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Ian Nepomniachtchi vs Ding Liren
"King Liren" (game of the day May-01-2023)
Nepomniachtchi - Ding World Championship Match (2023) (rapid), Astana KAZ, rd 18, Apr-30
Spanish Game: Closed. Martinez Variation (C78)  ·  0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

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Kibitzer's Corner
< Earlier Kibitzing  · PAGE 5 OF 5 ·  Later Kibitzing>
May-01-23  stone free or die: <EtT> well, one pithy comment I saw on chess24 noted that Ding didn't have time to overthink in rapid.
May-01-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Richard Taylor: I knew Liren could and should avoid the draw, there were 2 ways and I thought that the Rg6 was good (a kind of "statement in chess") as h4 by Nepomoniathizvhivhi was not quite working but I wasn't sure he was lost but the lack of W's white bishop was obviously no good. And Liren's Bb4 I thought was good. Because of the time limitations this was one of the most exciting matches and this game.

The other one I recall is when Ding Liren played tie-breaks and beat Carlsen in the critical game (with a brilliant finish) to win the Sinquefield Cup....

Ding as someone said didn't "overthink" and even either on purpose or not played moves not considered best as Carlsen did and probably still does (who is Carlsen someone asks?)...

But Nepo also played great games and did much better than in his match against Carlsen when he (N) was clearly out of form at that time....Both Ding and Ian N are great players....handshakes all round...

May-01-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Korora: <The new World Champion, so worn out he can't even smile.>

That goes to show how hard-fought it was.

May-01-23  GumboGambit: The reaction from both players at the end was very telling of how grueling this match was. Between Ian shaking and accidentally knocking over captured pieces to Ding hanging his head in . . .”celebration”?

Great sportsmanship by Ding to offer the heartfelt second handshake to Ian. Both guys needed a hug at that point.

I can see why Magnus didn’t want to go through this ordeal anymore.

May-01-23  stone free or die: At the end, Ding was crying, mostly in relief. So, he was trying to collect himself before sitting back up.

You could see how shocked he was at the end, when he didn't even realize Nepo already extended his hand for the final handshake. Ding did the same just as Nepo was about to leave. Nepo was generous enough to just shake hands again before departing.

After that Ding buried his head in his arms for a minute or two.

We know he was crying because that's what he told us in the press conference, including saying his main feeling upon winning was relief.

.

May-01-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: This was Ding's first lead of the match. It came at a good time.
May-01-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Richard Taylor: Not all chess players actually like winning or the process. There is something arificial about it all. How can he be the World Champion because of one error out of many played by both players?

If the score is = at the end of a match they should be declared the reigning world champions. Then a rematch in sixth months.

The choice of a private match as Fischer had? In itself not completely silly. I don't think Spassky cared about the result at either match really, but he was amused and interested in Fischer. So they played their absurd but in some ways "noble" match in Yugoslavia (when in theory the US were at war, so Fischer spat on the order from the authorities in the US) -- Fischer hated the hype, he sought, like Liren and probably others, to play good and interesting games of chess, perhaps the best, perhaps not.

But I suppose even chess players have to live (make a living, get paid).

I am always more interested in the possible thoughts and feelings of chess players in matches, regardless of their "level", than, often, even their moves. I skip a lot of the analysis by the GMs etc who often go wrong (they shouldn't ever use computers during again, and I think they should shut down the chat which is mostly nonsense....

Ding Liren felt (and feels) very strongly as he knew he, but for fortune, could as easily be in Neponomatzchichiskichiazzkjiiski...'s rather tormented shoes. He felt even sad that he had won. But he was perhaps also stunned. There are always a complex mix of emotions at such moments. Such is life with all its glorious futility.

May-01-23  SChesshevsky: <Margetic D: Nerves, tension, lack of patience...>

Totally agree. Think the major difference between winning and losing. As you note game 12, leading the match, Nepom better but weakens himself and goes down when draw would have been good enough.

Here, can't believe he thinks he's better. But Nepom either misses, miscalculates, or plain bypasses 42. Bd2. Which looks to almost force a repeat or perpetual. And again drops the game. Game 12 important, but this loss obviously more so.

Poor play. But likely solely due to nervous tension and fatigue. Then Ding admirably overcomes his nerves and fatigue to take advantage of his chances.

Seems a match decided off the board maybe more than on it.

May-01-23  Cecco: Nepo lost this match, and the title, because of the two he was the one that would have had the most regrets had he been forced into the blitz phase. Likely, already after game 12, he considered it a moral defeat to have to play the rapid games. For this reason he badly wanted to end the match at least in this phase, in the last game, with the white pieces, neglecting the comfortable draw possibilities until, on the 59th move, he too with less than a minute available, lost the last train.
May-01-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Teyss: Our wills and fates do so contrary run,
That our devices still are overthrown;
Our thoughts are ours,
Their ends none of our own.

Strange destiny that a fool's declaration
And the ploy of a federation
Would such a fortune bring,
That the abdication of a King
Could have me rise to the occasion,
That the ups and downs of a fierce combat
Should have me finally crowned in Astana.

It shall not be said of Ding:
Nothing will come of nothing.

May-01-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Korora: <Teyss>
*applause*
May-01-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  Sally Simpson: Hi Teyss,

:)

'Our wills and fates do so contrary run,'

A touch of Shakespeare. How about from the same source.

"The play's the thing.."
Upon which others judge Ding.

(not as good as yours but I'm trying.)

May-01-23  amadeus: Final minutes of the game: https://youtu.be/GzA5uarugrg?t=16073s
May-01-23  belgradegambit: One Ding to rule them all.
May-01-23  Andrew Chapman: <why not 13.....Rxb2?> How about Nxa4? - with tempo, unless black gives up his light squared bishop.
May-01-23  TheaN: <Andrew Chapman: <why not 13.....Rxb2?> How about Nxa4? - with tempo, unless black gives up his light squared bishop.>

Yeah I think that line was covered live because it's such a reasonable alternative to consider. After 13....Rxb2 14.Nxa4 Rb8 15.Nc5! ⩲


click for larger view

White is better because he trades knight for bishop or Black is left with doubled c-pawns. How much this is worth after 15....c6 16.Nxd7 Nxd7 17.Bd2 Nb7 18.Rxa6 Nbc5 = we'll never know, but Nepo has the easier to play game then.

May-01-23  TheaN: Important note to the above that in that line, the White LSB is actually free on a2-g8, as opposed to being boxed in what happened in the game after 13....Qe8 14.b3 c5. It evaluates ⩲ but Black's game is easier than White's here. Kind of shows blindly looking at engines isn't always useful. Same evaluation, totally different game.
May-01-23  goodevans: <TheaN: Important note to the above that in that line, the White LSB is actually free on a2-g8, as opposed to being boxed in what happened in the game...>

The awfulness of that LSB may have had as much to do with Ding declining the offered pawn as any amount of exact calculation. That was some sorry piece for a quite some time.

May-01-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  FSR: ♫♪♫ Ding, Ding, Ding, goes the Liren!

Clang, clang, clang, goes the bell!

Ding, Ding, Ding, goes the Liren, and dispatches your ass to hell! ♫♪♫

May-01-23  Andrew Chapman: Thanks, TheaN, for the further analysis, and your good point about the White's light squared bishop.
May-01-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  jffun1958: Very good pun.
May-03-23  shishio71: Not a bad pun per se, but under the circumstances I suggest the following as more appropriate:

"Self-pinDing for Immortality"

May-26-23  cormier: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eWn...
Nov-29-23
Premium Chessgames Member
  jffun1958: 47. ... c4!
Now Black can unpin the R on g6 with the following 48. ... Qd3.
48. Qf5?
Immediately 48. h4 would have been better.
Aug-06-24
Premium Chessgames Member
  6t4addict: Congratulations Ding Laren for your WC title.
Congratulations Ian Nepomniachtchi for your excellent performance. I'd like to wish both of you an excellent chess career in the years ahead.
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