Back to classical theory here. Firouzja going for the ultra-respected Semi-Slav. Let's see who wins this theoretical duel!
This way of playing is a really smart choice in this moment of the match. It's an ambitious opening and one where Firouzja retains winning chances from the get-go. A tough spot for Magnus psychologically after the last game.
Magnus has the more harmonious piece setup, and a tonne of pressure on the queenside. But Firouzja has a super dangerous protected passed pawn in exchange!
Magnus trading pawns, hoping to make use of the open file after the natural recapture.
Trading off the light-squared bishop was a bad call for Firouzja, as now he's changed the structure in a way that heavily favors Magnus.
This is the problem! Now Magnus can use that pawn on its new file to shut down the defense of Firouzja's pawns.
Magnus seems to be locked in here in the opening, and has likely seen a key tactical detail involving exploiting the tension along the left-hand file.
This is the problem that Firouzja is facing. One of the pawns can drop because if Magnus' knight gets taken, then Firouzja's own knight should drop.
A nice touch. Magnus holds off on taking the pawn with his knight by one move to push the queen to a worse square.
Magnus may have missed the tactical detail, or perhaps he spotted it but reasoned (correctly) that taking this pawn also leads to a clear edge.
The opening has been a major failure for Firouzja. In these systems, if your early pawn grabbing on the queenside leads nowhere, you're usually going to end up with a bad position in the middlegame.
Magnus has to be precise to keep his big advantage. The key lies in staying connected to the rook, to make it difficult for Firouzja to win the advanced queenside pawn. A tricky move to spot.
Magnus spots it. But the tactics run deep here, with some even including exploiting back-rank checkmate ideas! Has Magnus seen it all?! And, perhaps more importantly, has Firouzja?
So far so good for Magnus fans. He is on track to play the key idea. The next move will be critical.
It's a mess of arrows, for a mess of a position! The point is that if Magnus slides his rook over, then Firouzja cannot play bishop takes bishop, because of queen takes rook with back-rank mate to follow!!
Magnus spots it! Firouzja will for sure also have spotted it, so he will have to block the queen's vision now.
Firouzja shuts down the tactics, but his position is very poor.
Magnus fails to find the only path to an advantage. With it, he trades into a drawn endgame!
Still good chances to squeeze Firouzja here, especially considering he is much lower on the clock and has the more passive piece placement.
Magnus can improve his position at will here. Firouzja has no active plan, so he just has to hope that his configuration is good enough for a 'fortress' of sorts.
Defending the pawn. If it falls, it could be lights out.
A great in-between move, making sure that the king is forced back to a more passive square!
Surely Firouzja is about to be punished with under 30 seconds again!
I think this one is going to go Magnus' way. It's so hard to defend, and it's just too little time for a game that can drag on for 100+ moves.
Magnus strikes back immediately, to level up set 2. Firouzja has been playing with fire with his time management all day long. And in game 2 of the second set, he finally got burned. Magnus ties things up, and Firouzja will have to make the most of the White pieces up next if he wants to drag the final out to a third and final set!
Firouzja draws blood!
Just when it looked like things were going to go from bad to worse, Alireza Firouzja turns it around at the last minute to strike first in set 2. Magnus is going to have to make the most of the White pieces now!