9/25/2017 – Game two of the World Cup 2017 Finals was a tense affair. Ding Liren's opening idea was swiftly neutralized by Aronian with black. It seemed as if the players would agree to a draw around move 30 mark, and call it a day. But Ding went wrong and the moment he did that Aronian started turning the screws on the position. Before you knew it, White had landed in a completely lost position. It was only through a miracle that Ding escaped. Detailed analysis of the game, photos, videos and more from Hotel Biltmore in Tbilisi.
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We were two hours into the game. Things were looking pretty boring. The queens had been exchanged, and rooks were also off. A few minor pieces and four pawns for each side remained on the board. It seemed as if the players would shake their hands, go back to the room and start preparing for the third game. Everyone in the press room was also looking forward to a short day of work. But then Ding Liren picked up his c1 knight (check above diagram) and put it on b3.
Position after 29 moves. White to play.
Levon Aronian's eyes lit up a bit. Here was his chance to claim at least a theoretical edge. He played the move 30...b6! Ding Liren had no choice but to take the knight on c5 and after bxa5 we reached the following position:
From dead equality, Black could boast about his passed a-pawn which was far away from white's king and not so easy to stop.
Aronian rolled up his sleeves. He carefully adjusted himself on his chair and with some light hand exercises he signalled — not only to his opponent, but also to the world — that we are in for a long fight! True, the position was still very much in the realms of a draw, but the tide was slightly shifting in Armenian's favour.
Who do you think will win?
Levon Aronian
161
63%
Ding Liren
94
36%
When you sit in the press room (or at home) with engines switched on, the position looks deceptively easy. But just look at the position without any silicon assistance and you will realize that for the defender it is not at all clear what is to be done. Aronian made one strong move after another and constantly posed his Chinese opponent with problems to solve. Every move had to played accurately by Ding in order to avoid defeat. The 24-year-old grandmaster did fare well until a certain point, but then went wrong. Mistakes in chess do not happen in vacuum. It was this incessant pressure from Aronian that made Ding go wrong. The biggest opportunity for Levon came on move 53.
Levon had two choices in front of him - grab the pawn on f3 or move the knight to b3.
With time running low on the clock, such decisions are extremely difficult to make. However, Aronian could have gained the full point by playing Nb3+. You can find the detailed analysis in the game annotations below. Levon, however, couldn't calculate the consequences of Nb3+ accurately and hence went for the safer route with Nxf3. The position is still be winning, just not as clear as Nb3+. For Ding things were not at all bright. Not only had he lost a pawn, but he was down to his last few seconds. This is when the Chinese player made the decision of playing fast. And it worked. Within five moves, it was Ding who had three minutes as compared to Aronian playing in seconds. Somehow the pressure of defending a worse position for Ding had been converted into the pressure of winning a won game for Aronian.
Miraculously Ding Liren survived and he is yet to be beaten in the World Cup 2017 in Tbilisi.
Game analysis: Ding Liren vs Levon Aronian
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1.d40 Ding Liren's first move comes as no surprise.Nf672.c40e653.g30 The question is why he continues with g3. Is he afraid of Levon Aronian's Queen's Indian? It's true Levon used to play it quite a bit until 2008, but since then he hasn't really tried it out.d544.Bg20Be7235.Nf300-046.0-010 No b3 ideas this time around. Ding Liren sticks to the normal Catalan.dxc447.Qc210a658.a408.Qxc4There was a time when White players would go for this move. But these days it is all about 8.a4.8...Bd769.Qxc40Bc6910.Bg528 Ding Liren sticks to the move that gave him success against Wang Hao. But Aronian's experience in this line is immense. He has played 20 games in this position - 15 with white and 5 with black.a5611.Nc353Na6512.e3533 This is relatively rare. In fact only 13 games have been played with this move. Ding Liren took nine minutes to play this. After the game he said that he wanted to play Rfd1 but was afraid of Bd5. With e3 he makes a square for his queen on e2.12.Bxf6Bxf613.e4is the main line.12.Rfd1Bd5This is the move that Ding was afraid of13.Nxd5exd514.Qb5Nb4=12.Rac1is also possible.12...Nb47113.Rfd138Nd7N 355 Although Levon took six minutes to make his move, it's quite possible that he had prepared it. Earlier black players would go for the move h6 and then White would take on f6. Levon feels that his knight is much more important than the bishop. And hence, plays Nd7.13...h614.Bxf6Bxf615.Rac1Bxf316.Bxf3c6is a normal position where White usually has a small edge.14.Bxe7272Qxe7315.e448Rfd83516.Rd2?!434 Later Ding began to regret this move. Not only does he lose co-ordination between his rooks, the piece is not ideally placed on d2.16.Qe2!?Nb617.b3Be818.Rac1c519.Qe3is a much superior version to what happened in the game.16...Nb625917.Qe2699Be8!159 If it were not for this move, White would be clearly better. Black retreats his bishop and prepares the move c5.18.b345c5!145 Levon had prepared the opening well and now breaks the centre with c5. White has to be careful, not to land into a worse position.19.Qe3159Rac8!?236 Black is all ready to play ...c4. His idea is to meet..c4 d5 with Qc5!19...c4 was possible, but Ding had prepared20.d5This might be enough to scare Black, but I think he is fine afterQc7!21.dxe6Rxd222.Qxd2cxb320.Rc151320.Rad1?!c4!21.d5Qc520.dxc5Rxd221.Qxd2Rd8!22.Qe2Nd722...Qxc523.c6Nxc620...c4107321.d545Qc5!1522.Qxc598Rxc519323.dxe61Rxd216423...Rdc8was an interesting move.24.Nb5fxe6∞24.Nxd225fxe6725.Bf1383cxb36826.Nxb33Rc76227.Nxa587Nxa45928.Na211Rxc18029.Nxc12Nc547 It seemed as if the players were ready to call it a day. Handshakes were expected, but Ding Liren's next move gives his opponent a glimmer of hope to get a small advantage.30.Ncb3?!16130.f3=should give White a fine position.30...b6!25631.Nxc59bxa55 At this point Ding put in a lot of thought. Out of nowhere he was suddenly in a position where he might have to suffer. The a-pawn is very strong and he has to find accurate ways to not let it queen.32.Bc4111932.Nxe6a433.Nd4a334.Nb3Bf735.Na1Kf832...a41233.Kf116a34034.Nb334.Ke2a235.Nb3Nc236.Kd2Ba4!37.Bxe6+Kf838.Na1!Only move to keep the game going.Nxa139.Bxa2Nc2Black has decent chances to win this position.34...Ba482535.Nc16135.Na1Nc236.Bxe6+Kf837.Nxc2Bxc238.Ba238.f3Bb138...Bxe4-+ The bishop goes to f7 and it is all over.35...Bc219435...Kf736.Ke2Bc237.f3Bb138.Kd2a239.Nb336.Ke221Bxe413837.Bxe6+5Kf8638.Kd270Ke76238...Nd5!?This move stops from the white king ever approaching the pawn on a3. This was the best move putting maximum pressure on White.39.Bb3792Nd532740.Ne20Kd65441.f3288Bb15441...Bxf342.Nd4Bg443.Nb5+Kc544.Nxa3=42.Kc14442.Nd4a243.Bxa2Bxa244.Nf5+-+Winning the g7 pawn. But the knight would be precariously placed and Black wins the game with a few accurate moves.42...Bg630443.Nd4535Nc794044.Ne2?A key mistake by Ding.44.Bc2!would have ensured the draw.Kc544...Bf745.Bxh7=45.Bxg6hxg646.Nc2Nb547.Kb1=44...Kc550544...Nb5!was stronger.45.Nf433Bf529546.g457Bd729147.g5?!23347.Nh5g648.Nf6Bc649.f4=47...Nb525348.Bg895Bf5438 49.Nh566g62550.Ng349050.Nf6Nd4-+50...Bd31051.Bxh733Nd413652.Ne4+8Kb42953.Bg83 The critical position of the game. Aronian could have scored a win if instead of taking the pawn on f3, he would have gone for Nb3+.Nxf312953...Nb3+54.Bxb3Kxb355.Nd2+This looks like the only move.55.Nc5+Kc356.Nxd356.Na4+Kb457.Nb6Kb3-+56...a2!-+55...Kb456.h4!The best try to trick Black.56.Ne4Kc457.Nd2+Kd4!The king comes over to the other side and takes all the white pawns.57...Kc3??58.Nb1+!Kb358...Bxb159.Kxb1Kd360.Ka2Ke361.h4Kxf362.h5+-59.Nxa3Kxa360.Kd2Bb160...Bf561.h4Kb462.Ke3Kc563.Kf4Bb163...Kd564.h5=64.Kg4=61.Kc3‼Ka462.h4Kb563.Kd4Kc664.Ke5Kd765.Kf6Ke866.Kg7Bf567.Kh6=58.h458.h3Ke359.h4a260.Nb3Bc461.Na1Kxf362.Kb2Kg463.Nc2Kxh464.Ne3Be6-+58...Ke359.Nb3Bf5!59...Kxf360.Kd2Bc461.Nd4+61.Na1Kg462.Kc3Bf763.Nc2a264.Kb2Kxh465.Nd4Kxg5-+61...Kg462.Kc3Bd563.Nc2a264.Kb2Kxh465.Nb4Be666.Nc6Kxg567.Ne7=60.Nc5Kxf3-+56...Kc5!56...Kc3This would be a blunder as shown in the above variation.57.Ne4+Kd458.h558.Nd2Ke3converts58...gxh559.g6h460.g7Bc461.Nf6Ke562.g8QBxg863.Nxg8Kf463...h3??64.Nh6Kf465.Ng4Kxf366.Nh2+Kg267.Ng4=64.Nh6Kxf3-+and wins54.Nf627Kc56355.h37855.Ba255...Kd4Levon tries to be too subtle. Simple win could have been achieved with55...Nxg5!56.h4Ne457.Nxe4+Bxe458.Bf7Kd459.h5g560.Be6Bh7-+56.Ba256.h4!?56...Nxg58957.h4204Ne41358.Nd74Nc517258...Nc3!59.Bf7Ne2+59...a260.Kb2=60.Kd2Ng161.Ne5Be462.Ng4Nf3+63.Kc1Nxh4-+59.Nf64Ke5?!93 The last mistake. Now the game has entered the phase of 30 seconds per move and it is not easy to play such an endgame with high accuracy.59...Ne4Repeating with a chance of improving was a better possibility.60.Nd510Bf53861.Ne311Nd3+2562.Kc2!29 White has managed to co-ordinate his forces and is able to make a draw from here.Nb4+3663.Kb32Nxa21164.Kxa24Ke43165.Nc254Kf42066.Nd435Kg4067.Kxa34Kxh43468.Kb23Kg31869.Kc333Kf21770.Kd277Bg46371.Nc245g51272.Ne34Be21973.Nd524Bg44674.Nf639Bf51175.Kd1½–½
Liren was very tired after the game. However, he agreed for a short interview. Thinking about chess variations and moves is refreshing for him. As we discussed more and more, his energy levels seemed to be getting better and better. Here's a small excerpt from the conversation:
SS: So Ding how tired are you right now?
DL: Yes, I am very tired, but maybe my move Kc1 is not so good!
His mind was thinking just about the moves and variations that he had played and during the interview he was trying to find some improvement in his play. I think this is one of the main reasons why Ding Liren is doing so well. The guy simply enjoys chess!
Ding Liren discusses his game in detail and tells us why he was not able to even touch his banana during the game!
Game two in pictures
After the first game ended in a draw, Ding and Aronian were back at the Biltmore Hotel at 3 p.m. on September for game two | Photo: Amruta Mokal
It was the Catalan Opening with a popular modern day tabiya reached after ten moves | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Aronian played a new and powerful idea with ...Nd7!? Essentially he was telling Ding that his knight was superior to his bishop. | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Nf6-d7 was the novelty of the game
With the knight on f6, Black ususally plays h6 and then White chops off the knight and we get a normal position. Aronian feels that his knight is superior and decides to transfer it to b6. Later he just moved his rooks to d8 and c8, put his bishop on e8 and broke in the centre with c5. Very logical and strong opening play.
This man sitting in the spectators makes sure he doesn't miss a single move. His eyesight is weak, but he has made the necessary arrangements! | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Pages and pages of notes! The finals is an excellent situation to follow the games carefully LIVE and match your thinking against the best players in the world. | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Former World Champion from 1978 to 1991 Maia Chiburanidze visited the playing venue and sat in the press room where she analyzed the game with other people | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Arianne (Aronian's wife ) and her family watch the game from the spectators area, joined by IM Alex Wohl (in yellow), who introduced the couple in 2006 | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Levon Aronian is gutted with himself for botching up such a winning position | Photo: Amruta Mokal
But full marks to the Armenian for not losing his cool and analyzing the game with Ding Liren | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Ding Liren tries to pinpoint the exact moment where he thought Aronian had a clear win, but as you can see, things are never so easy in a practical over-the-board encounter | Photo: Amruta Mokal
After the game Arianne tells Levon where he missed the win! | Photo: Amruta Mokal
A Houdini escape for Ding Liren, who is clearly pleased with the result | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Video Gallery:
Coincidentally meeting the World Cup finalist in the elevator before the game
Start of game two of the finals of World Cup 2017
As Indians we were pleasantly 'shocked' to see Maia Chiburanidze's knowledge of Bollywoord
Tatia Skhirtladze works for the bureau of Cultural Implication in Vienna. She is originally from Georgia. When she shifted to Vienna, people asked the place from where she came. She told them Georgia. She wanted to know what people thought about her country and she got various replies. One of them was: "you are from the land of best players in women's chess!" This really piqued Tatia's interest on making a documentary on the life of four great women champions of Georgia — Nona Gaprindashvili, Maia Chiburdanidze, Nana Alexandria and Nana Ioseliani. The number of World Championship Matches played by these women is mind-boggling.
Tatia is making a film with limited resources on these four women players of Georgia. She has no chess background but is making a film on this interesting subject. In case you would like to get in touch with Tatia to help her in her project, here's her email id: suk@gmx.at
Format of the finals
The finals of the World Cup 2017 has a different format from the other rounds. Instead of the usual two classical games, we will witness four. And in case of a 2-2 tie, the match will go into the tiebreaks on 27th of September. The first two games have ended in draws. The winner takes home USD 120,000 (net 96,000) and the runner-up receives 80,000 (net 64,000).
Sagar ShahSagar is an International Master from India with two GM norms. He loves to cover chess tournaments, as that helps him understand and improve at the game he loves so much. He is the co-founder and CEO of ChessBase India, the biggest chess news portal in the country. His YouTube channel has over a million subscribers, and to date close to a billion views. ChessBase India is the sole distributor of ChessBase products in India and seven adjoining countries, where the software is available at a 60% discount. compared to International prices.
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