Video games 12 and 13 of the 14-game match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren have simply been performed in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. The winner will probably be topped as the brand new World Champion in classical chess, following Magnus Carlsen’s abdication of the title. 

The schedule of video games may be discovered right here, with Lichess offering a dwell broadcast transmission of all video games. Learn beneath for detailed ideas and annotations on the video games from GM Harikrishna Pentala – one of many strongest gamers on the earth (FIDE Ranking: 2704, World Rank: 34) and a former world high 10 participant with a peak ranking of 2770, together with extra basic impressions on the event to date.

Sport 12

The annotations by GM Harikrishna Pentala are supplied within the embed beneath, with a direct hyperlink to the complete research accessible right here.

https://lichess.org/research/SkQqKSso/VZr0vdSB

With the rating at 6 – 5 in Nepomniachtchi’s favor and going into the previous couple of video games of the match, Ding was working out of time to catch up once more on factors. In the meantime, Nepomniachtchi can be comfy to play for attracts in video games 12 – 14, as doing so would nonetheless get him to 7.5 factors and win the World Championship title regardless. 

These previous couple of video games represented Ding’s final critical possibilities to doubtlessly comeback and at the very least draw degree to set off tiebreaks, as within the final three video games Ding has the white items twice – giving a small preliminary benefit at this degree. 

Ding performed 1. d4 and went for the Colle system – seen sometimes at grasp degree play, and with a repute equally divisive because the London system which Ding employed to attain a win in Sport 6. Not like the London system, the Colle system has been seen in World Championship match historical past earlier than, with Carlsen opening with it and dropping to Karjakin within the 2016 World Championship, Sport 8. Some might say this was not an auspicious begin for Ding. 

(Photograph – FIDE / Stev Bonhage)

Regardless – maybe trying to find a weak spot in Nepomniachtchi’s preparation – Ding got here out of the opening into a pointy and double-edged place with a small benefit. Nevertheless, these positions usually favour Nepomniachtchi, and he was capable of finding the very best play to develop a scary massive assault ready towards Ding’s castled king. 

Issues had been trying dire for Ding, however a sequence of blunders and errors – unusually inaccurate play at this degree – from transfer 26 eliminated the profitable benefit Nepomniachtchi had constructed up, restoring equal possibilities into the place.

(Photograph – FIDE / Stev Bonhage)

A remaining blunder by Nepomniachtchi on transfer 34 sealed the place for Ding, who appeared initially unsure if he had missed one thing. Nevertheless, after cautious calculation he realized Nepomniachtchi had merely made a large blunder, and after discovering the profitable thought, Nepomniachtchi resigned.

In the end, the sport was a large fortunate break by Ding to get him again into competition at 6 – 6. As GM Harikrishna Pentala writes in his annotations, “This is without doubt one of the video games the place gamers had been taking part in approach beneath their regular degree. Name it the nerves, fatigue, or each; It’s unprecedented in a world championship match to have so many errors in a single recreation.”

(Photograph – FIDE / Stev Bonhage)

Nepomniachtchi confirmed his foremost weak spot; move-impulsivity which has value him World Championship video games towards each Carlsen and Ding. Will it trigger him to lose the match total?

Sport 13

The annotations by GM Harikrishna Pentala are supplied within the embed beneath, with a direct hyperlink to the complete research accessible right here.

https://lichess.org/research/SkQqKSso/oD6UdrNl

Questions had been on Nepomniachtchi to see how he would deal with and react to Ding’s third comeback – Nepomniachtchi has been identified to “tilt” at losses earlier than and with no relaxation day in between the video games, managing his feelings can be vital. 

On the similar time, Nepomniachtchi had the white items – his final recreation earlier than tiebreaks with white. Opening with 1. e4 and going for a closed Ruy Lopez, neither participant wished to take over in depth dangers. 

Nevertheless, Nepomniachtchi was the primary to create imbalances within the place – and these equalized the place, after which finally even a small benefit to Ding. Nevertheless, Ding was not in a position to construct on it and after some inaccurate play, after an change sacrifice the place resolved right into a tense, however seemingly drawn, place.

(Photograph – FIDE / Stev Bonhage)

With a lot on the road, neither participant was eager to take pointless dangers – and black provided a repetition that white accepted.

Bringing the rating 6.5 – 6.5, with Ding taking part in with white within the final recreation of classical, we’ve got an thrilling end forward of us! A draw will take us to tiebreaks, or a win by both participant will give us a brand new World Champion, tomorrow. With a lot on the road, and the gamers so drained – will or not it’s determined by nerves and strain? Or will each gamers wish to be protected and check one another in tiebreaks as an alternative?

Snap verdict

GM Harikrishna Pentala offers the snap verdict greatest in his annotations – “Sport 14 can be fairly fascinating, and we are able to anticipate ups and downs. With a nail-biting end ready forward, Chess followers can anticipate a thriller within the final recreation. It’s pure for the gamers to get drained after many days of intense video games. However the ups and downs we’ve got seen within the final two video games are fairly stunning. Like each chess fan, I eagerly await the final recreation within the classical a part of the match.”

What do you assume will occur in Sport 14? Inform us within the feedback!

Lichess is often working World Championship Thematic Arenas on the times of the event – with positions taken from the video games. Be sure you comply with our social media to see when the following one will probably be!

(Title photograph – FIDE / Stev Bonhage)