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Find expert commentary — video and game annotations — by well-known coach and author IM Robert Ris at the end of the article.
A smiling Ding Liren showed up at the press conference following a 30-move draw in game 3 of the World Championship match. The Chinese had shared his emotional struggles after the first two encounters — on Sunday and Monday, he had survived an inferior position and suffered a painful loss with white, respectively. As candid as ever, the 30-year-old explained:
My friends helped me to deal with my emotional problems. Now I feel more comfortable on the stage.
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After playing a somewhat eccentric novelty in game 2, one that was likely prepared by his second Richard Rapport, Ding went for a more traditional approach in his second outing with the black pieces. English grandmaster Daniel King shared on Twitter:
Queen’s Gambit Declined. Back to traditional chess. Will Ding play in the modern way with …b5 or stick to …Nh5 exchanging bishops, relieving congestion?
Ding opted for the latter option, following a game he had played against Anish Giri at the 2022 Chessable Masters preliminaries. Sound, strategic manoeuvres by both contenders followed, as they only deviated from the Giri game on move 17.
As the players left the opening phase, Ding’s position began to look more auspicious than his opponent’s. Ian Nepomniachtchi did not falter, though, as he correctly assessed the situation and continued to find neutralizing moves in a strategic middlegame.
On move 28, Ding could have opted for a pawn push that would have kept the battle going — albeit with some risks in the long run — but instead went for a triple repetition that stabilized his footing in the match. Thus, Nepomniachtchi still has a 1-point lead on the scoreboard. The Russian will get the black pieces in Thursday’s game 4.
Six (time-lapsed) Ian Nepomniachtchis make their way to the stage, as Ding Liren considers what to play next | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage
During the first two games of the match, the contenders had chosen to spend an inordinate amount of time analysing the positions in the resting room instead of remaining seated on the stage. A more confident Ding showed that he is aware of the criticism shared by some on social media, as he decided not to ‘hide’ any more. The 30-year-old stated in the press conference:
I am getting better. As you can see, I spent more time on the stage than hiding in the resting room.
Out of the ever-trustworthy QGD (Queen’s Gambit Declined), Ding saw his opponent repeating 16 moves from a game which the Chinese had played — also with black — just last year:
Giri had played 17.Qf2 at the 2022 Chessable Masters, while Nepomniachtchi went for 17.N1c2 this time around. Ding continued to execute a natural plan from the black side — ...c7-c5, ...Bd7, etcetera — and soon found himself in a slightly better position.
Nepo reacted judiciously, as he found the most accurate neutralizing idea on move 27.
27.Nb5 prevents Black from trading on d4 next, removing White’s most active piece on the board. Ding replied by the correct 27...Nc7, and naturally Nepo jumped back with 28.Nd4. Here Ding was presented with a choice between all but forcing a draw or keeping the battle going. As Dutch grandmaster Jan Werle noted on Twitter:
The Beasty Botvinnik Variation in the Semi-Slav!
On this DVD you will be taken on a journey through what is arguably the sharpest opening line known to men.
Is Ding licking his wounds after 27..Nc7 28.Nd4 Ne6 going for a repetition of moves, or is he going to push with 28..b5?! #NepoDing
— Jan Werle (@JanWerle) April 12, 2023
Ding took the safer route, and the draw was agreed shortly after.
Still in the lead — Ian Nepomniachtchi | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage
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