closed sicilian!

A very interesting choice by Firouzja, who has completely avoided the main lines of this opening. Not breaking in the center is an uncommon decision, as Giri is now able to maintain his control over the dark squares.

Firouzja gives up the bishop pair

While Giri has won the bishop pair in the opening, giving him a long-term positional advantage, Firouzja has forced Giri to spend several tempi in gaining it. Firouzja has a lead in development and will soon be able to get his desired break in the center, giving him a slight initiative.

Offbeat approach by Firouzja!!

Firouzja has clear intentions of taking the game to uncharted waters with this opening choice. While his last move seems strange, his intention is to reroute his knight towards control over the center.

While this is an offbeat approach, the closed nature of the position allows Firouzja to make such strategic maneuvers without being afraid of direct counterplay. We're in for a long-term, strategic battle, and the position remains balanced.

space advantage for Firouzja

As a result of Giri's decision, Firouzja is able to gain a space advantage in the center. This will be a long-term advantage for Firouzja, giving Giri a somewhat cramped position while giving Firouzja more room to maneuver.,

If Firouzja's plan was to simply get a dynamic game, he has succeeded, as the difference in pawn structure and minor pieces will allow for an interesting game. While the position is close to objectively equal, Firouzja will be looking to play for an advantage.

Firouzja's extra space in the center is already creating some difficulty for Giri, as he struggles to develop his dark-squared bishop without exposing his kingside. Giri instead opts to continue his development on the queenside, delaying his decisions on the other side of the board.

Has Firouzja missed something?

Firouzja sets up his queen against the light squares that have just been exposed. While Giri remains under pressure, this maneuver may eventually cost Firouzja extra time, as Giri's bishop will eventually be developed towards the long diagonal.

The game remains strategically complex, and while Giri has gained an objective edge due to Firouzja's last move, how Giri gains a clear advantage is by no means obvious. For now, Giri has to deal with Firouzja's space advantage and activity.

Will we see a quick draw?!

Giri makes a move that seemingly gives up a bishop! While Firouzja now has the opportunity to kick away Giri's knight, Firouzja's queen will be trapped if he goes ahead with the capture.

Firouzja now has to decide whether he can make something happen from this position. He may always bail out with the draw, but other options are also available. Should he decide to play on, however, he will lose a lot of his pressure, allowing Giri to finally develop his kingside without difficulty.

Firouzja goes ahead with the threat against the knight. After Giri moves his knight, it will be up to Firouzja to determine whether he has to go for a draw here or to play on.

huge decision for Firouzja

Giri executes his plan, putting his knight on a square that was seemingly defended with a threat against his queen.

Firouzja now has to decide between allowing the draw or playing at a slight disadvantage. Firouzja's earlier queen move has ended up being disastrous for his winning chances, though playing on is still not completely out of the question.

this game may end swiftly!

Firouzja decides to take Giri's bishop, but his queen will now get trapped in the process. The only option to keep play going would be for Firouzja to sacrifice his queen, but Giri would end up in a clearly better position if Firouzja decides to go for it.

will Firouzja keep the game going?

There still is a chance that Firouzja decides to go for a queen sacrifice, but this would be incredibly risky. While Giri's knight is still under threat, he would be able to get it away with check, giving us a situation where Firouzja has a pawn, rook, and knight in exchange for his queen.

This approach is the only way to keep the game going, but the ensuing position should favor Giri. It's not unimaginable that Firouzja, a player who often picks up the gauntlet, would go for something like this, but objectively speaking, Giri should have the upper hand with such an approach.