Ding Liren nears 2800 Elo, passes Kramnik

by André Schulz
5/26/2018 – Rounds five through seven of the Chinese League were held in Shenzhen this week. The team from Shanghai currently leads the league, but the performance of Ding Liren (who plays for Zheijang) has attracted attention. He has had a strong showing, winning all five of his games so far, and by beating Ivan Cheparinov in the seventh round he nudged up past Vladimir Kramnik to the fourth spot in the world rankings and is less than three Elo points shy of 2800. | Photo: qipai.org.cn

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Ding perfect in the Chinese League

The Chinese League takes place as a double-round-robin with twelve teams. The matches are played on five boards, of which two boards must be occupied by women. The rounds take place several at a time in one location, similar to those in the Austrian League or in the British 4NCL. 

For the most part, Chinese players take part, but there are also some guest players from other countries, though fewer than in the recently completed German League season. The China Mobile Shanghai Club includes the Indian stars Pentala Harikrishna and Harika Dronavalli. Ivan Cheparionov and Anna Ushenina play for Shenzhen. There is one Vietnamese player — Vo Thi Kim Phung — and several Russians: Dmitry Gordievsky is the only foreigner for Zhejiang, while Dmitry Andreikin (Chongqing), Dmitry Jakovenko, Olga Girya (Hangzhou), Vladimir Malakhov (Tianjin), Anastasia Bodanruk (Hebei) and Valentina Gunina (Chendu) are the other Russian grandmasters who play in the league.  

Gunina and Vallejo

Valentina Gunina and Francisco Vallejo-Pons both play for Chendu | Photo: www.qipai.org.cn

After the seven rounds played so far, the China Mobile Shanghai Club may be at the top of the table. Shanghai is led by GM Ni Hua and includes Ju Wenjun, the newly crowned Women's World Champion among their ranks. The team has been very consistent so far with Harikrishna scoring 6.0 / 7 and Ju Wenjun on one of the women's boards with 5½ / 7, the best female scorer. Shanghai has not lost a match yet, but lost one team point to Zhejiang and the weaker team from Tianjin at 2½ : 2½ each.

Ju Wenjun

Ju Wenjun | Photo: www.qipai.org.cn

In second place is the team of Shenzhen with 11 team points. Other than Cheparinov (now playing under a FIDE flag due to the sanctions against Bulgaria) and Ushenina, the team consists of relatively Chinese unknown players. Cheparinov, together with 26-year-old GM Liu Qingnan, are the top scorers with 5½ points. Anna Ushenina came only in the most recent three rounds and scored 2½ points. 

Next is Ding Liren's team from Zhejiang in third place. Behind Chinese number one, Lu Shanglei is the strongest and best-known player. Lu was the World Junior Champion in 2014 and the same year sensationally beat Magnus Carlsen in blitz. Also, Ding Yixin on the women's board has made a name for herself abroad, while the other players are internationally less well known.

Ding Liren has been used five times so far including in all three games this week. Cheparinov was his strongest victim.

 
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1.c4 e6 A previous game between the two players went: 1...c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 e6 6.a3 Be7 7.e4 0-0 8.Nf3 Qa5 9.Bd2 Qh5 10.Bd3 d5 11.0-0 Rd8 12.Qc2 dxc4 13.Bxc4 Ne5 14.Be2 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Qe5 16.g3 Qc7 17.Rfd1 e5 18.Be3 Be6 19.Rac1 Rxd1+ 20.Qxd1 Qa5 21.Qa4 Qxa4 22.Nxa4 b6 23.Kf1 Rc8 1/2-1/2 (23) Ding,L (2742)-Cheparinov,I (2681) Kocaeli 2014 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 6.d4 results in a Catalan opening. 6...c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 The equally popular alternative is 7...exd5 8.d4 8.Nc3 Common is 8.Bb2 E.g.: Nc6 9.Nc3 Nc7 10.Na4 b5 11.Nxc5 Bxc5 12.Rc1 Qd6 13.Qc2 Na6 14.d4 Ba3 15.Ng5 g6 16.Ne4 Qe7 17.Bxa3 Qxa3 18.Qxc6 Rb8 19.Qd6 Qxd6 20.Nxd6 Nb4 21.a3 Nd5 22.e4 1-0 (22) Kramnik,V (2800)-Fedoseev,V (2724) Moscow 2018 8...Nc6 After 8...Nxc3 9.dxc3 Qxd1?! 10.Rxd1 Bf6 would come 11.Be3± 9.Nxd5 Ding should have been aware of this game by Kramnik: 9.Bb2 Nxc3 10.dxc3 Qc7 11.Qc2 b6 12.Bc1 Bb7 13.Bf4 Qc8 14.Rad1 Rd8 15.h4 h6 16.Rxd8+ Nxd8 17.Rd1 f5 18.Qd2 Nf7 19.Qd7 Bf6 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.Bxe5 Bxe5 22.Bxb7 Qxd7 23.Rxd7 Re8 24.Bc6 a5 25.Bb5 Kf8 26.f4± 1-0 (59) Karjakin,S (2753)-Kramnik, V (2787) Wijk aan Zee 2018 9...exd5 10.d4 Bf6 10...Bf5 11.Bb2 Be4 12.Rc1 b6 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Qd2 Qe7 15.Bh3 Bxf3 16.exf3 Qd6 17.f4 a5 18.Bg2 Rad8 19.Rfd1 Qg6 20.Qe2 Rfe8 21.Qb5 Qe6 22.Bf3 Rd6 23.Kg2 Red8 24.a3 h6 25.Rc2 1/2-1/2 (25) Khurtsidze,N (2457)-Safarli,E (2641) Nakhchivan 2015 11.Bb2 Bg4 12.Ne5 Bxe5 12...Bh5 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Rc1 Re8 15.Re1 Qa5 16.Rxc5 Qxa2 17.Qc2 1/2-1/2 (76) Zuk,R-Cramling,P (2200) Vancouver 1981 13.dxe5 d4 14.Qc2 Qe7 15.f4 Rac8= 16.Rae1 Nb4 17.Qb1 g6 18.a3 Bf5 An immediate move that allows White to eliminate his backward pawn. 19.e4 dxe3 20.Be4 Bxe4 21.Qxe4 Nc6 22.Rxe3 White now has an active pawn majority on the kingside and his dark-squared bishop may become menacing to the black king. Nd4 23.g4 23.Bxd4 cxd4 24.Qxd4 Qxa3 25.b4 Qa6 is not good for White. 23...f5 23...Qh4!? 24.exf6 Qxe4 25.Rxe4 Rxf6 26.Rd1 After 26.Bxd4 cxd4 27.Rxd4 Rc3 28.Rb4 b6 the rook on b4 is misplaced. 26...Rd6 27.Kf2 27.Bxd4 cxd4 28.Rdxd4 Rc1+ 29.Kf2 Rc2+ 30.Kg3 Rxd4 31.Rxd4 Rc3+ 32.Kh4 Rxb3 33.Kg5± wasn't clear enough for White. 27...Rcd8 28.Re7 Rf8 28...Nxb3!? 29.Rg7+ Kf8 30.Rxd6 Rxd6 31.Be5 b5 32.Rxh7 Ra6 offered Black defensive resources. 29.Ke3
29...Nc2+ The trap was: 29...Nf5+ 30.gxf5 Rxd1 31.Rg7+ Kh8 and now 32.Rxb7+ The hasty 32.Rd7+? Rd4 33.Bxd4+ Better 33.Rxb7 33...cxd4+ 34.Kxd4 Rxf5 35.Ke4 Rb5 is giving away the advantage. 32...Rd4 33.b4+- most accurate according to the machine. 30.Ke2 Avoiding 30.Ke4? Rxd1 31.Rg7+ Kh8 32.Rd7+ which doesn't work: Nd4 30...Nd4+ 31.Bxd4 Now the knight leaves the board. cxd4 32.Rc1 32.Rf1 allows Black counterplay. g5 33.f5 Rf7= 32...Rc6 32...Rxf4 Or 33.Rc8+ Rf8 34.Rcc7 d3+ 35.Ke3 Less accurate is 35.Kd2 Rf2+ 36.Ke1 Rdf6 35...Rb8 36.Rg7+ Kf8 37.Rxh7 Kg8 38.Rhg7+ Kh8 39.Kd2± 33.Rc4 Rxf4 34.Rxb7 Rxc4 35.bxc4 Kf8 The endgame will not doubt be analysed by GM Karsten Mueller at his first opportunity. 35...Rxg4 36.c5+- 36.Rxa7 h5 37.gxh5 Or 37.a4 Rxg4 38.a5 Rh4 38...Ke8 39.a6 Rg2+ 40.Kd3 Ra2 41.h4+- 39.a6 Rxh2+ 40.Kd3 Ra2 41.c5 Ke8 42.c6 h4 42...Kd8 43.Rd7+ Kc8 44.a7 h4 45.Rg7+- 43.Ra8+ Ke7 44.c7+- 37...gxh5 38.a4 Rh4 39.Kd3 Rxh2
40.a5 Ra2 40...Ke8 41.a6 41.c5? Kd8 42.a6 Ra2 43.Kxd4 Kc8 is not enough for White. 41...Ra2 42.Kxd4 h4 43.Kc5 h3 44.Kb6 Rb2+ 44...h2 45.Rh7 Rb2+ 46.Kc7 Ra2 47.Rh8+ Ke7 48.c5 Rxa6 49.Rxh2+- 45.Kc6 Ra2 46.Ra8+ Ke7 47.Kc7 h2 48.Rh8 Rxa6 49.Rxh2+- 41.c5 Ke8 42.Kxd4 h4 43.Kd5 h3 44.Kc6 h2 45.Rh7 Kd8 45...Rxa5 46.Rxh2 and wins. 46.Rh8+ Ke7 47.Kb6 Rb2+ 48.Kc7 Ra2 49.c6 49.c6 Rxa5 50.Rxh2 Ra1 51.Re2+ Kf7 52.Rb2 Rc1 53.Kb7 Ke7 54.c7 Kd7 55.c8Q+ Rxc8 56.Rd2++-
1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2791Cheparinov,I27051–02018A14Yingmei CHN-chT 20187

Williams main teaching method behind this set of two DVDs is to teach you some simple yet effective set ups, without the need to rely on memorising numerous complicated variations.

For the first time in the history of chess, the best Chinese player in the world ranking ahead of the best Russian. Ding's three wins this week earned him 6½ Elo points, moving him to 2797.5 and past Vladimir Kramnik in the live rankings. He is now number four in the world ranking behind Carlsen, Caruana and Mamedyarov.

Ding rarely loses games nowadays. According to the live database he has lost just one of 34 games (all time controls) this year, and only in rapid chess — in the friendly match China versus Russia, against Dubov. His last loss in a classical game dates back last September's World Cup final, when he lost to Levon Aronian.

Ding is set to start the Altibox Norway Chess tournament in Stavanger, where he will participate for the first time. If he does not lose a game there, he could climb further.

Standings after seven rounds

1 10 China Mobil Shanghai Chess Club 7 5 2 0 12 23,0
2 2 Shenzhen Longgang Chess association 7 4 3 0 11 22,0
3 6 Zhejiang Chess Team 7 4 2 1 10 19,5
4 9 Shandong Jingzhi Team 7 3 3 1 9 21,5
5 3 Beijing Beiao team 7 3 2 2 8 20,0
6 11 Chongqing Team 7 3 2 2 8 19,0
7 7 Hangzhou Bank Team 7 3 1 3 7 17,5
8 8 Chendu Beilei Youth Chess Club 7 1 4 2 6 16,5
9 12 Guangdong Ding Xin High Tech Team 7 1 2 4 4 11,5
10 5 Tianjin Team 7 0 3 4 3 14,0
11 1 Hangzhou Turbine Team 7 1 1 5 3 13,0
12 4 Hebei sports lottery chess team 7 1 1 5 3 12,5
 
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All results so far

Round 1 on 2018/04/11 at 13:00
No. Team Team Res. : Res.
1   Hangzhou Turbine Team   Guangdong Ding Xin High Tech Team :
2   Shenzhen Longgang Chess association   Chongqing Team :
3   Beijing Beiao team   China Mobil Shanghai Chess Club 2 : 3
4   Hebei sports lottery chess team   Shandong Jingzhi Team ½ :
5   Tianjin Team   Chendu Beilei Youth Chess Club :
6   Zhejiang Chess Team   Hangzhou Bank Team :
Round 2 on 2018/04/12 at 13:00
No. Team Team Res. : Res.
1   Guangdong Ding Xin High Tech Team   Hangzhou Bank Team 1 : 4
2   Chendu Beilei Youth Chess Club   Zhejiang Chess Team :
3   Shandong Jingzhi Team   Tianjin Team :
4   China Mobil Shanghai Chess Club   Hebei sports lottery chess team 4 : 1
5   Chongqing Team   Beijing Beiao team :
6   Hangzhou Turbine Team   Shenzhen Longgang Chess association 1 : 4
Round 3 on 2018/04/13 at 13:00
No. Team Team Res. : Res.
1   Shenzhen Longgang Chess association   Guangdong Ding Xin High Tech Team :
2   Beijing Beiao team   Hangzhou Turbine Team 3 : 2
3   Hebei sports lottery chess team   Chongqing Team :
4   Tianjin Team   China Mobil Shanghai Chess Club :
5   Zhejiang Chess Team   Shandong Jingzhi Team :
6   Hangzhou Bank Team   Chendu Beilei Youth Chess Club :
Round 4 on 2018/04/14 at 13:00
No. Team Team Res. : Res.
1   Guangdong Ding Xin High Tech Team   Chendu Beilei Youth Chess Club :
2   Shandong Jingzhi Team   Hangzhou Bank Team :
3   China Mobil Shanghai Chess Club   Zhejiang Chess Team : ½
4   Chongqing Team   Tianjin Team 3 : 2
5   Hangzhou Turbine Team   Hebei sports lottery chess team :
6   Shenzhen Longgang Chess association   Beijing Beiao team :
Round 5 on 2018/05/22 at 13:00
No. Team Team Res. : Res.
1   Beijing Beiao team   Guangdong Ding Xin High Tech Team : ½
2   Hebei sports lottery chess team   Shenzhen Longgang Chess association 2 : 3
3   Tianjin Team   Hangzhou Turbine Team 2 : 3
4   Zhejiang Chess Team   Chongqing Team 3 : 2
5   Hangzhou Bank Team   China Mobil Shanghai Chess Club :
6   Chendu Beilei Youth Chess Club   Shandong Jingzhi Team :
Round 6 on 2018/05/23 at 13:00
No. Team Team Res. : Res.
1   Guangdong Ding Xin High Tech Team   Shandong Jingzhi Team ½ :
2   China Mobil Shanghai Chess Club   Chendu Beilei Youth Chess Club 3 : 2
3   Chongqing Team   Hangzhou Bank Team :
4   Hangzhou Turbine Team   Zhejiang Chess Team 1 : 4
5   Shenzhen Longgang Chess association   Tianjin Team 4 : 1
6   Beijing Beiao team   Hebei sports lottery chess team 4 : 1
Round 7 on 2018/05/24 at 13:00
No. Team Team Res. : Res.
1   Hebei sports lottery chess team   Guangdong Ding Xin High Tech Team 4 : 1
2   Tianjin Team   Beijing Beiao team :
3   Zhejiang Chess Team   Shenzhen Longgang Chess association :
4   Hangzhou Bank Team   Hangzhou Turbine Team 3 : 2
5   Chendu Beilei Youth Chess Club   Chongqing Team 3 : 2
6   Shandong Jingzhi Team   China Mobil Shanghai Chess Club :

The next four rounds take place from July 10th to 13th.

Translation from German: Macauley Peterson

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André Schulz started working for ChessBase in 1991 and is an editor of ChessBase News.

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