Not surprisingly, Abdusattorov opts for the solid Sicilian Alapin variation with white pieces. It will be interesting to see how Caruana can create a position of dynamism from such a solid opening.
This lone ranger gives hope of a dynamic fight! Abdusattorv simply can't hide his natural aggression on the board, even when he needs just a draw to clinch the match.
A mild mistake by Abdusattorov, losing that wee bit of control of the center. With white's pawn far advanced on the kingside, now it will be a question of how White is going to safeguard his king in the long run.
White's isolated pawn couple in the center is a weakness in the long run. Caruana plays with admirable restraint and long-term plan here, slowly improving his position, knowing that an exchange of pawns and pieces will benefit him, the one with the sounder pawn structure.
Now, with the inevitable exchange of light-squared bishps, Black is well on his way to take over the initiative.
More exchanges, the merrier for Black! Caruana proposes a queen exchange, taking the game into a 'game of two results'. Caruana dominates!
The white knight retreats from the center, underlining his misery. Now, Black's backward pawn on the semi-open file is a sitting duck, waiting to be attacked by Black's rooks and knight.
Caruana shows his complete domination of the position, as his rooks are running circles around White's weaknesses. Admirably, Caruana has a lot more time on the clock too, thus dominating the position in all the spheres!
Black's strength in the position is the coordination of his pieces. Showing restraint but resolve, Caruana is slowly closing in on White's weaknesses here.
White desperately pushes the pawn, hoping for any kind of activity. But this pawn will become even weaker, as it will no longer be guarded by the dark colored bishop.
Black wins a pawn!
Caruana on the driver's seat now, as White's endgame is clearly worse, the bishop being a 'bad one'!
Black's only problem is his knight, and Caruana must be desperate to find a way to get the pieces better and out. Being up by two pawns, Caruana must be hoping to win the game whenever the knight comes into play.
Abdusattorov allows the black rook to get active, to occupy the coveted seventh rank. The endgame of the endgame starts now!
Although the entire queenside has been liquidated, Caruana should not have any trouble in winning the game, as he is bound to capture the surviving white pawn too.
Exchanging the rooks and creating a passed pawn too. Caruana must be able to wrap up the game without further ado now.
Caruana played an admirable game! Needing to win with black pieces, he played the Alapin SIcilian with quiet confidence, bringing an active strategic fight on the board. He slowly outplayed Abdusattorov, whose decisions on center control seemed questionable.
Overall, a smooth win for Caruana!