1.e4c52.Nf3e63.Nc3Nc64.h3Be75.g3d66.Bg2Nf67.O-OO-O8.d3Rb89.a4a610.Be3b511.axb5axb512.Nd2N...The first new move, although this entire line is essentially uncharted territory. White's knight often prefers to be on e2 (or even h3) in Closed Sicilian set-ups. Although the combination of g2-g3 and Ng1-f3 is more common against e6-Sicilian set-ups, Black usually goes for ... d7-d5 rather than ... d7-d6, also explaining the relative lack of games here.12....d5!?12...Qc713.f4b414.Ne2Bb7is a more consistent way for Black to play, opting to wait on ... d6-d5 until White commits more firmly to the kingside, for instance with15.g4(15.c3Nd716.f5exf517.Rxf5Nce518.d4Nd3⩱illustrating one possible line where the more closed center can favor Black's powerful knights.)d5!16.e5Nd717.c3Rfc8⩱13.exd5exd514.Bf4Rb6Energetic, and consistent, play from Svane. With the d-pawn break established, Black's rook enjoys an "open rank" and thus discourages White from kingside expansion.15.Ra8h616.Nb3Ra617.Rxa6Bxa6A neat way to neutralize White's grip on the open a-file while developing a piece.18.Re1Re819.Be5Nxe520.Rxe5...White's plan is to pressure the d5-pawn and provoke overextension.20....c420...d421.Nd5Nxd522.Bxd5Rf823.Qf3keeps the pressure coming, butBd624.Rf5Qc7⩲might not amount to much.21.Nd4Bc522.Nc6...The game has now turned swiftly into tactical waters, which makes sense given the decisions to open up the center after Black's ... d6-d5.22....Qd6?!22...Bxf2+was the forcing line Niemann had to assess:23.Kxf2Qb6+24.d4Qxc625.Nxd5Nxd526.Rxe8+Qxe827.Bxd5is equal, and Black has no improvements. White should be happy to have advanced d3-d4, and Black must play urgently to stay equal.Bc8!=23.Rxe8+Nxe824.Nxd5...Or24.d4immediately is also good for White:Qxc625.Bxd5Qc826.dxc5Qxc527.Qf3⩲when the extra set of knights help White argue for a small advantage on the attacking front.24....Kf824...cxd325.Qxd3Kh8If one extra set of minor pieces helped White fight, imagine how happy he'd be here with three minor pieces remaining.26.Nf4±with pressure against the weak b-pawn and relatively little to worry about from Black's light-squared bishop.25.Nc3...25.d4!would neutralize the bishop pair, but the resulting variations are hard to evaluate properly.Qxc626.Nc3!Qc827.dxc5b4(27...Qxc528.Qd7Qb629.Bc6Nf630.Qd6+Kg831.Nd5!is the point of regrouping to c3 in the first place. White is better afterNxd5(31...Qxf2+!32.Kxf2Ne4+33.Ke3Nxd634.Kd4Kf8(34...Nf5+35.Kc5±)35.Ke5±)32.Qxd5±But, more surprisingly, is also better with the active king as more than sufficient compensation for the pawn, after)28.Ne4f529.Nd6Qxc530.Nxe8Kxe831.Bd5⩲although this is still a difficult position to assess, with ... f5-f4 and ... c4-c3 giving Black complications to worry about.25....cxd3?25...Bb7!26.d4(26.Qf3Bxc627.Qxc6Qxc628.Bxc6cxd329.cxd3b430.Nb5⩲gives White an extra pawn, but the threat of a trade of bishops should keep Black within the drawing margin.)Bxc627.dxc5Qxc528.Bxc6Qxc629.Qh5b430.Nd5looks like White's pieces dominate, butb3!=gives Black meaningful, and sufficient, counterplay in terms of White's weak queenside pawns.26.Qxd3Qf626...Qxd327.cxd3b428.Na4Bd629.d4±gives White a mean passed central pawn, making it unlikely that Black's bishop pair provides compensation for the one-pawn deficit.27.Qd2Nd6?27...Bc8!28.g4(28.b4Bxf2+29.Qxf2Qxc3=)Nc729.b4⩲28.b4!...28.Nd5Qxb229.Nb6is also winning.28....Nc428...Bxf2+?29.Qxf2Qxc330.Qb6!explains why Black is not equalizing. For instance:Bc8(30...Qxg331.Qd8+Ne832.Qe7++−)31.Qd8+Ne832.Qe7+Kg833.Qxe8+Kh734.Qxc8+−29.Qe1Bxf2+30.Qxf2Qxc331.Qc5+!Kg832.Ne7+Kh833.Kh2Qf634.Qa7...The key position that White must have calculated when playing 28. b4!.34....Kh735.Be4+g636.Bxg6+Kg737.Bd3...White is up a pawn, Black's pieces are stuck, and Black's king is still weak. This is winning, and Niemann converts rather flawlessly.37....Nd638.Nd5Qe539.Qxa6Qxd540.Qa1+f641.Qa7+Kf842.Qb8+Ke743.Qa7+Kd844.Qe3Qg545.Qxg5fxg546.Kg21-0 White wins.1-0