d8c7  22. h1e1  22... f8c8  23. d1c1  23... d5b6 A nice maneuver. 24. e1e4  24... b6c4  25. d2f4 Desperately trying to provoke e6-e5 that would block the black  bishop. 25... c7b6 A counterintuitive decision, which works perfectly fine  for Black. Firouzja does not retreat or slow down, and the endgame attack  nets him material. 26. a6b6  26... b8b6  27. f4e3  27... b6b4  28. f2f3 Once again, Duda sank into thought, but there does not seem to be an alternative. 28... a7a5 Everything is in accordance to the plan; a5-a4 is a deadly  threat. 29. e4c4 The only move. 29... c8c4  30. e3d2  30... b4b5  31. d2a5  31... b5h5 The  white pawns are too far from the promotional squares; therefore, Black  should be close to winning. 32. c1g1  32... h5b5 The only slip by Firouzja in  this game. He decided to keep both rooks on the board to slow the enemy  pawns down. 33. a5d2  33... h6h5 Next, both players try to improve their chances on their  flanks. 34. c2c3  34... g7g5  35. b1c2  35... g5g4  36. b3c1  36... g4g3  37. b2b3  37... c4c8  38. a2a4  38... b5f5  39. c1e2  39... h5h4  40. c3c4  40... e6e5  41. d2e3 An obvious but not the best move. 41... f6g5  42. e3g5  42... f5g5  43. g1h1  43... g5h5  44. c2c3 It is Duda now who becomes ambitious! 44... f7f5  45. b3b4 