Rapport holds Nepo to a draw with the French
Ding Liren famously stunned the chess world by playing the French Defence in game 7 of the World Championship match he recently won in Astana. His second, Richard Rapport, has been playing this system for years, and decided himself to play it against Ian Nepomniachtchi, Ding’s opponent in the match, in the first round of the Superbet Chess Classic. Nepo could not get much with white and a draw was eventually agreed.
The new world champion, on his part, faced Maxime Vachier-Lagrave with white. A professional, grandmasterly draw was the result of the game, with MVL getting off to a good start as he will be trying to defend his title from last year in Bucharest.
Wesley So published two new opening DVDs: 1.b3, the so called Nimzo-Larsen-Attack, for White and his black secrets in the modern Italian. Get them in a package and save money!Not all games finished drawn, though, as Wesley So got the better of Alireza Firouzja with the black pieces to become the first leader of the event. Firouzja, who won the Grand Chess Tour last year, had obtained a crucial victory over So at the latest edition of the Sinquefield Cup. So confessed that he was happy to take revenge for that game in Saint Louis, especially while facing such a strong opponent.
In the second round, MVL will play white against the early leader, while Ding will get to face former World Championship challenger Fabiano Caruana, also with white. The clash between Ding and Nepo will follow in round 3, on Monday.
The 13th world champion, Garry Kasparov, made the first move for Ding Liren, the 17th recently crowned world champion | Photo: Lennart Ootes
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 d6 5.c3 Bb6 6.0-0 h6 7.Nbd2 Nf6 8.Bb3 a5 9.Re1 0-0 10.h3 Be6 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.Nc4 Ba7 13.Be3 Bxe3 14.Rxe3 a4 15.d4 exd4 16.cxd4 d5 17.exd5 exd5 18.Ncd2 Qd6 19.a3 Qf4 20.Nb1 Ne4 21.Nc3 Nxc3 22.Rxc3 Qd6 23.Rac1 Rf7 24.R1c2 Rf4 25.Re3 Qf6 26.Rd3 Re8 27.Rc5 Qd6 28.Rcc3 Rfe4 29.g3 Re2 30.Rd2 Rxd2 31.Qxd2 Qg6 32.Kg2 Qb1 33.Rc1 Qf5 34.Rc3 Qb1 35.h4 Re7 36.Rc1 Qf5 37.Qd1 g5 38.hxg5?! 38.Rc3 g4 39.Ne5 Nxe5 39...Qe4+ 40.Kh2 Qxd4 41.Qxd4 Nxd4 42.Nxg4 40.dxe5 38...hxg5 39.Qd2 g4 40.Nh4 40.Ng5 Rg7 41.f4 40...Qe4+ 41.Kh2? 41.Kg1 41...Qxd4 42.Qg5+ Rg7 43.Qf5 Rf7 44.Qg5+ Kf8 45.Kh1 Qe4+ 46.Kg1 Ke8 47.Qd2 Re7 48.Rd1 d4 49.Qg5 Ne5 50.Qd2 d3 51.Qf4 Qxf4 52.gxf4 Nc4 53.Rxd3 Nxb2 54.Rc3 Rd7 55.Kg2 Nd3 56.Kg3 c5 57.Kxg4 b5 58.Nf5 Kf7 59.Kg5 Rd5 60.Rc2 Ne1 61.Rc3 Nd3 62.Rc2 b4 63.axb4 cxb4 64.Rc7+ Ke8 65.Kf6 Kd8 66.Ra7 b3 67.Ne3 Rd6+ 68.Kf5 b2 69.Rb7 Rd4 70.Nc2 Rxf4+ 71.Kg5 Rxf2 72.Na3 Rf1 0–1 
Mastering these tactical motifs is essential to deepen your understanding of the game and become a better player. After all, you neither want to overlook the given chances by your opponent, nor blunder yourself!
The beautiful playing hall during the first round | Photo: Lennart Ootes
Results - Round 1
Standings - Round 1
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