15.Re1...White's Italian only led to him having less space. Here, So
could exert some serious pressure on Niemann's position, but the three-time U.
S. champion did not take his chances.15....Qd6?!15...Nd716.Rc1Qe717.cxd4exd418.e5a3Black is surely better, as he has clear plans for his knight
on d7: he can either go to b6 and d5, or to b6 and a4.16.cxd4!Nxd417.Nxd4Qxd418.Qc2Nd719.Re3a320.Rb1axb221.Rxb2...White's pawn structure
is bad, but he is active enough now.21....b622.Nf1Ra323.Nd2Rc324.Qb1Ra825.Nf3Qd626.Rd2Qa327.Re1Qa528.Rc1Qa329.Rcd1Rf830.d4Rcxf331.gxf3exd431...Qe7was the last try, but this time it involves some risk
and it is far less convincing.32.Rxd4Qxf333.Rxd7Qxf2+34.Kh1Qf3+35.Kh2Qe2+36.Kh1Qf3+37.Kh2Qe2+38.Kh1Qf3+39.Kh21/2-1/2 The game is a draw.1/2-1/2