Ding Liren, like the reed in La Fontaine’s fable, bent without breaking. After nearly 7 hours of suffering where he used all his technique by showing exemplary composure, the Chinese grandmaster managed to cancel a tricky rounds final against the Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi in the 14th and last classic part of the world championship. Chess 2023 in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
The score is now 7-7 and the two champions will have to decide tomorrow, Sunday April 20, in a tie-break played in quick games and then finally in blitz, if the tie persists. The rate will first be 25 minutes per player (plus an addition of 10 seconds per move) then after 4 games blitzes of 5 minutes per player (plus an addition of 3 seconds per move).
Ding Liren – Ian Nepomniachtchi, Part 14, Nimzo-Indian Defense
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0–0 5.Bd2 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.Nf3 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Qc2 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nbd7 11.Rd1 Be7 12.Ng5 h6 13.h4 Qc7 14.Be2 Rd8 15.Rc1 Nf8 16.Nge4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Qxc2 18.Rxc2 Bd7 19.Bb4 Bxb4 20.axb4 Bc6 21.Nc5 Bxg2 22.Rg1 Bd5 23.e4 Bc6 24.b5 Be8 25. Nxb7 Rd4 26.Rc4 Rd7 27.Nc5 Rc7 28.Rc3 Tac8 29.b4 Nd7 30.Rcg3 Nxc5 31.Rxg7 Kf8 32.bxc5 Rxc5 33.Bd3 Rd8 34.Ke2 Rc3 35.Rg8 Re7 36.R1g3 e5?, again a the Russian misses an opportunity to take a big advantage. He was to play 36…Rb3!…see diagram below…
37.TH8 TD6 38.B6 TXB6 39.TXE8 RXE8 40.FB5 TXB5 41.TXC3 RD7 42.TF3 RE7 43.TC3 A5 44.TC7 RF6 45.TC6 RG7 46.TA6 TB2 47.RF3 TA2 48.RG3 H5 49. Ra8 Ta1 50.Rg2 a4 51.Ra5 f6 52.Rf3 a3 53.Ra6 Rf7 54.Re3 Re8 55.Re2 Re7 56.Rf3… and drawn after about forty moves during which Nepo tried in vain to win this theoretically equal endgame .
