Ding Liren prevailed over Ian Nepomniachtchi after a barely fortunate escape in Sport 14, and 4 thrilling tiebreaks.

GM Harikrishna Pentala – one of many strongest gamers on this planet (FIDE ranking 2704, world rating thirty fourth) and former prime 10 participant with a 2770 peak ranking – offered Lichess with annotations of Sport 14 and impressions of every tiebreak – all textual content in italics is from him.

Sport 14

https://lichess.org/research/SkQqKSso/1ofREiik

This was the ultimate sport within the classical portion. Taking part in with the white items, Ding tried to place strain on Nepo.

One of many attention-grabbing issues about this match thus far is Black has scored just one victory (Sport 2). This offers a number of confidence to Ding as he has the final alternative with the White items.

As anticipated, this sport was stuffed with ups and downs. Ding had given many probabilities on this sport, however Nepo was eager on controlling all the pieces and missed some easy successful probabilities. Taking part in too shortly when the place calls for exact calculation has been the principle downside for Nepo on this match.

Now we transfer on to the tie breaks. Within the speedy portion, the match ought to be balanced. Nevertheless, if it had been to proceed to blitz, I price Nepomniachtchi because the favorite.

Fast Tiebreak Sport 1

https://lichess.org/research/embed/jCs1wd0E/N0zfHJGL

By now, it’s clear that Ding will soar from one variation to a different with the White items. It’s unclear and exhausting to foretell which uncommon setup he would go for.

He selected a reasonably innocent-looking third transfer and adopted the sport between his second, Richard Rapport, in Rapport vs Shankland as much as round transfer 7. Whereas Ding achieved some probabilities, Nepo shortly took the initiative by establishing an unimaginable queen sacrifice.

Nepo failed to search out some key strikes which might have given him probabilities to place strain. Later an enormous commerce of fabric occurred, and gamers needed to repeat the strikes, giving each gamers half some extent.

Fast Tiebreak Sport 2

https://lichess.org/research/embed/jCs1wd0E/93FF5sF9#1

Nepo and Ding each repeated the Ruy Lopez as soon as once more. Nepo got here up with some attention-grabbing concepts within the opening. However as soon as once more, resulting from oversimplifications, the play steered right into a draw. Nepo tried in useless for a number of strikes to get one thing extra from a drawish place. Maybe this drained Nepo out to a sure extent – each gamers remained on equal factors, 1 – 1.

Fast Tiebreak Sport 3

https://lichess.org/research/embed/jCs1wd0E/kg9R9qJr

In his final sport with the White items, Ding determined to strive a Catalan with out d4. Gamers adopted well-known concept till transfer 15, however Nepo was prepared for this shock and equalized shortly by sacrificing a pawn.

The gamers repeated strikes as there was nothing a lot White might do within the opposite-colored bishop ending which had emerged, regardless of being a pawn up – each gamers remaining on equal factors, 1.5 – 1.5.

Fast Tiebreak Sport 4

https://lichess.org/research/embed/jCs1wd0E/8QvKR1zU

With just one sport remaining within the speedy portion, one of many largest dilemmas in a chess participant’s thoughts is whether or not to go all in or play a managed sport.

Nepo deviated from concept on transfer 12. Typically it’s puzzling that Nepo will get a superb place out of the opening after which spoils it instantly. The identical factor occurred on this sport as nicely.

Ding went for a dynamic play on the kingside because the play progressed by briefly sacrificing a pawn. It was fairly balanced till transfer 48, the place Nepo blundered. This may very well be an impact of Ding’s forty sixth transfer Rg6!?, the place Ding determined to not repeat strikes regardless of having only a minute and sixteen seconds on his clock.

After some strikes, Ding gave one likelihood for Nepo to flee defeat. Nepo missed a tremendous perpetual checks sequence ranging from 59. Bg7. After that likelihood handed, it was only a matter of method for Ding. Nepo resigned, with the rating being 2.5 – 1.5 in Ding’s favor!

A large second for chess and for Ding Liren, as he grew to become the seventeenth World Champion!

The second of the ultimate handshake, adopted by the momentous nature of Ding’s victory sinking in at his gamers space, earlier than attending the press convention (title picture). All photographs credit score FIDE / Stev Bonhage.