[Event "Candidates"]
[Site "Toronto"]
[Date "2024.04.14"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "Firouzja, Alireza"]
[Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2760"]
[WhiteTeam "FRA"]
[BlackElo "2758"]
[BlackTeam "RUS"]
[Annotator "GM Eugene Perelshteyn"]
[FEN "4rrk1/p2n1ppb/1pqb3p/2p1p3/P1NpPP2/1P1P1QPB/2P4P/R1B1R1K1 w - - 0 20"]
[Variant "From Position"]
[ECO "?"]
[Opening "?"]
[SetUp "1"]
[Source "https://lichess.org/study/Mez4h4WA/XvNtzSpV"]
[Orientation "white"]
{ [Annotations by GM Eugene Perelshteyn] Firouzja was able to outplay Nepo leading to this position. Clearly White has many promising ways in what looks like a good version of the reversed King's Indian. }
20. Nxd6 (20. Bxd7 Qxd7 21. f5 { is how I would have played here. White has a dream KID and will launch the paws storm on the kingside. }) 20... Qxd6 21. Bxd7 Qxd7 22. f5 { This is also a risk-free approach chosen by the Frenchman. However, he was unable to break through once Black found the correct defensive play. } 22... f6 23. g4 Kf7! { The correct plan! Black starts the emergency evacuation of his king from the danger zone. } 24. h4 Ke7 25. Re2 (25. a5! { This would cause some trouble for Nepo as now the queenside is about to open up! }) 25... Kd6 26. Bd2 a5 { Cementing the queenside. } 27. Rh2 Kc7 28. Rf1 Rh8 29. g5 Bg8 30. gxf6 gxf6 31. h5 Bf7 32. Rg2 Reg8 33. Rg6! { An instructive Exchange sacrifice, but it's not enough to win as Nepo builds a fortress. } 33... Bxg6 34. fxg6 Re8 35. Be1 Re6 36. Bh4 Rf8 37. Qg4 Qe7 38. Kh2 Kd6 39. Rf5 Qg7 { Now, it's a fortress as White doesn't have any ways to break through. } 40. Qf3 Kc7 41. Qf2 Kb7 42. Qg2 Rc6 43. Qg4 Ka6 44. Rf1 Rd6 { 1/2-1/2 The game is a draw. } 1/2-1/2