World Chess Championship: Ding Liren and “Nepo” surrender blow for blow

We would have to go back to the 1972 “match of the century” between Fischer and Spassky to remember such a fight. After 6 games played at the 2023 World Chess Championship, the Chinese Ding Liren (World No. 3) and the Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi (who plays under the Fide banner) have already scored two victories each. A rarity at the highest level since the percentage of draw games in classic cadence is around 66%.

There are three plausible explanations for this outburst of aggression. The first is the withdrawal of the very (too) dominating Magnus Carlsen, whose absence has somehow freed up his two runners-up. The second is the consequence of the uncompromising style of the two great masters. Both like dynamic positions and fear more than anything having to find themselves cornered in defence. The third reason for this attacking festival is the importance of this world championship for the two adversaries. First there is the very motivating scholarship of some 2 million dollars and the automatic sponsorship that results from it. Finally, there is the weight of their respective nations. If Ding Liren wins, he would become China's first world champion. If it is "Nepo", - who we know does not support Putin's policy -, he would incarnate in the eyes of a good part of the anti-warmongering Russians, a symbol of resistance.

From a purely chess point of view, this match also shows the new approach that one could qualify as anti-computers chosen by Ding and Nepo. Fearing more than anything lab variants over-analyzed by the best software, the two grand masters have set their sights on soft lines like the London system or (apparently) slower variants of the famous Spanish defense in which he moves the conflict in the mid-game phase.

The 5th part quickly analyzed below shows a wonderful example of this “no haste” offensive strategy, dare we write.

Ian Nepomniachtchi - Ding Liren, Astana 2023, Game 5, Closed Spanish Defense 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Fa4 Nf6 5.0–0 Be7 6.d3!?, high fashion at the highest level. White postpones problems in the middle game in order to avoid laboratory variants. 6... b5 7.Bb3 d6 8.c3 0–0 9.h3 Bb7 10.a4 Na5 11.Ba2 c5 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bxf6 Bxf6 14.axb5 axb5 15.Nbd2 Nc6 16.Bd5 Rxa1 17.Qxa1 Qd7 18.Re1 Ra8 19.Qd1 Bd8 20.Nf1 Ne7 21.Bxb7 Qxb7 22.Ne3 Bb6 23.h4 Qc6 24.h5 c4 25.d4 exd4 26.Nxd4 Qc5 27.Qg4 Qe5 28.Nf3 Qe6 29.Nf5 Nxf5 30 .exf5 Qf6 31.Qe4 Rb8 32.Re2 Bc5 33.g4 Qd8 34.Qd5 Kf8 35.Kf1 Rc8 36.Re4 Rb8 37.g5!! hxg5 38.Rg4!, It may seem surprising but poor Ding Liren can no longer save his position. See the board below...

38...Ra8 39.Nxg5 Ra1 40.Ke2 Qe7 41.Ne4 Qe8 42.Kf3 Qa8 43.Qxa8 Rxa8 44.f6! g6 45.hxg6 fxg6 46.Rxg6 Ra2 47.Kg4 Rxb2 48.Rh6! 1-0 if Re2 49.Ng5! the king is soon mate.

After losing the 5th game, Ding Liren still showed a fine spirit of resistance. Imitating the Russian's strategy, he chose to fight with the white pieces using the London system. This seemingly unpretentious beginning often turns out to be pernicious. He can deaden the vigilance of the adversary. This what will happen in the 6th part (quickly commented below). At the 30th move, only "Nepo" found himself practically bound hand and foot...

The duel will resume on Tuesday April 18 after a day of rest. Le Figaro Live will follow and comment live on this 7th part of the 2023 world championship from 1 p.m.

Ding Liren - Ian Nepomniachtchi, Astana 2023, Game 6, London System 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Bf4!?, the constituent move of the London System. This (seemingly) unpretentious pattern has seduced masters for 15 years now because it has the advantage of bringing flexible positions where several plans are possible 3...c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.Nbd2 cxd4 6.exd4 Bf5 7.c3 e6 8.Bb5 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.0–0 0–0 11.Re1 h6 12.Ne5 Ne7 13.a4 a6 14.Bf1 Nd7 15.Nxd7 Qxd7 16.a5!, Ding Liren lays down the queenside blacks. 16... Qc7 17.Qf3 Rfc8 18.Ra3 Bg6 19.Nb3 Nc6 20.Qg3 Qe7 21.h4 Re8 22.Nc5 e5 23.Rb3 Nxa5 24.Rxe5 Qf6 25.Ra3 Nc4 26.Bxc4 dxc4 27.h5 Bc2? 28.Nxb7 Qb6 29.Nd6! Rxe5 30.Qxe5 Qxb2 31.Ra5 Rh7 32.Rc5 Qc1 33.Kh2 f6 34.Qg3 a5 35.Nxc4 a4 36.Ne3 Bb1 37.Rc7 Rg8 38.Nd5 Rh8 39.Ra7 a3 40.Ne7 Rf8 41.d5 a2 42 .Qc7 Rh7 43.Ng6 Rg8 44.Qf7! 1-0, black resigns because the threat Qxg8! is almost unstoppable. For example if 44...Qxc3? 45.Qxg8! Rxg8 46.Ra8 Rh7 47.Rh8 checkmate. See diagram below...