[Event "FIDE World Championship 2023"] [Site "Astana"] [Date "2023.04.15"] [Round "5"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C84"] [WhiteElo "2795"] [BlackElo "2788"] [Annotator "Europe-Echecs"] [PlyCount "95"] [EventDate "2023.04.09"] [EventType "match"] [EventCountry "KAZ"] [SourceTitle "europe-echecs.com"] [Source "ChessBase"] [SourceQuality "1"] {[%evp 0,95,19,31,34,19,13,4,13,-2,-9,3,20,-2,20,35,36,0,-12,-17,0,-23,0,-10,-5,-34,7,12,10,10,1,-17,-17,-10,-2,-14,-14,-5,-11,-10,6,7,9,0,16,10,3,0,0,-2,9,-1,22,0,0,0,0,-15,-23,-26,-18,-16,35,51,38,38,32,33,32,35,53,40,37,46,96,-23,-31,-28,82,130,163,171,171,116,152,115,146,179,177,174,187,185,207,223,217,237,210,319]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {Retour à la partie Espagnole. Voyons ce qu'a prévu Ian Nepomniachtchi.} a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 ({Au lieu de} 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Re1 Nd7 8. d4 exd4 9. Qxd4 O-O {½-½ (49) Nepomniachtchi,I (2795)-Ding,L (2788) FIDE World Championship 2023, comme dans la première partie.}) 6... b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 10. a4 $5 {Et voilà le début de la préparation du Russe.} ({Plus habituel est} 10. Re1 Na5 11. Bc2 c5 12. Nbd2 (12. d4 exd4 13. cxd4 Nc6 14. Nc3 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 Rc8 17. Bf4 d5 18. exd5 Rc4 19. Qe5 Nxd5 20. Nxd5 {½-½ Cornette,M (2563)-Yilmaz,M (2629) Reykjavik Open 2023 Reykjavik ISL (4.2)}) 12... Nc6 13. Nf1 Re8 14. Ng3 h6 15. Bd2 Bf8 16. Nh2 d5 17. Ng4 dxe4 18. dxe4 Nxg4 19. hxg4 c4 {½-½ (66) Firouzja,A (2778)-Giri,A (2760) FTX Crypto Cup 2022 rapid}) 10... Na5 11. Ba2 c5 12. Bg5 $5 {Et ici, avec ce nouveau coup, la suite de la ligne préparée. Rien de révolutionnaire, mais Ding Liren va devoir prendre du temps pour s'orienter dans cette nouvelle position et en découvrir les nuances.} (12. Na3 Qd7 13. Bg5 bxa4 14. Nh4 Rab8 15. Nf5 Bd8 16. f4 exf4 17. Rxf4 {1-0 (57) Firouzja,A (2778)-Giri,A (2760) FTX Crypto Cup 2022 rapid.}) 12... h6 {Après 14 minutes.} 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. axb5 axb5 15. Nbd2 {A tempo. 1h58-1h37. Daniil Dubov, qui a remplacé Anand Viswanathan aux commentaires avec Irina Krush : « La façon dont je vois ces positions est qu'elles sont meilleures pour les Blancs, mais plus faciles à jouer pour les Noirs. » Un jugement que l'on peut rapprocher de celui de Magnus Carlsen avec la Sicilienne Svechnikov, que l'ordinateur pense mieux pour les Blancs, mais que le Norvégien trouve plus facile à jouer avec les Noirs.} Nc6 {Après 7 minutes.} 16. Bd5 {À nouveau a tempo.} Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Qd7 18. Re1 {Il faut reconnaître que Ian Nepomniachtchi n'a obtenu aucun avantage dans l'ouverture. Vladislav Tkachiev et Kevin Bordi pensaient que le Russe ne s'est pas encore remis de sa défaite et qu'il se contenterait d'un demi-point. Un peu comme l'a dit Tigran Vartani Petrossian (1929-1984) : « Évitez l'euphorie : match nul après une défaite, match nul après une victoire. »} Ra8 19. Qd1 {Ian Nepomniachtchi joue tout a tempo. 1h57-1h18.} Bd8 20. Nf1 Ne7 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Ne3 {Les coups blancs précédents ont montré comment Nepo s'est débarrassé de « la pièce de trop », ayant deux pièces capables d'occuper la case d5.} Bb6 {Avec, enfin, une première réflexion de Ian Nepomniachtchi !} 23. h4 {Anish Giri : « Une idée fantastique, j'adore ça ! » — Fabien Libiszewski : « Ça joue les cases blanches chez Nepo. Pour le moment c'est beaucoup plus convaincant avec 1.e4 qu'avec 1.d4. »} Qc6 {1h47-1h05} (23... h5 $6 24. Ng5 $1 {[%csl Rh5][%CAl Yd1h5]} g6 $6 (24... f6 25. Nh3 $16) 25. Qf3 {[%csl Rf7][%CAl Yf3f7,Yg5f7]} Rf8 26. g4 $1 $18) 24. h5 $5 {Après 15 minutes. Le mini-plan est simple : jouer le Cavalier en h4 avec l'idée d'occuper la case f5.} c4 {Une poussée qui n'a pris que 33 secondes à Ding Liren.} 25. d4 {Anish Giri: « Je pense que l'ouverture a fonctionné majestueusement pour Ian et qu'il n'aurait pas pu espérer mieux dans ses rêves les plus fous. Ding a choisi la configuration la plus inconfortable avec ...Fd8 et ...Ce7. C'est la configuration la plus maladroite de toutes les options que nous avons regardées. »} exd4 {Après 14 minutes.} 26. Nxd4 {Ne quittez pas des yeux la case f5. On l'appelle la case « Kasparov ». Un Cavalier sur cette case exerce une forte pression sur le pion devant le Roi ennemi, permettant une attaque rapide, avec généralement l’aide de la Dame.} Qc5 $6 {Une imprécision ! Une égalité approximative était conservée en plaçant la Dame en b7.} (26... Qb7 $1 $11) 27. Qg4 $5 {Après 13 minutes. A le désavantage de prendre la case g4 au Cavalier.} (27. Qf3 $1 {était considéré comme plus précis, car sur} Qe5 28. Ng4 $1 {avec un clair avantage blanc.}) 27... Qe5 $1 {L'imprécision blanche permet à Ding Liren de justifier sa manœuvre 26...Dc5?!, tout en redonnant de l'activité au Fou en b6.} 28. Nf3 Qe6 29. Nf5 {Menace tout simplement de mater en g7.} Nxf5 $5 ({Plus précis, selon les machines, étaient} 29... Qf6 30. Nxe7+ Qxe7 $11) 30. exf5 Qf6 $6 ({Il valait mieux répondre par} 30... Qd7 $5 {avec l'idée de manœuvrer le Fou b6 en f6 via la case d8.}) 31. Qe4 $1 Rb8 {Si les « petites machines » accordent un clair avantage blanc, Sesse.net se contente de donner +0.44.} 32. Re2 Bc5 33. g4 {La position devient difficile pour les Noirs, ou pour le dire autrement, les Blancs ont plusieurs coups pour améliorer leur position.} Qd8 $1 {Le seul bon coup selon Sesse.net, au moins pour conserver une position jouable. 1h05-0h29.} 34. Qd5 {Il fallait bien entendu empêcher la poussée ...d5.} Kf8 $6 ({Le sacrifice de pion} 34... b4 35. Qxc4 bxc3 36. bxc3 Qd7 {était la suggestion de Sesse.net}) 35. Kf1 {Simon Williams : « Après avoir perdu sa dernière partie, un jeu impressionnant de Nepo aujourd'hui. L'un des principaux problèmes de Nepo est sa capacité à rester fort après un mauvais résultat. Il semble bien répondre à cette question aujourd'hui. C'est un match passionnant ! »} ({On s'attendait plutôt à} 35. Kg2 {avec des idées comme : Rg3, Ch4, f4, Cf3 et g5. Après le coup de Ian, la machine est passée de +1.03 à +0.07.}) 35... Rc8 $2 {« La bonne case, mais la mauvaise pièce. » Fabien Libiszewski} (35... Qc8 $1) 36. Re4 $1 {Avec l'idée gagnante 37.g5!} Rb8 {La pression à la pendule exercée par Ian Nepomniachtchi est énorme : 0h54-0h10.} 37. g5 ({La machine finasse avec} 37. Kg2 {avant la poussée g5.}) 37... hxg5 $2 {Cependant, Ding Liren craque !} 38. Rg4 $1 {C'est fini, la partie blanche est gagnée.} Ra8 (38... f6 {serait bon pour équilibrer la position s'il n'y avait pas le terrible} 39. Nh4 $3 gxh4 40. h6 g5 41. fxg6 $18) 39. Nxg5 Ra1+ 40. Ke2 Qe7+ 41. Ne4 Qe8 {Les derniers coups de Ding Liren sont joués par inertie.} 42. Kf3 Qa8 43. Qxa8+ Rxa8 44. f6 g6 45. hxg6 fxg6 46. Rxg6 Ra2 47. Kg4 Rxb2 48. Rh6 {Igor-Alexandre Nataf : « J'aime vraiment ce match ! C'est réellement le match le plus divertissant depuis très longtemps… J'espère que ça va continuer comme ça. » — Anish Giri : « Aujourd'hui Ding a perdu sans faire une seule grosse erreur. Il a juste perdu avec quelques petites erreurs. »} 1-0 [Event "WCh 2023"] [Site "Astana KAZ"] [Date "2023.04.15"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C84"] [Annotator "Crowther,Mark"] [PlyCount "95"] [EventDate "2023.04.09"] {[%evp 0,95,19,31,34,19,13,4,13,-2,-9,3,20,-2,20,35,36,-4,-5,-29,-3,-18,-3,-24,-33,-19,16,-4,7,7,7,-4,-19,-15,-22,-22,-17,-5,-8,-5,9,0,4,6,4,6,31,0,9,-10,-5,-5,5,4,0,-10,11,-26,-5,0,-6,-6,35,41,39,45,45,46,30,31,58,30,44,27,92,-31,-23,-35,110,101,180,157,153,130,361,134,151,150,179,194,204,131,125,172,173,190,213,284]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 ({Relevant:} 9... Na5 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 Qc7 12. d5 Nc4 13. a4 Nb6 14. b3 Bd7 15. Be3 bxa4 16. bxa4 Nc4 17. Bc1 Rfb8 18. Qe2 Na5 19. Nbd2 Be8 20. Ra2 Nd7 21. Re1 Nb6 22. Nf1 c4 23. Ne3 Nb3 24. a5 Na4 25. Bd2 Rc8 26. Ra3 Rab8 27. Nxc4 Nxc3 28. Bxc3 Qxc4 29. Qxc4 Rxc4 30. Re3 Nd4 31. Bd3 Nxf3+ 32. Rxf3 Ra4 33. Rxa4 Bxa4 34. Bxa6 Rb1+ 35. Kh2 Bd1 36. Re3 Bg5 37. Re1 Rb3 38. Rxd1 Rxc3 39. Ra1 {Firouzja,A (2785)-Alekseenko,K (2686) chess.com INT 2023 1-0}) 10. a4 Na5 11. Ba2 c5 {[#]} 12. Bg5 $146 ({Predecessor:} 12. Na3 Qd7 13. Bg5 bxa4 14. Nh4 Rab8 15. Nf5 Bd8 16. f4 exf4 17. Rxf4 Nb3 18. Bxb3 axb3 19. Qf3 Ne8 20. Bxd8 Rxd8 21. Qg3 f6 22. Raf1 Bc8 23. Nc4 Qb7 24. Nce3 Be6 25. R4f3 a5 26. Ra1 Qc7 27. d4 cxd4 28. Nxd4 Bf7 29. Nd5 Bxd5 30. exd5 Qc5 31. Kh2 Qxd5 32. Rf5 Qf7 33. Rfxa5 Rd7 34. Nf5 Kh8 35. Re1 g6 36. Nd4 Ng7 37. Qf3 d5 38. Ra6 Rb8 39. Rxf6 Qg8 40. Rf1 Rdd8 41. Nc6 Nf5 {Firouzja,A (2778)-Giri,A (2760) Miami 2022 1-0}) 12... h6 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. axb5 axb5 15. Nbd2 Nc6 16. Bd5 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Qd7 18. Re1 Ra8 19. Qd1 Bd8 {The start of a plan that's a bit controversial. It's probably not losing but black has some problems to solve.} (19... Nd8 20. Bxb7 Qxb7 {was an alternative.}) 20. Nf1 Ne7 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Ne3 Bb6 23. h4 {The start of an excellent plan. Black doesn't have many pieces at all defending his king.} Qc6 (23... Ra2 {is the reply recommended by computers if we come by this way again.}) 24. h5 c4 25. d4 exd4 {Perhaps not quite the best.} (25... Rd8) 26. Nxd4 Qc5 (26... Qb7 {is the computer move.}) 27. Qg4 Qe5 28. Nf3 (28. Qd7 Bxd4 29. cxd4 Qxe4 30. f3 Qe6 31. Qb7 Re8 32. Qxb5) 28... Qe6 29. Nf5 Nxf5 $2 {Ding identified this as a serious error after the game.} (29... Qf6) 30. exf5 Qf6 31. Qe4 Rb8 32. Re2 Bc5 33. g4 {This was the idea that Ding had overlooked.} Qd8 34. Qd5 {Ding was short of time and this position is really quite desperate even if the computer evaluation doesn't refect that just yet.} Kf8 (34... b4 {could have been tried.}) 35. Kf1 $5 {A very annoying move to have to face in time trouble.} (35. Kh2) (35. Kg2) 35... Rc8 (35... Qc8 36. f6 gxf6 37. Qe4 {is supposed to be playable according to the computer. Black's position is really quite disgusting.}) 36. Re4 $1 {The computer's favourite and preparing the decisive breakthrough. There is no longer anything to be done as black.} Rb8 37. g5 hxg5 (37... Qd7 38. gxh6 gxh6 39. f6 Qh3+ 40. Ke2 Qg2 41. Re7 Qxf2+ 42. Kd1 Qf1+ 43. Kc2 Qd3+ 44. Qxd3 cxd3+ 45. Kxd3) 38. Rg4 Ra8 (38... f6 39. Nh4 {is the pretty and crushing tactical point.}) 39. Nxg5 Ra1+ 40. Ke2 Qe7+ 41. Ne4 Qe8 42. Kf3 Qa8 43. Qxa8+ Rxa8 44. f6 g6 45. hxg6 fxg6 46. Rxg6 Ra2 {A final try for counterplay.} 47. Kg4 {Nepomniachtchi spent five minutes working the win out.} Rxb2 48. Rh6 1-0 [Event "FIDE World Chess Championship 2023"] [Site "Chess.com"] [Date "2023.04.15"] [Round "5"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C84"] [WhiteElo "2795"] [BlackElo "2788"] [Annotator "rafael"] [PlyCount "95"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [TimeControl "7200+30"] {[%evp 0,95,34,37,37,19,22,13,25,6,0,12,16,6,36,16,20,-19,-14,-18,0,-1,2,-26,8,-21,7,7,7,-19,-15,-21,-22,-5,-8,-8,-5,-5,-5,-6,6,11,9,9,9,9,21,0,1,-5,4,9,0,11,2,-7,-4,-5,-6,0,-15,-1,39,39,40,30,31,16,39,19,30,15,44,34,64,-33,-24,-22,180,180,183,148,148,233,348,150,184,182,202,208,205,216,213,211,225,254,286,318]} 1. e4 {Nepomniachtchi returns to his favorite move after failing to gain an advantage in the third game with the queen's pawn.} e5 {It's hard to imagine Ding playing anything against 1.e4 in the match other than 1...e5.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {The Ruy Lopez is the most classic of all chess openings and I was curious to know what ideas Nepomniachtchi had prepared for the match. 6.Bxc6 was played in the first game and gave him an edge, but it was a one-game attempt and worked well for that purpose. 6.Re1 was the chosen move in the match against Carlsen. 6.d3 is a popular and modern option.} b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. h3 Bb7 {In these Ruy Lopez positions there are many possible plans for both sides, with many details and subtleties.} (9... Na5 {is the most popular move.} 10. Bc2 c5 11. d4 {The Chigorin Variation with more tempo for Black, but even so equality is not so easy.}) (9... h6) (9... Nb8) (9... Be6) 10. a4 $5 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A rare move, played by Firouzja last year.} (10. Re1) (10. Nbd2) 10... Na5 11. Ba2 {This is the idea, now the bishop can stay on the dangerous diagonal.} c5 12. Bg5 {A new move. Nepomniachtchi certainly has a good stock of ideas in the opening against his opponent's more predictable choice.} (12. Na3 Qd7 13. Bg5 (13. axb5 {is more accurate.} axb5 14. Bg5) 13... bxa4 $1 {[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with a position full of resources in Firouzja-Giri, Miami (rapid) 2022.}) 12... h6 {A curious move, as White probably wants to take on f6 anyway.} (12... Nd7 {is possible, but then White can retreat the bishop to e3 and Black has nothing better than retreating the knight as well.} 13. Be3 Nf6) (12... c4 {is premature, as White has the initiative after} 13. axb5 axb5 14. Na3) (12... Qd7 {is very natural.} 13. Nbd2 {And certainly Nepomniachtchi has a lot of lines analyzed here.}) 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. axb5 axb5 15. Nbd2 Nc6 (15... d5 {is a critical move, since the break improves Black's pawn structure. A possible continuation is} 16. exd5 (16. b4 {gives nothing after} dxe4 17. Nxe4 cxb4 18. cxb4 Nc6) 16... Bxd5 17. Qe2 Nc6 18. Bxd5 Qxd5 {Black's position looks acceptable.}) 16. Bd5 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Qd7 18. Re1 {Nepomniachtchi was blitzing all his moves, indicating he was still in preparation.} Ra8 {A natural move, although it's not so clear whether forcing the queen back to the game is the most precise move.} (18... Ne7 {Black can accelerate the plan of exchanging bishops.} 19. Bxb7 Qxb7) (18... Bc8 $5 {[%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Interesting;persistent;true] is a very interesting plan. The point is to bring the knight to e7 without allowing the exchange of bishops. We will see different versions of this idea in the analysis.} 19. Nf1 Ne7 20. Bb3 (20. Ne3 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 Bd8 {is also OK for Black.} 22. Qa2 Bb7) 20... Bb7 {with a good position.}) 19. Qd1 Bd8 {I don't like this move, although deeming it dubious might be excessive criticism. There are several possible plans.} (19... Ne7 20. Bxb7 Qxb7) (19... Nd8 20. Bxb7 Qxb7) (19... Ra6 $5 {[%c_effect a6;square;a6;type;Interesting;persistent;true] with the idea of playing Bc8-Ne7.}) (19... g6 {A typical move to bring the bishop to g7.}) 20. Nf1 Ne7 $6 {[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] After this White definitely has the upper hand.} (20... Ra7 $5 {[%c_effect a7;square;a7;type;Interesting;persistent;true] is better:} 21. Ne3 Bc8 {with the idea of Ne7 and at some point the bishop will go to b6.}) 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Ne3 {Nepomniachtchi got what he wanted from the opening. A good position, attacking chances, and an advantage on the clock.} Bb6 23. h4 $1 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] I'm not sure if this move is still part of the preparation or if it was thought up on the board, but it's a great decision. It reminds me of a great Kasparov game I watched live, when he played a similar plan against Van Wely, in Wijk aan Zee 1999, achieving a magnificent victory. Bringing the pawn to h5 helps White both in attacking chances on the middlegame and also in the endgame.} Qc6 24. h5 {This is a critical moment. Nepomniachtchi said at the press conference that he was torn between this and 24.c4.} (24. c4 {is very sensible, since it stops c5-c4, but the computer is not impressed.} Ba5 25. Re2 h5 $5 {[%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] avoiding h4-h5.}) (24. Qe2 {Queen moves don't really avoid c5-c4.} c4 $5 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} 25. dxc4 Bxe3 26. cxb5 Bxf2+ 27. Kxf2 Qb6+ 28. Kf1 f5 {with compensation for the pawn.}) (24. Qb3 c4 $5 {[%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Interesting;persistent;true]} (24... Rc8) 25. dxc4 Bxe3 26. cxb5 Bxf2+ 27. Kxf2 Qc5+ 28. Kg3 Rb8 29. c4 Ng6 {with activity in return for the pawn.}) 24... c4 {This is better than capturing on c4.} 25. d4 $1 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (25. dxc4 Bxe3 (25... bxc4 26. Ng4 {is more dangerous.}) 26. Rxe3 bxc4 {with an equal position.}) 25... exd4 $6 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Not the most accurate move, although Ding had to calculate some difficult lines in order to choose the best move.} (25... Rd8 $1 {[%c_effect d8;square;d8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 26. Nh4 {This seems very dangerous for Black, but he is still alive.} exd4 (26... d5 {is also possible:} 27. Nxd5 (27. exd5 Qf6 $1 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} (27... Nxd5 $2 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true]} 28. Nhf5) 28. Nf3 exd4 29. Ng4 Qd6 30. Nxd4 Nxd5 {with an active position.}) 27... Nxd5 28. exd5 Qf6 $1 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the point.} 29. Re4 exd4 30. cxd4 b4 {The machine indicates that Black's activity is enough for equality.}) 27. Nef5 Nxf5 28. Nxf5 Qe8 $1 {[%c_effect e8;square;e8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] a difficult move, bringing the queen back to defend.} 29. cxd4 (29. Qg4 Qe5) 29... Qe6 {The queen goes to f6 and Black is alive. All this is very hard to calculate and even harder to evaluate.}) 26. Nxd4 {The right way.} (26. cxd4 $6 {[%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} Ba5 27. Re2 d5 $1 {[%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] with a good position.}) 26... Qc5 (26... Bxd4 27. Qxd4 {White has a comfortable advantage, with more active pieces and the better pawn structure.}) 27. Qg4 $6 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Nepomniachtchi's only inaccuracy in the entire game.} (27. Qf3 $1 {[%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] is the best way to conduct the initiative.} Re8 (27... Qe5 28. Ng4 Qg5 29. e5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} d5 30. Nxb5 {with a big advantage.}) 28. Qg4 {It's weird to move the queen again, but now the invasion on d7 is more annoying.} Qe5 29. Qd7 Kf8 30. Rd1 {with strong pressure.}) 27... Qe5 $1 {[%c_effect e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 28. Nf3 (28. Qd7 {is not dangerous now.} Bxd4 29. cxd4 Qxe4) 28... Qe6 29. Nf5 Nxf5 $6 {[%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Ding regretted playing this move.} (29... Qf6 $1 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 30. Nxe7+ Qxe7 31. Qf5 Bc5 {White's position is still more comfortable in practice, but the worst is over.}) 30. exf5 Qf6 $6 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} (30... Qd7 $1 {[%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the right square for the queen, but it's more natural to a human to bring it closer to the king.} 31. Qf4 Bd8 {with only a slight plus for White.}) 31. Qe4 Rb8 32. Re2 $1 {[%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] An excellent prophylactic move, defending b2 and thus avoiding the counterplay with b5-b4.} Bc5 (32... b4 33. cxb4) 33. g4 $1 {[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Another great move, mixing attack and defense. The f5-pawn is protected and this is important to free the queen.} Qd8 (33... b4 34. Qxc4) 34. Qd5 Kf8 35. Kf1 {A difficult move. On the broadcast, Giri said that this is the kind of move that wins games. The idea is to improve the king's position, taking it away from the bishop's diagonal, thus preparing the decisive plan to pass the rook to the attack. 35.Kg2 is also possible, with a similar idea.} (35. Kg2) (35. Re4 Qb6 $1 {[%c_effect b6;square;b6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Here we see one of the benefits of the move played in the game, as Black now threatens to capture on f2 with check.}) 35... Rc8 (35... Qc8 {with the idea of bringing the queen to b7, is the only chance to defend, but taking the queen out of the defense from f5-f6 and g4-g5 advances is difficult in the heat of the game.} 36. f6 (36. g5 Qb7) 36... gxf6 37. Qe4 {Black's position remains very difficult, albeit not yet lost.}) 36. Re4 $1 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The rook supports the decisive kingside break with f6 or g5.} Rb8 {For lack of a better option, Ding decides to wait out the inevitable.} 37. g5 $1 {[%c_effect g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} hxg5 (37... Qd7 {is more stubborn.}) 38. Rg4 Ra8 (38... Qf6 39. Nxg5 {wins easily.}) (38... f6 39. Nh4 $1 {[%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the beautiful point of White's previous moves.} gxh4 40. h6 gxh6 41. Qg8+ Ke7 42. Rg7#) 39. Nxg5 Ra1+ 40. Ke2 (40. Kg2 {is also winning:} Qa8 41. Qxa8+ Rxa8 42. f6 $1 {[%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} gxf6 43. Nh7+ Ke7 44. Re4+ Kd7 45. Nxf6+ Kc6 46. Re8 Rxe8 47. Nxe8 Kd7 48. h6 Kxe8 49. h7 {The poor bishop is not able to do anything.}) 40... Qe7+ 41. Ne4 Qe8 42. Kf3 Qa8 43. Qxa8+ {I expected Nepomniachtchi to play on his style, keeping the queens and winning by attack. But he made the most \"professional\" decision, bringing the game to an easily winning endgame.} (43. Qd2 {the queen goes to g5 with a winning attack.}) 43... Rxa8 44. f6 g6 (44... gxf6 45. Nxf6 Ke7 46. Ng8+ Kf8 47. h6 {The h-pawn is unstoppable.}) 45. hxg6 fxg6 46. Rxg6 Ra2 47. Kg4 Rxb2 48. Rh6 {The king goes to f5 and White has a mating net. With the third decisive game out of five, each better than the other, this is one of the best starts to a world championship match in history. If before the event started there was doubt about the true interest of the public due to Carlsen's absence, the games spoke for themselves and I imagine that chess fans all over the world can't wait for the next battle.} (48. Rh6 Bxf2 49. Rh8+ Kf7 50. Kf5 {with mate next move.}) 1-0