Ding Liren: "This is the most beautiful game I have played so far in my career!

I felt very excited after this game. During the next days the game and the variations kept popping up in my head all the time. Even when I was lying in bed at night, positions would appear in my mind, and new tries by White that I had to refute. Every time I would try to find a solution and prove that the sacrifice was sound."

Ding Liren: "My opponent was Bai Jinshi, a talented junior, born in 1999. I know him quite well. He studies very hard and he has many ideas in the opening. It was clear to me that with White he wanted to play for a win."

Ding Liren is the top Chinese player and the first man from China to compete in the WC Cycle. He earned a spot by reaching the finals of World Cup (2017) and then Aronian won their match, with both players qualifying for the Candidates Tournament. Here he pulls off a sparkling Queen sacrifice right out of the opening; similar to B Ider vs Yifan Hou, 2017 White had major issues with King safety. Count how many times Black made attacking moves with tempo due to mate threats. Fritz points out quicker wins with 26 ... Rxf2 and 27 ... Rxf2 due to ... Ng3+/# ideas yet there were several ways to close it out with the White King that far up the board.

Juniors and students, the World Cup result helps illustrate an important difference between place and position. Since Aronian and Liren made the finals, you could claim that they tied for First, therefore So and MVL tied for Second by reaching the semifinals. Note you cannot be "tied" for a place, you are "tied' with a "person" meaning you have the same points as that person. That is why prizes are not awarded separately for same point receivers; they are grouped together and divided equally among players with the same points. For this knockout format, most chess fans would believe that Aronian finished First, Liren placed Second, then So and MVL tied for 3-4. Anyway, only someone with a history of driving name players away would make a fuss about this distinction, so what it is to you?

Some insightful commentary:

<"My opponent was Bai Jinshi, a talented junior, born in 1999. I know him quite well. He studies very hard and he has many ideas in the opening. It was clear to me that with White he wanted to play for a win." "This is the most beautiful game I have played so far in my career! I felt very excited after this game. During the next days the game and the variations kept popping up in my head all the time. Even when I was lying in bed at night, positions would appear in my mind, and new tries by White that I had to refute. Every time I would try to find a solution and prove that the sacrifice was sound.">

<The pin-breaking Q-sac [*] for a minor piece swarm reminds me of V Mikenas vs Kupreichik, 1973 . In both cases, it was a Bb4 and some aggressive central pawn thrusts, kicking the K+Q around without rest. [*] Not really a sac of a full Q, as Black promptly regains two pieces, and the attack surely wins back a 3rd, or mates.>

<Ding creates an immortal, studded with brilliance: 15...dxc3!!, 20...Rd4!!, 23...Rd2!!, 26...Kg7!!, and to crown it all, 32...Ne5+!! If 33.Nxe5 Bf5+ 34.Kh5 Kg7+ and mate next move. But the most beautiful mate is 33.Kh4 Kg8+ 34.Nxh8 Bxg5#. Stunning.>

click for larger view

<whiteshark> Excellent Daniel King video!

click for larger view

It only wins a pawn but makes all hell break loose as it threatens 30...Ng3#.

After seeing the game continuation, it is obvious why it makes sense to play Rd2 first. It pushes White Queen away and gives more freedom to the minor black pieces to co-ordinate and deliver mate.