Ding Liren strikes back and ties the score after showing his brilliant strategical skills

The World Chess Championships 2023 between Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi is currently the hottest topic in the chess world. Let’s see how Ding and Nepomniachtchi did after the first game that ended as a draw.

Game 2 – Ding‘s surprise that favored Nepomniachtchi

Ding as white shocked Nepomniachtchi right in the opening, where he played 4. h3, stood up, and walked away from the board. Little did he know – this surprise brought him a result he was not hoping for.

 Nepomniachtchi equalized very quickly and even got a better position. Ding could not find the best plan in the middle game and slowly transposed in a worse position, with significantly less time on his clock. Around this moment, you could notice Nepomniachtchi’s increase in confidence, which put Ding even in a less comfortable situation. Ding struggled at the end of the game and eventually resigned.

Game 3

After a rest day, both players looked fresh and happy to immerse in game 3. At this moment, it was very important for Ding not to lose after a devastating loss in a previous game. Ding showed more confidence, while both players followed the game played between Anish Giri and Ding Liren in 2022. Exchanges in the center brought both a solid and balanced position. The game was not particularly engaging as they went for a move repetition after 30 moves and 3 hours of play.

Game 4 – brilliant Ding and his amazing technique

Ding with the white pieces created in game 4 a very suitable position, resulting from the English opening – Two Knights system. He was in control of the center and well prepared until move 9…Nf4, where Giri, as a commentator, assumed that Nepomniachtchi mixed up his preparation. Ding slowly improved his position in strategical and positional maneuvering and “forced” Nepomniachtchi into playing some inaccuracies. Then there comes a blunder – 28…Nd4.

Nepomniachtchi decided not to cover and weaken his kingside by playing g5, but instead chose a not very visible blunder – Nd4, where Ding only spent 1 minute to capture the knight – Rxd4. This sacrifice reawakened White’s knight that finally found an amazing square on f5 (Nb3, Nxd4, g4, and Nf5). From this moment, Nepomniachtchi was only testing Ding’s technique. Ding had enough time to improve the position with no difficulties and had Nepomniachtchi resign on move 47, after nearly 4 hours of play.

The score is now 2:2, with 2 draws and 1 victory for each player. Tomorrow is a rest day, so both players can relax and enjoy their stay in Astana.

Keep watching the games with us and let us know who your favorite is!

Author

STELLA SÁŇKOVÁ