The game started with 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6, and Shankland went for the direct 3.h4, which led to a line reminiscent of the Samisch Variation in the King’s Indian. Svidler temporarily sacrificed two pawns to create threats against the long-castled white king. Both players were showcasing their tactical prowess in the complex battle, until the Russian moved his queen to the wrong square on move 24.
24...Qb6 was the losing mistake, while 24...Qb5 would have kept the tense balance — a difference this slight can decide a game in such sharp struggles! The sequence that followed in the game shows why b6 was the wrong square for the queen: