1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1c4  3... g8f6  4. d2d3  4... f8c5  5. c2c3  5... a7a5 [%cal da7a5][%c_arrow a7a5;keyPressed;none;from;a7;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false] Players with Black in the Italian Opening must decide whether to place the pawn on a6 or a5. It's a matter of taste, since both have their merits. 6. e1g1  6... d7d6  7. f1e1  7... e8g8  8. c1g5  8... h7h6  9. g5h4  9... g7g5 The typical play after the pin. The game usually becomes very sharp. 10. h4g3  10... c5a7  11. b1a3 Both players have previous experience with this position. 11... g5g4  12. g3h4 [%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A move that looks very bold, but it's thematic. 12... g8g7  13. h2h3 A curious theoretical novelty. Firouzja invites Black to take the knight once again and, in addition, offers an alternative: capturing the pawn on h3. 13... g4f3  14. d1f3  14... c8e6 White has only one pawn for the piece, but Black has no simple way to get out of the pin. There's usually a theme of repeating moves with Qg3+ followed by Qf3, so White is risking less than it seems at first glance. 15. c4d5  15... d8e7  16. d3d4  16... e6d7  17. a3c2  17... f6d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] 18. f3g3 [%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 18... g7h7  19. e4d5  19... f7f6  20. d5c6  20... d7c6  21. d4e5  21... d6e5  22. c2d4 [%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The only way to keep the game equal. 22... c6d7  23. g3d3  23... h7h8  24. d4f5  24... e7h7  25. g2g4  25... h6h5  26. a1d1  26... d7e6  27. g1g2  27... h7g6  28. f2f3 After all the adventures in the opening, the game has arrived at a balanced position. 28... h8h7  29. d3e4  29... a7b6  30. c3c4  30... a8d8  31. f5g3  31... h5g4  32. h3g4  32... g6e4  33. g3e4  33... d8d1  34. e1d1  34... h7g6 Pieces are being exchanged and a draw is expected. 35. c4c5  35... b6a7  36. b2b3  36... f6f5  37. g4f5  37... e6f5 It's surprising to me to see Giri lose an endgame like this, but strange things happen in rapid games. 38. h4f2  38... f5e6  39. f2g3 [%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 39... g6f5 [%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A serious inaccuracy, after which Black's position becomes surprisingly difficult. 40. d1h1 [%c_effect h1;square;h1;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The rook is very annoying on the h-file. 40... e6f7 Preventing Rh5+. 41. h1h7  41... f5g6  42. h7h4  42... f7d5 [%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] 43. h4g4  43... g6f7  44. g3e5  44... d5e4  45. g4f4 [%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 45... f7e8  46. f4f8  46... e8f8  47. f3e4  47... a7c5  48. e5c7 Despite the small amount of material remaining, the endgame is winning for White. Besides the extra pawn, the structure on the queenside is very unfavorable for Black. 48... a5a4 Giri decides to sacrifice the pawn. 49. b3a4  49... f8e7 