Pravin Thipsay writes: After an thrilling draw inside the final recreation, Nepo can have the sting in tie-breaker

A tie after 14 thrilling, high-octane video video games of the World Chess Championship is possibly the exact consequence. Would it have been a bitter victory had Ding Liren gained the final word recreation and the match? Playing with white gadgets, he had the profit nevertheless Nepo was prepared. With a entice 90 strikes, it was merely most likely probably the most thrilling match of this Championship.

The icing on the cake now could possibly be that we’re in for a Super Sunday! Tie-breakers are going to be gratifying if Game 14 was any indication of what’s going to return. It was excellent the way in which through which Ding carried out for a win on Saturday. He’s very clear about the way in which through which he needs to play, and that’s to assault. It’s truly inside the true spirit of the sport. We’re seeing such vigorous play after a variety of a very long time. (Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay has been analysing video video games of the World Chess Championship for The Indian Express. You can study his analysis of Game 13, Game 12, Game 11, Game 10,  Game 9, Game 8, Game 7, Game 6, Game 5, Game 4, Game 3, Game 2, and Game 1.)

Nepo replied to Ding’s Queen Pawn opening with Nimzo Indian Defence nevertheless Ding chosen a not typically carried out choice on switch 5, a switch he had chosen in opposition to Praggnanadhaa effectively closing yr. However, Nepo decided to vary on switch 7 with a central Pawn break. On switch 9, Ding made an particularly unusual switch invented by Donchenko and nevertheless clearly, Nepo was successfully prepared for it. With a novelty on switch 10, a logical Pawn alternate inside the centre, Nepo had little drawback in equalising.

Instead of choosing a strategic path with a Pawn advance inside the centre, Ding initiated a rash assault in opposition to Nepo’s King on switch 12 and offered a Knight on switch 13. Nepo precisely evaded capturing the Knight and centered on safeguarding his place. On switch 15, it turned clear that the assault didn’t have quite a bit steam, so Ding exchanged Queens to attain a drawish ending on switch 18. In order to create some issues, Ding offered a Bishop alternate on switch 19, a uncertain alternative that made some worthwhile potentialities only for the opponent!

On switch 9, Ding made an particularly unusual switch invented by Donchenko and nevertheless clearly, Nepo was successfully prepared for it. On switch 9, Ding made an particularly unusual switch invented by Donchenko and nevertheless clearly, Nepo was successfully prepared for it. (FIDE/ Anna Shtourman)

Though Nepo had an increased hand inside the ending, Ding succeeded in creating some issues and imprecise threats.

Nepo guarded in opposition to the threats effectively and by switch 36, he looked to be all set to win the World Crown. By activating his Rook further on switch 36, the Russian might have retained his profit nevertheless his protected Pawn switch gave Ding ample time to organise a worthwhile defence.

With an excellent Pawn sacrifice on switch 18, no matter excessive time trouble, Ding compelled a theoretically drawn Rook Ending. Nepo tried his biggest to make the most of his additional Pawn nevertheless Ding defended very exactly and the game was lastly drawn after 90 strikes.

The players actually carried out glorious Chess from switch 38, with out a single inaccurate switch. And that’s truly one factor. Nepo did press laborious for the ultimate 50 strikes nevertheless the Russian Proverb “All Rook endings are drawn!” turned out to be very applicable inside the recreation.

It’s going to be a tough Sunday for the players and the one who reveals further vigour, vitality and better presence of ideas will emerge because the model new world Champion.

Tie-breakers are all about having fun with shortly and we’ve seen the kind of trouble Ding has gotten into. It’s nearly 1/4th of the time the players have been consuming now. For me, that mainly locations the pressure on the Chinese Grandmaster.

It undoubtedly feels that by the use of approach, Nepo has been good collectively together with his preparation. He’s very clear collectively together with his approach and when since they now have merely 25 minutes each for a recreation, it undoubtedly offers him the sting.

It must be decided inside the first tie-break itself which might have 4 Rapid video video games with time administration of 25 Min plus an increment of 10 seconds after every switch.

(Pravin Thipsay is an Indian Grandmaster and a recipient of the Arjuna Award)

Moves (Game 14): 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 0–0 5.Bd2 d5 6.a3 Be7 7.Nf3 c5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Qc2 dxc4 10.Bxc4 Nbd7 11.Rd1 Be7 12.Ng5 h6 13.h4 Qc7 14.Be2 Rd8 15.Rc1 Nf8 16.Nge4 Nxe4 17.Nxe4 Qxc2 18.Rxc2 Bd7 19.Bb4 Bxb4+ 20.axb4 Bc6 21.Nc5 Bxg2 22.Rg1 Bd5 23.e4 Bc6 24.b5 Be8 25.Nxb7 Rd4 26.Rc4 Rd7 27.Nc5 Rc7 28.Rc3 Rac8 29.b4 Nd7 30.Rcg3 Nxc5 31.bxc5 Rxc5 32.Rxg7+ Kf8 33.Bd3 Rd8 34.Ke2 Rc3 35.Rg8+ Ke7 36.R1g3 e5? 37.Rh8! Rd6 38.b6!! Rxb6 39.Rxe8+! Kxe8 40.Bb5+! Rxb5 41.Rxc3 Kd7 42.Rf3 Ke7 43.Rc3 a5 44.Rc7+
Kf6 45.Rc6+ Kg7 46.Ra6 Rb2+ 47.Kf3 Ra2 48.Kg3 h5 49.Ra8 Ra1 50.Kg2 a4 51.Ra5! f6 52.Kf3 a3 53.Ra6 Kf7 54.Ke3 Ke8 55.Ke2 Ke7 56.Kf3 Ra2 57.Ke3 Ra1 58.Ke2 Kf7 59.Kf3 Ra2 60.Ke3 Ke7 61.Kf3 Kd7 62.Rxf6 Rb2 63.Ra6 Rb3+ 64.Kg2 Kc7 65.f4!! [Only move to draw.] 65…exf4 66.e5! Kb7 67.Ra4 Kc6 68.Ra6+ Kb5 69.Ra7 Kb6 70.Ra8 Kc5 71.Ra6 Kb5 72.Ra7 Kb6 73.Ra8
Kc6 74.Ra6+ Kd7 75.Kf2 Ke7 76.Kg2 Re3 77.Kf2 Rg3 78.Kf1 Rc3 79.Kf2 Re3 80.Kg2 Kd7 81.Kf2 Kc7 82.e6 Kd8 83.Ra7 Ke8 84.Kg2 Rxe6 85.Rxa3 Rg6+ 86.Kf2 Rg4 87.Ra5! Rxh4 88.Kf3 Ke7 89.Rf5 Ke6 90.Rxf4 Rxf4+ Game drawn by settlement.