FIDE World Chess Championship 2023: GM Ian Nepomniachtchi and GM Ding Liren, achieving 6.5 points apiece
The 13th game of the 2023 FIDE World Championship ended in a draw, with both players, GM Ian Nepomniachtchi and GM Ding Liren, achieving 6.5 points apiece. This result sets the stage for an exciting final classical game, which, if also ends in a draw, will lead to a series of rapid tiebreaks.
The game was closely watched by fans, commentators, and chess experts, who were all eager to see how the players would perform after a devastating loss in the previous game.
Nepomniachtchi, playing with White, started the game with the Ruy Lopez Opening: Morphy Defense, Closed, Martinez Variation, which Ding had struggled against in the 11th game.
However, both players seemed well-prepared, with Ding responding to Nepomniachtchi’s first diversion from common theory, 10.Be3, with a quick 10…Na5 move. The early middlegame saw an intense battle for the center, with Nepomniachtchi’s 14.d4 encouraging an asymmetrical pawn structure.
Ding’s fascinating move
As the game progressed, Caruana, one of the commentators, expressed concerns about Nepomniachtchi’s moves, suggesting that the game might be slipping away from him.
Ding took advantage of this and made a fascinating move, 21…Re5!?, which left commentators and experts perplexed. However, little came of it, and Ding soon sacrificed the exchange for a bishop and pawn, leading to a queen trade and an endgame that favored Nepomniachtchi.
Nepomniachtchi was able to navigate the endgame with clinical precision, but his attempts to win were thwarted by Ding’s defense, supported by powerful c- and e-pawns and a knight.
The game ended in a draw, with both players achieving 6.5 points each. The final classical game promises to be an exciting one, as both players will be fighting to secure a win and avoid the rapid tiebreaks.
