Nepomniachtchi takes the lead for the third time as Ding misplays in time trouble

The seventh game of the match for the title of FIDE World Chess Champion ended in drama with Ding losing a stable position after misplaying in severe time trouble.

In an attempt to surprise his opponent, Ding Liren played the French Defence. This is the first time the French Defence was played in a world championship match since 1978. „I told Richard [Rapport, Ding’s second] that I was going to play the French Defence. But it was a half-joke, half-serious. He took me seriously and told me that I can try this French Defence to surprise my opponent.“

Nepomniachtchi went for a sideline in the opening and Black managed to obtain a solid position with the only weakness on c6. However, in the process of the game, Nepomniachtchi managed to engineer some initiative and press on the kingside. At some point Ian pushed too hard and with a timely exchange sacrifice Ding simplified the position and emerged slightly better. 

By this moment, however, Ding was short on time which was his ultimate pitfall. With just 44 seconds on the clock, in a critical position, Ding misplayed with 33…Rd3 he found himself in a hopeless position and soon had to resign.

The game lasted 37 moves and just under four hours. It echoed the drama in the 24th game of the Karpov-Kasparov match in Seville, where Kasparov sacrificed a pawn for an attack while Karpov was in desperate time trouble.

In the seven games of the match played so far, five ended with a decisive result. Nepomniachtchi now leads with 4:3.

Here follows a closer look at the seventh game of the match.

Ian was White and he played his standard 1.e4. It’s worked well for him so far and it’s his preferred move.

Ding responded with 1…e6 – the French defence, played for the first time in the match. This was Ding’s favourite opening in his early days. In the post-game press conference, Ding revealed that his second, Richard Rapport, suggested that he should play this opening to surprise Nepomniachtchi.

2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 3.Nc3 is more common. “This is not the main line but I felt it gave a small but safe edge for White”, said Nepomniachtchi after the game.

Ding responded with the most popular 3…c5, the Tarrasch defence and by move nine the opponents were out of the book.

The opponents deployed their forces in the most natural way and by move thirteen reached the first important position of the game.

13…Nf6 a more preferable move here was g6, closing off the white bishop’s attack h7-pawn and keeping the knight on d5.

After 14.Qh4 Ding for the second time spent a lot of time thinking (21 min) on a natural move 14…c5.

In the subsequent play, Ian tried to create some activity on the kingside but it turned out that Black had sufficient defensive resources. Nevertheless, Nepo kept pushing although objectively speaking, his position did not offer much.

With 22.c3 Ian gave Ding a chance to go for an exchange which would turn the initiative over to Black.

After 22…Nxf4 23.Bxf4 Rxf4 24.Rxf4 Bxe5 25.Rh4 a very sharp position emerged on the board. In the heat of the battle, Nepo went too far with 28.Rh4?!

This risky move was met with cool-blooded 28…Qd6! taking control over the d-file and threatening to come to the second rank, increasing pressure on White. Indeed 29.Rxh7 fails to 29…Rd1! winning.

After 29.Qe3 h5 30.g3 Black is slightly better. He has secured his kingside, centralised and coordinated his pieces and is taking the initiative. However, Ding was falling into ever deeper time trouble. Still, with a timely h5-h4 push the Chinese GM weakened White’s position even more.

32…Rd2 was the first step into the abyss. After correct 32…Be5! Black has long-lasting initiative and continuous pressure over White’s weaknesses. Nepo played natural 33.Re2 and with just 44 seconds on the clock Ding made his fatal error and immediately got into a lost position.

Instead of playing his rook to d5 and maintaining the pressure, Ding opted for 33…Rd3?? He made the move instantly and – lost.

34.Qxc5 Rd1+ 35.Kg2 Qd1 Qd3 36. Rf2 Kg7 37.Rcf4 Qc3 Here with just three seconds on the clock Ding realized that after 38.Qxc3 Bxc3 39. Rxf7 the endgame is absolutely hopeless and conceded defeat.

The match has reached its halfway point. With seven more games to be played and a day of rest ahead, both sides will need to recoup and reorganise themselves for the second part of the event to determine who will become the 17th FIDE World Chess Champion.

Game eighth will take place on Thursday, 20th April, at 3 PM Astana time.

Text: Milan Dinic

Photo: Stev Bonhage, David Llada and Anna Shtourman

Official website: worldchampionship.fide.com/