After reaching a horrendous position in game one, Hikaru decides to switch it up and plays a much safer opening.
While Erigaisi has gained strong control over the dark squares and is looking to play along the queenside in the long term, Hikaru remains with a very solid position. We're approaching a slow, maneuvering position with chances for both sides.
Erigaisi pressure's Hikaru's kingside, forcing him to make a decision: Will he give up his bishop pair, or make a passive move to avoid Erigaisi's threat?
Hikaru decides to give up his bishop in order to deal with Erigaisi's threat, but this comes at the cost of his light-squared bishop. In the long-term, Erigaisi may get chances to push for an advantage.
Erigaisi's maneuver has taken time, however, allowing Hikaru to stabilize and get an initiative.
Hikaru points all his pieces towards Erigaisi's knight who has been exposed due to his bishop being on the opposite end of the pawn chain. Hikaru's maneuver has forced Erigaisi on the defensive, but his long-term potential remains.
Hikaru decides that his pressure along the dark squares don't lead anywhere, and decides to retreat all his pieces!
Hikaru seems unable to find his form, second-guessing his own decisions and struggling to gain an initiative.
Erigaisi seems to have no intention of playing this position slow and steady, instead going for an attack against Hikaru's king! His decision is double-edged, giving him a short-term initiative but also weaknesses in any potential endgame.
While Erigaisi has successfully created weaknesses in front of Hikaru's king, this has come at the cost of giving himself weaknesses on the kingside. If Erigaisi fails to break through, he may suddenly end up in a clearly worse position!
After stabilizing his king's safety by rerouting his knights, Hikaru finally decides to grab a free pawn! If Erigaisi fails to break through, he may be at great risk of losing this position.
Erigaisi manages to create several weaknesses in Hikaru's position, maintaining his initiative despite trading down into an endgame. Hikaru's crown jewel is now his passed h-pawn, creating a threat that has to be tended to continuously.
Erigaisi tries to set up a checkmate attack, but Hikaru can defend against it! Hikaru's pawn will now become immensely dangerous, and Erigaisi is in huge danger!
Erigaisi's counterattack fails, and Hikaru is left with an extra rook!
Despite once again ending up on the back foot out of the opening, Hikaru punishes a key error from Erigaisi and gains a very important point in the standings!
Erigaisi decided to go all in on aggression this game, going for a dangerous attack against Hikaru's king. As a consequence of his decision, he was left with several weaknesses on the kingside, meaning his attack had to break through. Hikaru managed to defend brilliantly and eventually won a pawn that ended up being the deciding factor in the game.