1.d4Nf62.c4e63.Nf3d54.Nc3c5The Semi-Tarrasch generally has a drawish reputation at the highest levels, and it's not the most common. Clearly, Sevian was not expecting this, as he spent nine minutes on his next move.5.cxd5cxd46.Qxd4exd57.e4dxe48.Qxd8+Kxd89.Ng5Be6Following the mainline so far. There's barely any imbalance in the position.10.a3Nc611.Bf4Bb312.Ngxe4Nxe413.Nxe4Be714.Nd2Be614...Re8!is a cute option; using tactics to justify positional moves.15.Be2(15.Nxb3Bg5+16.Be3?!Bxe317.fxe3Rxe3+⩱)Ba4The point! This is an option now, since if16.b3Black hasBf617.Rd1Nd4with an edge.15.O-O-ORc8White has no real threat with the discovery.16.Kb1Ke817.Bc4Rd818.Bxe6fxe619.Ne4Kf720.Bd6Rd7Not technically necessary. Better was20...Rhf8, continuing to improve the pieces, since White doesn't have any real threat.21.Bxe7Rxe7Ceding the d-file is not great, even if it's only temporary.21...Rxd1+22.Rxd1Kxe723.Nc5Rd824.Rxd8Nxd822.Nd6+Kg623.Rc1Nd4Avoiding Nd6xb7 followed by Rc1xc6.24.Rc4...24.Nc8Rf7does not actually win a pawn for White.24....Nf5?24...e5, though the position after25.f4does appear somewhat frightening. Luckily, Black hasb5!26.Rc5exf427.Rd1Ne628.Rxb5Rd7and it should be a simple draw.25.Nc8...Suddenly, ... Re7-f7 no longer counterattacks the f2-pawn.25....Rd726.Rhc1?...To be honest, I'm not entirely sure why Sevian didn't play the most obvious 26. Nxa7. He had 20 minutes on his clock, and spent only five to reject the capture.26.Nxa7Rd2White's main difficulty is getting the knight back into the game, but being able to give up the extra pawn will always be useful.27.Re1(27.Nb5Rxf228.g4Ne329.Re4⩲offers a modest advantage.)Nd628.Rf4Ra829.Rxe6+Kg530.Ra4b531.Ra5±26....a6No more chances materialize for either player. Black guards the e6-pawn quickly, and White can't break through against only one weakness.27.Re4Kf628.Nb6Rd629.Nc4Rc630.Rce1Rd831.Na5Rb632.Nc4Rc633.Na5Rb634.g4Nd435.Nc4Rb536.h4Ke737.Rd1Nc638.Rde1Nd439.Rd1Nc640.Rxd8Nxd841.Kc2Nf742.Rd4Ne543.Nxe5Rxe544.Kd3Re145.Rb4b546.a4Re547.axb5axb548.Rd4Re149.Rb4Re550.Rd4Re151.Rb4Re5Draw.1/2-1/2