[Event "Julius Baer GenCup D1 L"] [Site "Chess.com INT"] [Date "2024.09.28"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Vachier Lagrave, Maxime"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "2731"] [BlackElo "2755"] [PlyCount "65"] [GameId "2155920987859122"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {[#] The Petroff Defense} 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. d4 d5 6. Bd3 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 c6 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 Bg4 {This pin temporarily halts white from achieving an advantage stance.} 12. Bd3 Nd7 13. Rb1 b5 14. h3 Bh5 15. g4 Bg6 16. Bxg6 hxg6 {We reach an interesting position, both seeking for piece placement where it is best posted.} 17. d5 cxd5 18. Rxb5 Nb6 19. Be3 Qc7 20. Bd4 {[#] This bishop post is strategically advantageous when both opposite diagonals can create pressure.} Rfe8 21. Qd3 Bf8 22. Kg2 Rad8 23. Rfb1 Re6 24. Ra5 Rd7 25. Rbb5 Qd8 26. Ra6 Qc8 27. Rba5 Nc4 28. Rxe6 Nxa5 29. Ng5 {Fantastic move...} Rd6 30. Qg3 Qd8 31. Re8 {Another tactical blow...} Qxe8 32. Qh4 Qe4+ 33. Kg3 {This is the typical playing style Super GM Vachier-Lagrave: entertaining yet supported by concrete countermeasures. There are few GMs with deep imagination and creativity that make chess more exciting and challenging.} 1-0