Robert Ris: Ding’s immortal game

by Robert Ris
4/22/2023 – Ding Liren crossed the 2700-rating barrier back in 2012, and was soon regarded as one of the potential challengers for the world title. A week from now, the soft-spoken grandmaster from Wenzhou might become the new world chess champion. Thus, this is a good time to reminisce on his most spectacular victory. In November 2017, at the Chinese League, Ding played a stunning tactical combination and crowned it with a brilliant king hunt. Robert Ris examines the game in a 23-minute video. | Photo: Amruta Mokal
Winning starts with what you know
The new version 18 offers completely new possibilities for chess training and analysis: playing style analysis, search for strategic themes, access to 6 billion Lichess games, player preparation by matching Lichess games, download Chess.com games with built-in API, built-in cloud engine and much more.

“Accurate and beautiful”

A week before facing Magnus Carlsen in a rapid and blitz match in Saint Louis, Ding Liren obtained a spectacular victory in the Chinese Chess League. Playing black against Bai Jinshi, Ding gave up his queen early on and began to harass his opponent’s monarch with incredible accuracy. 

Carlsen visited the ChessBase studio shortly after the game was played and had this to say about his colleague’s achievement:

It was not only the move, 20...Rd4, which gets the headlines, but the follow-up was also both accurate and beautiful. It’s not going to be easy to beat that. I had already a training session with Ding, so I was already impressed with how fast he can calculate very difficult lines, and that’s one of the reasons I found him the most interesting opponent [in St Louis].

 
Bai vs. Ding - Chinese League (2017)

Notice that Black no longer has his queen on the board. The white king is in deep trouble, though, and Bai tried to escape towards the kingside.

But Ding’s hunt was stunningly precise!

 

Resignation came after 31...Bg6+ 32.Kxg4 Ne5+

Robert Ris analyses the brilliant attack

Replay the game

 
New ...
Open...
Share...
Layout...
Flip Board
Settings
MoveNResultEloPlayers
Replay and check the LiveBook here
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nf3 0-0 5.Bg5 c5 6.e3 cxd4 LiveBook: 35 Games. E21: Nimzo-Indian: 4 Nf3 7.Qxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Be2 h6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.0-0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Nc6 13.Re1 b6 14.Nd2 Be6 15.Nf1 Na5 16.Ne3 Rac8 0-1 (28) Mamedyarov,S (2800)-Carlsen,M (2832) Paris 2017 7...Nc6 8.Qd3N Predecessor: 8.Qh4 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.Qxf6 gxf6 11.Rc1 b6 12.Bd3 Bb7 13.0-0 Rac8 14.a3 Bxc3 15.Rxc3 ½-½ (130) Iniyan,P (2396)-Paszewski,M (2280) Graz 2017 8...h6 The position is equal. 9.Bh4 d5       10.Rd1 g5 11.Bg3 Ne4 12.Nd2 Nc5 13.Qc2 d4 14.Nf3 e5! 15.Nxe5 dxc3 15...Re8 16.Nxc6 bxc6 17.a3 16.Rxd8 cxb2+! 17.Ke2?       17.Rd2!= Rd8 18.Nf3 18.Qxb2 Rxd2 19.Qxb4 Nxb4= 17...Rxd8-+ 18.Qxb2 Nxc6 is the strong threat. Na4!       19.Qc2 Nc3+! 20.Kf3 Rd4 21.h3
aiming for Bh2. 21...h5! 22.Bh2 22.e4 is a better defense. Rxe4 23.Qxe4 Nxe4 24.Kxe4 22...g4+ 23.Kg3
23...Rd2‼       24.Qb3 24.Qxd2 Ne4+ 25.Kh4 Bxd2 26.Nxc6 bxc6 27.Bg3 24...Ne4+ 25.Kh4 Be7+ 26.Kxh5 Kg7 27.Bf4 Bf5 ( -> ...Rh8+) 28.Bh6+ Kh7 29.Qxb7
29...Rxf2‼       30.Bg5 Rh8 Black mates. 31.Nxf7 Bg6+ 32.Kxg4
32...Ne5+!       Precision: White = 45%, Black = 88%. 0–1
  • Start an analysis engine:
  • Try maximizing the board:
  • Use the four cursor keys to replay the game. Make moves to analyse yourself.
  • Press Ctrl-B to rotate the board.
  • Drag the split bars between window panes.
  • Download&Clip PGN/GIF/FEN/QR Codes. Share the game.
  • Games viewed here will automatically be stored in your cloud clipboard (if you are logged in). Use the cloud clipboard also in ChessBase.
  • Create an account to access the games cloud.
WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Bai,J2553Ding,L27720–12017Yingmei Cup CHN-chT 201718
 

In this video course, twenty-nine examples with multiple questions are presented in the interactive format, which is ideal for a range of playing strengths. Step by step you will be taken through the complex positions.

Links

Robert is an International Master who mostly spends his time training and coaching talented youngsters. On the PlayChess server The Fast and the Furious is a popular show where he explains sharp opening lines for a wider audience. He is also a well-known ChessBase author who produced numerous DVDs and regularly contributes to ChessBase Magazine as well. Since 2015 he is the organizer of the Dutch Rapid Championships in his home town Amstelveen. He has started a YouTube channel with chess analysis as well.
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.