I was looking forward to this game as Giovanni always plays the closed Sicilian with the e5 pawn push. And I had something prepared especially for this match.

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. f4 e6 7. Nf3 Nge7 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 Nd4 10. e5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Rb8 12. Ne4 b6 13. c3 Ndf5 14. Bf2 Qc7 15. g4?! 15. Qa4 Nd5 is a better way to play the position with equal chance for both sides 15... Nd5! And this is it, black will sac the knight for a couple of pawns and huge pressure on the long diagonal. I have played this a few times on the net and won every time. White's task is pretty thankless which is why most players prefer Qa4 as opposed to g4? 16. gxf5 16. Nc4 Nfe7 17. g5 Nf5 18. Ng3 Bb7 19. Nxf5 exf5=/+ 16... exf5 17. Ng3 17. Nf3 fxe4 18. dxe4 Nxf4 19. Bg3 Bg4 20. Qd2 Bh6-/+ 17... Nxf4 18. Nf3 Nxg2 19. Kxg2 f4 his is an innovation as far as I am aware previously Bb7 has been played, though this whole line is unpopular for white 20. Ne4+/- I suggested to my opponent that this may be a better way to play. In the game I looked at: 20. Ne2 Bb7 21. Be1 g5 22. h3 h5 23. Kg1 g4 24. hxg4 hxg4-/+ But on a closer look white is in even bigger trouble than in the game 20... f5 21. Ned2 Bb7 22. Rg1-/+ 22. Kg1!? A much better move 22... Rbd8 23. d4 g5 24. Nxg5 Qc6 25. Qb3+ Kh8 26. Ndf3 In the game I only looked at:(26. Ngf3 Rg8 27. h3 Bxd4+ 28. Kh2 Be3) 26... h6 27. Qe6 hxg5 28. Qxc6 Bxc6 29. Nxg5 cxd4 30. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 31. cxd4 Rxd4-/+ Fritz comes up with 22. Qb3+ Kh8 23. Kg1 Rbd8 24. Qc2 g5-/+ Which is very similar to previous line 22... Rbd8 22... g5 23. Kf1 g4 24. Nh4 Rbd8 25. Qb3+ Kh8-/+ 23. d4? This opens up the a6-f1 diagonal giving the king no escape 23... Qc6? This mistake could have ruined the whole position . Better is: 23... g5 24. Kf1 g4 25. Ne1 Ba6+ 24. Kf1? Almost equalizing is: 24. Qb3+! Kh8 25. Rae1 g5 26. Kf1 g4= Black still has pressure but objectively the position is equal 24... Rfe8?= 24... Qb5+! 25. c4 Qxb2 26. Rb1 Bxf3 27. Nxf3 Qxa2 28. Qd3 Bxd4 29. Bxd4 cxd4=/+ 25. a3?=/+ 25. Qb3+ c4 26. Qc2 Qd5 27. b3 cxb3 28. axb3 a6 29. c4+/= 25... Ba6+ 26. Kg2 g5! 27. Qb3+ Kh8! keeping the a6-f1 diagonal open 28. Qf7 g4 29. Kh1 29. Qxf5 gxf3+ 30. Kh1 Qh6 31. Ne4 cxd4 32. cxd4-/+ 29... Rf8 30. Qh5 Bb7? Again a mistake from Black. He assumes that the attack will play itself. Superior was 30... Be2! 31. Rg2 Bxf3 32. Nxf3 Qxf3 33. dxc5 Rd2 34. Rf1 bxc5-+ 31. Qg5 cxd4 32. Bxd4? Allowing a quick finish 32. cxd4 Bxd4 33. Rgc1 Qd7 34. Bxd4+ Qxd4 35. Qe7 Bxf3+ 36. Nxf3 gxf3 37. Rc7 Qd1+ 38. Qe1 should still be an easy win in the ending 32... Bxd4 33. cxd4 Rxd4 34. Qe7? 34. Rg2 Rxd2 35. Rxd2 Qxf3+ 36. Kg1 Qh1+ 37. Kf2 Qg2+ 38. Ke1 Re8+ leads to mate 34. Rad1 Qxf3+! 35. Nxf3 Bxf3+ 36. Rg2 Rxd1# is quite pretty 34... Re8 35. Qg5 Rxd2 36. Qxf4 Qxf3+ 37. Qxf3 Bxf3+ 38. Rg2 Rxg2 0-1