[Event "WCh Rapid TB 2023"] [Site "Astana KAZ"] [Date "2023.04.30"] [Round "1"] [White "Ding Liren"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2788"] [BlackElo "2795"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "69"] [EventDate "2023.04.30"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,69,37,32,27,30,17,-14,28,24,12,21,27,16,21,-23,10,9,15,1,42,-10,-16,-10,-14,-8,-6,-11,-19,-14,-14,-7,7,9,9,-2,-2,-34,13,-6,4,17,16,8,53,44,55,6,-34,2,-31,-31,-42,-31,-31,-25,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-14,-8,-6,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c3 {A new move for the match.} c5 4. dxc5 {Very principled.} e6 5. Be3 Be7 (5... a5) (5... Qc7) ({and the "What, me worry?"} 5... Nc6 {are all good alternatives.}) 6. g3 Nc6 (6... O-O 7. Bg2 a5 8. O-O Na6 9. c4 Nxc5 (9... dxc4 10. Na3 Nd5 11. Bd4 f6 12. e4 Ndb4 13. e5 Nd3 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Nxc4 Naxc5 17. Qe2 Bd7 18. Nb6 Rad8 19. Nxd7 Rxd7 20. Rad1 Rfd8 21. b3 a4 22. bxa4 Nxa4 23. Rd2 b5 24. h4 h6 25. Qe3 e5 26. h5 Qf5 27. Nh4 Qf6 28. Bh3 Rd4 29. Nf5 R4d5 30. Rc2 Nac5 31. Rb1 b4 32. Rxb4 Nxb4 33. Rxc5 Rxc5 34. Qxc5 Nd3 35. Qc7 Kh8 36. Qe7 Ra8 37. Qxf6 gxf6 38. Bf1 e4 39. Nd6 f5 40. f3 Rxa2 41. fxe4 Ne1 42. Bc4 Nf3+ 43. Kf1 Nd2+ 44. Ke1 Nxc4 45. Nxc4 fxe4 46. Nd2 Ra3 47. Nf1 Kg7 48. Ke2 Kf6 49. Nd2 Kf5 {0-1 Rapport,R (2735)-Shankland,S (2731) Saint Louis Champions Showdown rapid 2019 (9.5)}) 10. Nc3 dxc4 11. Ne5 Bd7 12. Qd4 Rb8 13. Rfd1 b5 14. Qf4 Qc8 15. g4 b4 16. Bxc5 Bxc5 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. Ne4 Be7 19. Rac1 Nb6 20. g5 Nd5 21. Qg3 Rd8 22. h4 a4 23. h5 c3 24. bxc3 b3 25. axb3 axb3 26. g6 fxg6 27. hxg6 h6 28. Bh3 Kh8 29. Qe5 Rb6 30. c4 Nf6 31. c5 b2 32. Rxd8+ Qxd8 33. Rb1 Rb4 34. Nd6 Bxd6 35. Qxd6 Qe8 36. Qd3 e5 37. Bg2 e4 38. Qc3 Rb8 39. Rxb2 Rc8 40. Qg3 Qd8 41. Qd6 Qe8 42. Rc2 Qxg6 43. Qg3 Qe8 44. Qe3 Qa4 45. Qc3 Qc6 46. Qd4 Kg8 47. e3 Kh8 48. Rc1 Qe6 49. Qc4 Qc6 50. Qd4 Qe6 51. Rd1 Qc6 52. Bh3 Re8 53. Qd6 Qa4 54. c6 Qa6 55. c7 Qb5 56. c8=Q Rxc8 57. Bxc8 Qg5+ 58. Kf1 Qb5+ 59. Ke1 Qa5+ 60. Qd2 Qg5 61. Ba6 h5 62. Bf1 h4 63. Qb4 Kh7 64. Rd6 Qe5 65. Rd4 Qe6 66. Bg2 Qa2 67. Bxe4+ Nxe4 68. Rxe4 Qa1+ 69. Ke2 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2753)-Gelfand,B (2669) Levitov Chess 50k Lichess.org INT blitz 2022 (6)}) 7. Bg2 O-O 8. b4 Ng4 9. Bd4 Qc7 $146 (9... b6 10. h3 Nf6 11. Nbd2 bxc5 12. bxc5 Qc7 13. O-O e5 14. Be3 Na5 15. Qa4 Bd7 16. Qa3 Nb7 17. Rab1 Nxc5 18. Nb3 Nxb3 19. Qxe7 Rfe8 20. Qa3 Na5 21. Nd2 Nc4 22. Nxc4 Qxc4 23. Rb2 Ne4 24. Rc1 a5 25. Kh2 Rec8 26. Bxe4 Qxe4 27. Qd6 Be6 28. Qb6 Qf5 29. g4 Qf6 30. Kg2 Qe7 31. f3 h5 32. Bf2 Rc4 33. Qe3 Qc7 34. Rb5 f6 35. Rc5 Rxc5 36. Qxc5 Qxc5 37. Bxc5 Rc8 38. Be3 hxg4 39. hxg4 Kf7 40. Kf2 a4 41. Ke1 Bd7 42. Kd2 Bb5 43. Rb1 Bc4 44. Rb7+ Kg6 45. a3 Rh8 {½-½ Dehaybe,A (1867)-Sorcinelli,A (2056) LSS RA-2010-0-00080 LSS email}) 10. O-O (10. h3) 10... e5 11. h3 exd4 {Possibly not best, but easiest to play. Ding was still in his prep.} (11... Nf6 {was also possible.} 12. Be3) 12. hxg4 dxc3 13. Nxc3 Nxb4 14. a3 Bf6 15. Rc1 Bxc3 16. Rxc3 Nc6 {Only around here did Ding start thinking.} 17. Qxd5 (17. Qa4 $14 {was arguably better.}) 17... Bxg4 18. Ng5 {Hinting at threats against h7 (Qe4/d3) while also creating the positional threat of Ne4-d6.} (18. Qe4 {first is also worth considering, intending Ng5. Black could keep it simple by taking on f3, but moves like 18...Qd7, 18...Bh5 and even 18...h5 are possible.}) 18... h6 (18... Rae8 $142 19. Qd3 (19. Ne4 Bxe2 20. Re1 Re5 21. Qd2 Ba6 22. Rce3 $44) 19... g6 20. Ne4 Qe5 21. f4 Qg7 {seems scary, but apparently Black is okay.}) 19. Ne4 $14 Rae8 {Nepo has an interesting idea in mind.} (19... Bxe2 20. Re1 Bg4 21. Nd6 $14) 20. e3 (20. Re1 $14 {is a little better, avoiding several of Nepo's ideas. It also avoids another issue:} Re5 (20... Re6 $142) 21. Qd2 {and now} Bh3 $6 {can be met by} 22. Bh1 $1 $16) 20... Re5 21. Qd2 Rd8 $6 {Surprisingly, this is an error.} (21... Bh3 $1 $11) 22. Nd6 Rh5 $1 {Now we see the point of Nepo's play: he's going to play ...Ne5, with the huge threat of ...Nf3+. White's resources are sufficient for a big, possibly winning advantage, but finding all the right moves isn't easy (and Ding didn't manage to do it).} 23. Rb1 $2 (23. Qc2 $1 $16 {/+- was best, unpinning the knight and shoring up the c-pawn.} Qd7 (23... Ne5 $2 {is useless here, as Black has no follow-up after} 24. f4 $18) 24. Qb3 Rb8 (24... Bh3 25. Qxb7 Bxg2 26. Qxd7 Rxd7 (26... Bf3 $4 {would be the culmination of a brilliancy, were it not for} 27. Qxf7+ Kh7 28. Qxf3 $18) 27. Kxg2 $18) 25. Rfc1 Ne5 26. e4 $16 {/+-} Bh3 27. Qd1 $1 g6 28. Bh1 $1 $18) 23... Ne5 {Now Black is not worse.} 24. e4 $8 (24. Rxb7 $4 Nf3+ 25. Bxf3 (25. Kf1 Nxd2+ $19) 25... Bxf3 26. Rxc7 Rh1#) 24... b6 $1 {With a spectacular resource in mind.} 25. cxb6 axb6 $3 (25... Qxd6 $4 26. Qxd6 Rxd6 27. bxa7 $18) 26. Nb5 $1 (26. Rxc7 $4 Nf3+ $19) 26... Rxd2 (26... Qe7 {is also possible.} 27. Qe1 $1 Qf6 28. Qe3 $1 Bh3 29. Bxh3 Rxh3 30. Qf4 $1 $11) 27. Nxc7 Bh3 (27... Nd3 28. Rf1 $11 {/?}) 28. Bxh3 Rxh3 $11 {Black's ideas include ...Ng4 and ...h5-h4, but White has enough ideas of his own.} 29. Kg2 Rh5 30. Rb5 Rd1 {Wisely forcing a draw.} 31. Nd5 Rdh1 32. Ne7+ Kh7 33. Rxe5 R1h2+ (33... Rxe5 34. Kxh1 Rxe7 {is a different sort of dead draw.}) 34. Kg1 Rh1+ 35. Kg2 1/2-1/2 [Event "WCh Rapid TB 2023"] [Site "Astana KAZ"] [Date "2023.04.30"] [Round "2"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C84"] [WhiteElo "2795"] [BlackElo "2788"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2023.04.30"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,94,18,31,31,17,12,13,14,7,3,11,18,0,24,25,14,17,19,9,2,-6,-6,-6,0,0,9,9,6,8,29,34,54,52,52,74,61,56,54,36,54,80,100,50,39,19,19,50,50,50,50,50,50,50,50,33,34,30,37,43,37,39,38,39,51,-8,-4,-4,0,-8,28,24,24,24,24,25,26,16,10,0,51,51,51,51,64,41,48,25,54,12,35,29,35,12,37,27,35]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 {Varying from 8.a3 and 8.c3, seen earlier in the match.} Bd7 9. h3 O-O 10. Be3 Na5 (10... Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Nbd2 b4 13. c3 d5 14. cxb4 Bd6 15. b5 axb5 16. axb5 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Nb4 18. d4 exd4 19. Nxd4 Qe8 20. Qa4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Nc6 Nd5 23. Qxe4 Nxe3 24. Qxe3 Rf5 25. Nd4 Re5 26. Qb3 Rd5 27. Qc4 Qf7 28. b3 Qd7 29. Nf3 Rxb5 30. Ra1 Rd5 31. g3 h6 32. Qe4 Qe8 33. Kg2 Kf7 34. Ra2 Qd8 35. Re2 Qf6 36. h4 Qf5 37. Qc4 Rd3 38. Re3 Rxe3 39. fxe3 Qb1 40. e4 Qb2+ 41. Kh3 Qf2 42. e5 Qxf3 43. exd6 Qh1+ 44. Kg4 Qd1+ 45. Kh3 Qxd6 46. h5 c5 47. g4 Qd4 48. Qf1+ Ke7 49. Qf3 Qd5 50. Qc3 e5 51. Kg3 Kd6 52. Qc4 Qxc4 53. bxc4 e4 54. Kf4 e3 55. Kf3 Ke6 56. Ke2 Kf6 57. Kf3 Kg5 58. Kxe3 Kxg4 59. Ke4 Kxh5 60. Kd5 g5 61. Kxc5 g4 62. Kd4 g3 63. Ke3 Kg4 {0-1 Adams,M (2710)-Carlsen,M (2848) London Classic 4th 2012 (5)}) 11. Ba2 bxa4 12. Bd2 {Almost a novelty, but played once before in correspondence chess.} (12. Nc3 Rb8 13. Bb1 c5 14. Nxa4 Nc6 15. Bc1 c4 16. Nc3 cxd3 17. cxd3 Nb4 18. d4 Qc7 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bh4 Rfe8 21. Bg3 Bf8 22. Qd2 Rb7 23. Rc1 Qb8 24. Qd1 Bc6 25. Ra5 Qd8 26. Ra1 Qb8 27. Ra5 Qd8 28. Ra1 {½-½ Safarli,E (2694)-Tomashevsky,E (2722) EU-Cup 32nd Novi Sad 2016 (4.4)}) 12... Nc6 $146 (12... c5 {was played in the earlier game, and may be the better option.} 13. Bxa5 Qxa5 14. Nc3 Qb6 15. Qd2 Bb5 16. Rfb1 Qb7 17. Qe2 g6 18. Bc4 Kg7 19. Nd2 Qc6 20. Bd5 Nxd5 21. Nxd5 Qb7 22. b3 Bc6 23. bxa4 Qa7 24. Nxe7 Qxe7 25. Nc4 Rab8 26. Nb6 Rb7 27. a5 Rfb8 28. Rb3 f5 29. Rab1 h6 30. R3b2 Qg5 31. Qe1 Qd8 32. f3 Qg5 33. c4 f4 34. Qf2 Qd8 35. Kh1 g5 36. Kg1 h5 37. Kf1 Kh6 38. Ke1 Kg6 39. Qe2 Rg7 40. Kd2 Kh6 41. Rh1 Bd7 42. Kc3 Be6 43. Qe1 Kg6 44. Qa1 Rh7 45. Qa4 {½-½ Silin,V (2351)-Biedermann,T (2430) RCCA Emerald email ICCF email 2013}) 13. Nc3 Rb8 $6 (13... Nd4 $142 14. Bc4 Qe8 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Ne2 c5 {White has enough for the pawn, but probably not more, yet.}) 14. Nxa4 $14 {It looks like White simply has a better structure, for free.} Nd4 15. Bc4 $1 $14 {/? Here, importantly, Black cannot take on a4 and then b2 as his rook gets trapped.} c6 (15... Bxa4 $2 16. Rxa4 Nxf3+ 17. Qxf3 Rxb2 18. Bb3 $18) (15... Bb5 16. b3) 16. Nxd4 (16. Bxa6 $6 Ra8 17. Bc4 d5 18. Bb3 {Best.} Bd6 $44) (16. Nc3 $1 Rxb2 17. Nxd4 exd4 18. Ne2 Rb8 19. Rxa6 $16) 16... exd4 17. Bf4 $14 {This is very pleasant for White.} Be6 (17... Rb5 $5 18. b3 Rh5 {was suggested by Hess, with a funny echo of the last game.} (18... d5 {was a wild though not completely sound follow-up suggestion by Caruana.})) 18. Re1 (18. Qe2 $14 {Probably best. White will retreat the Bf4 and play f4. For this, it makes sense to keep the rook on f1.}) (18. b3 $14) (18. Bh2 {is an odd suggestion from the computer.} Bxc4 19. dxc4 c5 20. Re1 $14) 18... a5 (18... Ne8) 19. Qf3 (19. e5) (19. Bg3) 19... Rb7 (19... Nd7 20. b3 Bxc4 21. dxc4 Ne5 22. Qd1 Bf6 23. c5 $14) ({The unobvious} 19... Ne8 {may be best, heading for c7.}) 20. e5 $1 Nd5 $6 (20... Bd5 $1 21. Bxd5 Nxd5 22. exd6 Bxd6 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Re4 $14) 21. exd6 $2 (21. Bg3 $16 {/+- was much better, keeping the tension.} Nb4 {was critical, but it works out well for White:} 22. Bxe6 fxe6 23. Qg4 $16 {/+-} Nxc2 $2 24. exd6 $1 (24. Qxe6+ Rf7 25. exd6 Bf8 $16 {is less clear.}) 24... Bf6 (24... Bxd6 $2 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 26. Bxd6 $18 {is completely hopeless for Black.}) 25. Nc5 $18) 21... Bxd6 22. Bxd6 Qxd6 23. Qe4 Nf4 (23... Nf6 24. Qe5 Qxe5 25. Rxe5 Bd5 $1 26. b3 Nd7 $1 27. Re7 $14) (23... Nb4 $1 $11) 24. Qe5 (24. b3 $142 $14) 24... Qxe5 25. Rxe5 Bxc4 26. dxc4 Rb4 $1 $11 (26... d3 27. g3 Ng6 28. Rxa5 dxc2 29. Rc1 f6 30. Rxc2 Rfb8 31. f4 {Else ...Ne5.} Nf8 $11 {White's extra pawn is safe, but it's difficult to see any plausible way to make progress.}) 27. Rc5 (27. g3 Ne6 $11 {takes c5 away from White's rook.}) (27. b3 d3 28. cxd3 Rxb3 29. Rc5 Rxd3 30. Rxc6 g6 $11) 27... d3 28. cxd3 $8 (28. g3 $4 Rxa4 $1 29. Rxa4 d2 30. Ra1 Ne2+ $1 31. Kf1 Nc1 $19) 28... Nxd3 29. Rxc6 Ne5 $1 $11 {Simplest.} (29... Nxb2 $6 30. Nxb2 Rxb2 31. Rxa5 $14 {may be drawn with best play, but White will be able to torture Black for a while. With the short time control, anything is possible.}) 30. Rc7 Nxc4 31. Nc5 Nxb2 (31... Rxb2 $4 32. Nd7 $18 Rd8 33. Rxc4 Rxd7 34. Rc8+ $18) 32. Nd7 (32. Rxa5 $11) 32... Re8 33. Rxa5 Nd3 {Threatening ...Rb1+ and ...Nxf2.} 34. Rg5 {With little tricks of his own. Even in "dead" positions the players find cute tactics.} Rf4 (34... Kh8 35. Ne5 $1 {wins a pawn. The ending is still drawn, but Nepo could play this out if he's so inclined.} Nxe5 36. Rxe5 Rbb8 37. Rxe8+ Rxe8 38. Rxf7 {and so on.}) 35. f3 h6 36. Rd5 Nb4 37. Rd6 Rf5 38. Rb7 Rd5 39. Rdb6 Rd8 40. Nf6+ (40. Nb8 Nc2 41. Nc6 {almost wins, but Black can move the Rd5 before the fork happens.} Rd1+ 42. Kh2 R8d2 $11) 40... gxf6 41. Rxb4 Rd4 42. Rxd4 Rxd4 43. Kh2 Kg7 44. Rb2 Rd5 45. Ra2 Rd4 46. Rb2 Rd5 47. Ra2 Rd4 1/2-1/2 [Event "WCh Rapid TB 2023"] [Site "Astana KAZ"] [Date "2023.04.30"] [Round "3"] [White "Ding Liren"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2788"] [BlackElo "2795"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2023.04.30"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,28,22,17,18,-15,-15,-13,16,16,9,-4,9,0,-3,-12,18,18,18,17,31,31,36,36,36,36,47,47,47,47,47]} 1. Nf3 {For the first time in the match.} d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O {Now 6.d4 transposes to the Catalan, which has been Ding's favorite opening with White - except in this match.} 6. b3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bb2 Nc6 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Nxd4 {Both recaptures are common, but it looks like 11.Qxd4 is the more ppular move at the moment. White has also scored well with both moves.} 11. Qxd4 Bf6 12. Qd2 Nf4 $1 {This has been played in several super-GM games, so it was surprising that Ding started to think here.} (12... Nc3 $2 {is funny but better for White after} 13. Qc2 $1 $16) 13. gxf4 (13. Bxf6 {has gone 2-0 at the sub-professional level, because both players bit with 13...Qxf6 14.gxf4 Qxa1. Black should instead play} Qxd2 $146 14. Nxd2 Nxe2+ 15. Kh1 gxf6 $11 {, when White has enough for the pawn but not more.}) 13... Qxd2 14. Nxd2 Bxb2 15. Rad1 (15. Rab1 Bf6 16. Rbc1 Rd8 17. Ne4 Be7 18. Rc7 Kf8 19. Rfc1 Rb8 20. e3 h6 21. Bf3 a5 22. Kg2 g5 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. h3 f5 25. Nc5 b6 26. Na4 Bd6 27. Rh7 Kg8 28. Ra7 Be5 29. Rc6 Rd6 30. Rxd6 Bxd6 31. Nc3 b5 32. Rxa5 b4 33. Nb5 Bc5 34. Nd4 Bxd4 35. exd4 Kf7 36. Ra7+ Kf6 37. Rc7 Ba6 38. d5 Bb7 39. d6 Bxf3+ 40. Kxf3 Rd8 41. Rb7 Rxd6 42. Rxb4 e5 43. a4 e4+ 44. Ke2 Ke5 45. a5 f4 46. Ra4 f3+ 47. Ke1 Rc6 48. a6 Rc1+ 49. Kd2 Rf1 {1-0 Kramnik,V (2792)-Mamedyarov,S (2808) Paris GCT rapid 2018 (3)}) 15... Bf6 {Almost a novelty, but a transposition to 15...Rb8 territory is possible.} (15... Rb8 16. Nc4 Bf6 17. Nd6 (17. Ne5 Rd8 18. e3 Kf8 19. Rxd8+ Bxd8 20. Rd1 Bf6 21. Rc1 Bxe5 22. fxe5 a5 23. Rc7 b6 24. Ra7 b5 25. Rxa5 Bd7 26. Ra7 Be8 27. b4 Rc8 28. Bf3 Rc2 29. Ra6 Ke7 30. a3 h6 31. Kg2 Rc3 32. Kg3 Rc2 33. Ra7+ Kf8 34. Be4 Rc3 35. h4 Rc4 36. Bd3 Rc3 37. Be2 Rc2 38. Bf3 Rc3 39. Ra5 Rc2 40. Be4 Rc3 41. Bg2 Rc1 42. Bf3 Rc2 43. Bg4 Rd2 44. Bh3 Rd1 45. Bg2 Rc1 46. Bf3 Rc2 {½-½ Artemiev,V (2716)-Duda,J (2753) Pepe Cuenca Invitational chess24.com INT 2020 (2.13)}) 17... b6 18. Be4 Rd8 19. Nxc8 Rbxc8 20. Rxd8+ Bxd8 21. Rd1 Bf6 22. Rd7 a5 23. e3 g6 24. Rb7 Bd8 25. Bd3 Kf8 26. Bc4 a4 27. Kg2 axb3 28. axb3 {½-½ Nakamura,H (2768)-So,W (2766) Airthings Masters Div 1 W Chess.com INT rapid 2023 (2.2)}) 16. Nc4 $146 {A novelty, but after 16...Rb8 we're back to the games given above. By the way, while it's not a Catalan, Ding has at least achieved a Catalan-like position.} Rb8 {Back to theory, though both players were thinking enough to suggest that they may not have remembered all the details.} 17. Ne5 {following Artemiev-Duda rather than the 17.Nd6 of Nakamura-So.} Rd8 18. Rxd8+ $146 (18. e3 {was Artemiev-Duda.}) 18... Bxd8 19. Rd1 Be7 (19... Bc7 $142 20. e3 g6 21. Nd7 Bxd7 22. Rxd7 Bb6 23. Bxb7 Rd8 $11 {is a smarter version of the ending in the game - with the rooks off, White has no real winning chances.}) 20. Nd7 Bxd7 $8 (20... Ra8 $2 21. a4 $16 {On the way to a6. This is trouble.}) 21. Rxd7 Kf8 22. Bxb7 Rd8 (22... Ke8 $4 23. Bc6 Rc8 24. Ba4 $18) 23. Rc7 a5 $1 {is equal according to the computer, but humans will happily play on with White, forever - especially with a win bringing Ding to the verge of the world championship title.} 24. Rc4 {With the idea of Ra4 followed by a3 and b4.} Bb4 $1 25. Rc2 {Essentially a draw offer.} Rd2 26. Rxd2 Bxd2 27. e3 Bb4 28. Kf1 Ke7 29. Ke2 Kd6 30. Kd3 Be1 {Checking to see if Ding is willing to make an immediate draw.} 31. Ke2 {The answer is yes.} Bb4 32. Kd3 Be1 33. Ke2 1/2-1/2 [Event "WCh Rapid TB 2023"] [Site "Astana KAZ"] [Date "2023.04.30"] [Round "4"] [White "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C84"] [WhiteElo "2795"] [BlackElo "2788"] [Annotator "Monokroussos,Dennis"] [PlyCount "136"] [EventDate "2023.04.30"] [EventType "rapid"] {[%evp 0,136,23,17,10,6,31,17,25,-10,3,9,21,3,39,18,27,7,18,4,16,-6,-6,-6,-6,0,-10,-19,0,0,31,23,9,17,34,30,30,20,3,10,10,-10,-1,39,45,26,32,0,12,7,8,1,24,3,28,18,24,29,40,-7,-4,10,52,39,46,52,57,62,55,57,51,0,0,4,66,38,34,0,10,-3,0,13,0,0,0,-36,-20,-64,0,-1,0,0,0,0,0,-107,-122,-163,-166,-259,-191,-182,-216,-203,-205,-287,-274,-286,-189,-193,-155,-155,-155,-155,-147,-164,-92,-111,-47,-236,-235,-237,-281,-270,-220,-277,-264,-896,-339,-694,-545,-682,-579,-956,-965,-965,-1016,-2643,-29982]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 ({Come back here after White's 16th move in the main game.} 5... b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Rb8 8. Nxe5 Nxe5 9. d4 Bxd4 10. Qxd4 d6 11. Bf4 c5 12. Qe3 c4 13. Ba2 Nh5 14. Nc3 Nxf4 15. Qxf4 O-O 16. axb5 axb5 17. Rad1 Be6 18. Bb1 {Nice "bishop", right? Hess mentioned this game during the live commentary, and it's an apt example.} b4 19. Ne2 Qb6 20. h3 c3 21. bxc3 Bc4 22. Rfe1 Bxe2 23. Rxe2 bxc3 24. Ree1 Ra8 25. Qg3 Rfc8 26. Kh2 Ra3 27. Re3 Qb4 28. f4 Nc4 29. Qg4 Rb8 30. Rg3 g6 31. f5 Nd2 32. Qf4 Qd4 33. fxg6 hxg6 34. Rg5 Ra1 35. Rd5 Qxe4 36. Qxd6 Raxb1 37. Rd4 Qe6 38. Qc7 Qb6 {0-1 Durarbayli,V (2625)-Vidit,S (2726) FIDE World Cup Krasnaya Polyana 2021 (5.2)}) 6. d3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a4 Bd7 9. h3 O-O 10. Be3 Na5 11. Ba2 bxa4 12. Nc3 ({Varying from} 12. Bd2 {, played in the second rapid game.}) 12... Rb8 13. Bb1 {Aesthetically horrible, but the right move, and it has been played before. Ding started thinking.} Qe8 $1 $146 (13... c5 14. Nxa4 Nc6 (14... Qc7 15. Nd2 (15. Bd2 Nc6 16. Ba2 Nd4 17. Nxd4 cxd4 18. Bc4 Nxe4 19. Ba5 Qxa5 20. dxe4 Qc7 21. b3 Bb5 22. Nb2 Kh8 23. Qe2 Qd7 24. Bxb5 axb5 25. Nd3 f5 26. Nb4 fxe4 27. Qxe4 Qb7 28. f3 Bg5 29. Nd5 Rbc8 30. Kh1 Bh6 31. b4 Rc4 32. Ra5 Qc6 33. Rfa1 Rxc2 34. Ra6 Rc1+ 35. Kh2 Bf4+ 36. Nxf4 Qxe4 37. fxe4 Rxa1 38. Rxa1 exf4 39. Rd1 Re8 40. Rxd4 Kg8 41. Kg1 {½-½ Sutovsky,E (2673)-Wagner,D (2487) EU-ch 14th Legnica 2013 (6)}) 15... d5 16. Bg5 d4 17. c3 Bb5 18. Qf3 h6 19. Bh4 Rfc8 20. Rc1 Qd8 21. Bg3 Bd6 22. Qd1 g6 23. Bh4 Kg7 24. Qf3 Be7 25. Bg3 Nd7 26. Ba2 Qe8 27. Bd5 Bg5 28. Rd1 Nf6 29. Nxc5 dxc3 30. bxc3 Rxc5 31. Rxa5 Rxc3 32. Bc4 Bxd2 33. Rxd2 Nd7 34. Bxb5 axb5 35. Ra7 Rb6 36. Kh2 Nf6 37. Qe3 Rd6 38. f4 Nh5 39. fxe5 Nxg3 40. Qxg3 Rd7 41. Ra6 Re7 42. Rf2 Rc6 43. Rxc6 Qxc6 44. Qf4 Qd7 45. Qf6+ Kg8 46. Ra2 Re8 47. Qd6 Qc8 48. d4 Re6 49. Qd5 Rb6 50. Ra7 Qe8 51. Qc5 Qd8 52. d5 b4 53. Rc7 Rb5 54. Qxb5 Qxc7 55. d6 Qc1 56. Qxb4 Qf4+ 57. Kg1 Qxe5 58. d7 Qa1+ 59. Kh2 Qe5+ 60. g3 Qc7 61. Qd2 Qd8 62. e5 h5 63. h4 Kg7 64. Qd6 Kh7 65. Qd5 Kg7 66. Kg2 Kg8 67. Kf3 Kg7 68. Ke4 {1-0 Guseinov,G (2634)-Matlakov,M (2689) FIDE World Cup Baku 2015 (1.1)}) 15. Bc1 c4 16. Nc3 cxd3 17. cxd3 Nb4 18. d4 Qc7 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bh4 Rfe8 21. Bg3 Bf8 22. Qd2 Rb7 23. Rc1 Qb8 24. Qd1 Bc6 25. Ra5 Qd8 26. Ra1 Qb8 27. Ra5 Qd8 28. Ra1 {½-½ Safarli,E (2694)-Tomashevsky,E (2722) EU-Cup 32nd Novi Sad 2016 (4.4)}) (13... Rxb2 14. Nxa4 Rb8 15. Nc5 $1 $11 {/?}) 14. b3 c5 {White's play down the a-file is useful, but if White can't achieve d4 Black will be fine on the queenside (and he can still look for an eventual ...f5).} (14... Kh8 $11 {is an interesting engine suggestion, intending ...Ng8 followed by ...f5.}) 15. Nxa4 Nc6 16. Nc3 $6 $15 {Not good. The knight is not well-placed here, and in the meantime, what about the Bb1? For a sample Bb1 horror story, see the game given above, in the note to Black's 5th move.} (16. c3 {followed by Bc2 and/or d4 was better.}) 16... a5 17. Nd2 Be6 18. Nc4 d5 $6 (18... Qd7 $15 19. Nxa5 $2 Ra8 $17 {/-+}) 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. Bd2 $2 {A serious error - Nepo is really struggling in this game.} (20. Nxd5 Bxd5 21. c3 f5 22. f3 Rf6 $1 23. Ra2 $11) 20... Nxc3 $2 (20... Nf4 $1 $17 {is great for Black.}) 21. Bxc3 Bxc4 22. bxc4 Bd8 $11 (22... Bd6 $142 $15) 23. Bd2 $1 {The right move - White can't play c3 soon enough.} Bc7 24. c3 f5 {The position is dangerous for White, as Black's kingside attack can run on auto-pilot. White is objectively okay, but it's easier to attack then defend, especially with a (relatively) short time control.} 25. Re1 (25. Bc2 $142) (25. Qe2 $142) 25... Rd8 (25... Qg6 $142) 26. Ra2 (26. Bg5 Rd7 27. Qf3 Qg6 28. Bc1 e4 29. dxe4 Ne5 30. Qg3 Qxg3 31. fxg3 Nd3 32. Bxd3 Rxd3 33. Bf4 Bxf4 34. gxf4 Rxc3 $11) 26... Qg6 27. Qe2 Qd6 28. g3 Rde8 (28... f4 29. Qe4 $11) 29. Qf3 $1 {Provoking Black's next move, which isn't best.} e4 $6 {This opens lines for Black's pieces, yes, but also for White's - including the stump on b1.} (29... Ne7 $142 $11) 30. dxe4 Ne5 31. Qg2 Nd3 {The best move, except for one improbably improvement. Let's call it the best "normal" move.} (31... Kh8 $1 {is an ingenious idea, recommended by Stockfish and - independently! - by GM Hess to avoid lines where White is saved by Qd5+.} 32. f4 Nxc4 33. e5 Qb6 $1 34. h4 Qb3 $14) 32. Bxd3 Qxd3 33. exf5 Rxe1+ (33... Qxf5 34. Qd5+ $16 {/+-}) 34. Bxe1 Qxc4 35. Ra1 $6 {It's natural, covering the back rank and supervising the a-pawn, but there was better.} (35. Rd2 $1 Be5 36. Qc6 $16) 35... Rxf5 $11 {The position is equal, but oddly enough White now has to worry a little about a second bad bishop.} 36. Bd2 {Solving one of his two main problems. Black still has his outside passed pawn, but he has the weaker king. And so...} h6 {The position is not as quiet as it may look.} 37. Qc6 Rf7 (37... Be5 {This invites (but does not require) an exciting tactical flurry.} 38. Rxa5 Bxg3 39. Ra8+ $8 Kh7 40. Rh8+ $8 Kxh8 41. Qc8+ Qg8 $8 42. Qxf5 $11) 38. Re1 Kh7 $1 {Ding was short on time, with about three and a half minutes to Nepo's nine minutes or so, but he handled the tension very well.} 39. Be3 (39. Qe4+ Qxe4 40. Rxe4 {is another safe, drawish option.}) 39... Be5 {Risky.} 40. Qe8 (40. Bxh6 Bxg3 41. fxg3 gxh6 42. Qe4+ Qxe4 43. Rxe4 Rf3 44. Kg2 Rxc3 45. Ra4 $11) (40. Bxc5 {looks awkward, stepping into a pin, but there doesn't seem to be any way to take advantage of it as White threatens Rxe5 and has Qe4+ on deck as well.} Rf6 (40... Bxg3 41. Qe4+ $11) 41. Qe4+ Qxe4 42. Rxe4 Bxc3 $11) 40... Bxc3 41. Rc1 Rf6 $8 (41... Rf5 $2 42. Qd7 $1 Rf6 43. Qd1 {and Black has no good answer to Qc2+.}) 42. Qd7 $1 {Threatening Qd1-c2+.} Qe2 $3 {The only move not to lose.} 43. Qd5 {With 4:24 left.} (43. Rxc3 $4 Qe1+ $19 {is the point.}) (43. Bxc5 $11) 43... Bb4 $1 {With 1:33 left. At the post-game presser Ding said that it was at this point he started to get a little optimistic about playing for a win.} 44. Qe4+ {Now White is looking to bail out and make a draw, but he's in for a surprise.} (44. Bxc5 Be1 {is the point of Ding's last move. White is hanging on after} 45. Qg2 {, but the position is unpleasant.}) 44... Kg8 45. Qd5+ Kh7 46. Qe4+ Rg6 $1 {This bold decision helped Ding become the world champion. Self-pinning is risky, but he is a pawn up with two outside passers. There is danger for both players, and while Nepo still had more time than Ding both sides were running low on the clock.} 47. Qf5 $6 (47. h4 {was better, forcing Black to contend with h5 ideas.} h5 {is one way to take care of it, but at the cost of the pawn's being a little loose.} 48. Rc2 Qd1+ 49. Kg2 Qd6 (49... Qg4 50. Qxg4 (50. Qd3 $11) 50... hxg4 51. Bxc5 Rc6 52. Bxb4 Rxc2 53. Bxa5 $11) 50. Qf5 Qc6+ 51. Kh2 c4 52. Qxh5+ Kg8 53. Rxc4 $1 Qxc4 54. Qxg6 $11 {Black has his a-pawn, while White's counterplay with h5-6 will come in time.}) 47... c4 $1 {Now White is getting in trouble. This saves the pawn, but there's the further idea of ...Qd3 to break the pin.} 48. h4 $2 (48. Qf4 $8 c3 49. Qf5 $8 {was necessary, eliminating the ...Qd3 idea we'll see in the game.}) 48... Qd3 $19 {Now White is lost, but in the time scramble he will have another chance to save the game.} 49. Qf3 Rf6 $6 (49... Bd2 {was better, more or less winning immediately.}) 50. Qg4 c3 51. Rd1 Qg6 52. Qc8 {Praying that a subsequent Rd8 will produce a miracle.} Rc6 53. Qa8 Rd6 $2 {An overreaction to White's Rd8 idea. Now White can resist, though Black's position remains (barely) winning.} (53... c2 54. Rd8 c1=Q+ 55. Bxc1 Rxc1+ 56. Kh2 Qc6 57. Rh8+ Kg6 $19 {would have finished the job. White must trade queens, after which there are no chances to save the ending.}) 54. Rxd6 Qxd6 $6 {Another inaccuracy. Now Black may not be winning, though the position is still obviously in his favor.} (54... Bxd6 $17 {/-+}) 55. Qe4+ Qg6 56. Qc4 $17 Qb1+ $2 (56... Qf5 {followed by ...h5 was best, tidying up the kingside before trying to make progress on the queenside. Black's problem - and White's too - is that he has less time to move than I have to type this comment.}) 57. Kh2 $15 a4 (57... Qf5 $142) 58. Bd4 $1 $11 a3 {The position is equal, but keeping it that way is almost impossible for White with so little time on the clock.} (58... c2 $4 59. Qf7 $18 {would make Ian Nepomniachtchi the 17th World Chess Champion.}) 59. Qc7 $2 (59. Bxg7 $3 $11 {There's a perpetual if Black takes the bishop, and if he doesn't the bishop will retreat and create mating threats.}) (59. h5 $1 $11 {also draws, preventing ...Qg6.}) (59. Qd5 $11 {may also draw. The threat is Qe5.}) 59... Qg6 $19 {Black is winning again.} 60. Qc4 c2 61. Be3 Bd6 $2 {Black is still winning after this, but it gives White one last chance to resist.} (61... Bf8 $19) 62. Kg2 $2 (62. Qd5 $1 Be7 63. Bc1 {leaves Black without an obvious way to make progress.}) 62... h5 $1 63. Kf1 Be5 (63... a2 $1 64. Qxa2 Qe4 {is fastest, threatening mate in two (...Qh1+, ...Qd1#). White can't play 65.Ke2 because Black promotes, while} 65. Kg1 $1 {is busted by the nice shot} Bc5 $1 $19) 64. g4 (64. Kg2 $142) 64... hxg4 65. h5 Qf5 66. Qd5 g3 67. f4 a2 68. Qxa2 Bxf4 {The c-pawn will promote (unless White plays Qxc2), so Nepo gives up as Ding is promoted to World Chess Champion. Congratulations to Ding Liren!} 0-1