This game is a titanic battle between two players from the new generation who are fearless and seek victory at any cost. Their duel in the Tata Steel tournament earlier this year resulted in the best game of the tournament. They’re not afraid to take risks and hate draws. I can’t wait for the next tournament where they meet.

One of the options with the best reputation against the Najdorf.

Najdorf players have the old dilemma of whether to advance the pawn to e5, as Fischer liked, or to e6, as Kasparov prefered. If you like more alternative paths it’s possible to play the “Dragondorf” with 6…g6, the classic 6…Nc6, or even 6…b5.

In the early days of 6.h3, the knight used to almost always return to e2, justifying a plan with g4 followed by Ng3. As time passed and theory developed, White decided to try an alternative plan, which is what we will see in this game.

A modern development. In the past, White liked to advance the f-pawn before placing the queen on this square. The idea here is to go 0-0-0, g4-g5, and put a knight on d5. Black needs to play very accurately.

Advancing the h-pawn is always a double-edged idea, because if, on the one hand, it stops g4-g5 for the moment, on the other hand it makes the break stronger when it arrives. Maghsoodloo knows this very well and he is well-prepared.

A very difficult move and characteristic of modern chess. I suppose that a move like this, say in the 80s, in the pre-computer chess era, would not even be considered (in fact, in my database the first game with this move dates back to 2011). Nowadays, it’s indicated as the best move by the machine. Instead of fighting against modernity or simply saying “this is a computer move”, it’s up to the modern chess player to learn in order to be able to find “computer moves” in the most diverse situations. The idea is simply to bring the knight to g6, a square that is not at all typical for a knight in the Najdorf. Surprisingly, White is not able to generate an immediate threat, even with the beautiful knight on d5.

I only found one correspondence game with this move.

A new move.

A difficult decision: to take or not to take the e7-bishop? I think in practice White should capture it before it goes to g5.

Now Black has firm control of the dark squares.

White’s advance on the kingside has been halted, but this is not the end of the world, as his pieces are well-placed.

Better than capturing with the queen, as now control of f4 is tightened and Black has a long-term plan with g6-Kg7 and Rh8.

A useful move to prevent the white knight’s jump to a5 and prepare the a6-a5 advance.

A very difficult move to play, since now the dark squares are even more weakened.

Preparing Kg7 and eventually using the h-file with the rook.

A strange square for the king—I suppose it didn’t go to g7 due to possible tactical problems after 27.Nb5.

The knight goes to another destination.

Taking advantage of a chance to open the position before the black rook moves to h8.

The wrong way. The knight on g5 attacks White’s pawn, but it should be used to block the c-file.

Abdusattorov took his chance to dominate the c-file. The game turns into an open fight, as the pawns on both sides are very weak.

An excellent maneuver, placing the knight on a curious square to attack the f3-pawn. Magshoodloo has never had trouble finding odd moves.

This move leads to an unbalanced position after the sacrifice of the white queen.

White has to sac the queen.

For the queen, White has a strong passed pawn and good control over the light squares. If he manages to bring the knight to d5, Black’s position becomes desperate, but it is possible to act to prevent this from happening.

Forcing the bishop to leave its good post and allowing Black to advance with d5 or b5, depending on where the bishop is positioned.

Now White’s position becomes dangerous.

This is a difficult moment in the game. There’s a subtle problem with the positioning of the rook on c2.

Freeing the d5-square for the knight.

The only square for the rook.

As usual, Magshoodloo fights for victory whenever possible. If he wanted a draw, he would certainly choose 53…Qg1.

Another excellent move to create counterplay, as the pawn supports the knight on f6. I have no words to express my admiration for the high level of play and fighting spirit of these two warriors.

Threatening mate.

After a tense and exhausting battle, perhaps frustrated at having to find the right moves to equalize after fighting for victory throughout the game, Maghsoodloo makes a decisive error.

I almost couldn’t believe it when I discovered that this move spoiled the win.

Now it’s over.

The pawn finally promotes.