2023 Nepomniachtchi - Ding Liren, Third Week

In the previous report on this blog, 2023 Nepomniachtchi - Ding Liren, Second Week (April 2023), I summed up the action saying,

The last four games this week were all decisive, leaving Nepo with a +3-2=2 lead. As the game seven report implies, Ding Liren had the opportunity to take the lead.

Since then, all four games have ended in draws. Starting with last week's +3-2=2 and adding this week's +0-0=4 gives a current score of +3-2=6 in Nepo's favor, with three games still to be played. Ding will have the White pieces in two of those games.

Let's document the action using reports from the same site, worldchampionship.fide.com, and the same journalist, Milan Dinic. Here are his reports on the four draws:-

• g.08: Ding drops crucial victory as Nepomniachtchi maintains lead
• g.09: Nepomniachtchi maintains the lead following a draw in Game 9
• g.10: World Chess Championship enters final phase as Nepomniachtchi retains lead
• g.11: Nepomniachtchi remains one point ahead of Ding after Game 11 draw

While writing this, I'm watching game 12 on YouTube's FIDE chess channel. Currently around move 30, the game has now entered a phase where the evaluation bar is swinging up and down on every move. I have rarely understood so little while watching an online game.

In a recent post on my main blog, World Championship Social Media 2023 (April 2023), I noted,

The main drawback to the FIDE broadcasts is the chat stream. There are some notable exceptions to the many cringeworthy comments, but how to eliminate the dross?

The chat has disappeared for game 12, so it appears that other people felt the same as I did. While I miss the knowledgeable comments, I can do without the racist and sexist slurs that are too common. Imagine watching a Grand Slam tennis tournament while rubes are hollaring insults at the players. There's no reason why we should accept such behavior during top chess events. Thanks, FIDE chess, for improving the atmosphere of your broadcast.

2023 Nepomniachtchi - Ding Liren, Second Week

I summarized last week's post, 2023 Nepomniachtchi - Ding Liren, First Week (April 2023), writing,

The first two match games ended in a draw and a win for Nepo as Black. Here are the game reports on Fide.com, both signed Milan Dinic [...]

Let's continue with more reports from the same source, worldchampionship.fide.com, and the same writer:-

• g.03: Ding secures an important draw in game three
• g.04: Ding Liren strikes back with a victory
• g.05: Nepomniachtchi takes the lead again
• g.06: The pendulum swings: Ding Liren equalises again
• g.07: Nepomniachtchi takes the lead for the third time as Ding misplays in time trouble • '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.'

The last four games this week were all decisive, leaving Nepo with a +3-2=2 lead. As the game seven report implies, Ding Liren had the opportunity to take the lead.

One of the main side stories in the match is the state of Ding's nerves. Will this turn out to be the deciding factor?

***

First Move by Dana Reizniece-Ozola; Photo from 'Game 6'
Courtesy of FIDE / Stev Bonhage

2023 Nepomniachtchi - Ding Liren, First Week

Make that 'First Half-Week'. This post is dated Wednesday, as are all posts on this blog. The opening ceremony, which took place last Friday, was followed by a rest day, two games, and another rest day. On my main blog I've already posted a video for 2023 Nepo - Ding, Opening Press Conference (April 2023). On this blog I posted basic information about the match in 2023 Nepomniachtchi - Ding Liren Warmup (March 2023).

The first two match games ended in a draw and a win for Nepo as Black. Here are the game reports on Fide.com, both signed Milan Dinic:-

• g.01: The first game ends in a draw (worldchampionship.fide.com)
• g.02: Nepomniachtchi defeats Ding in the second game (ditto)

So far the court of public opinion seems to consider the match a legitmate World Championship. One prominent naysayer is the 13th World Champion:-

• 2023-03-24: Garry Kasparov calls April’s world title match 'amputated event' (theguardian.com; Leonard Barden) • 'Kasparov says 'the world championship match should include the strongest player on the planet, and this match doesn't'

Barden quoted Kasparov saying, 'The match between Nepo and Ding is a great show, but it’s not a world championship match', then opined,

Comments on Kasparov's assertion have been mostly negative, pointing out that the match is actually between the two highest rated players who are ready to participate, which Carlsen is not.

For the rest of the match I'll loosely follow the same format I used for the previous title match. See 2021 Carlsen - Nepomniachtchi, Wrapup (December 2021) for a summary of that match.

***

The Long View; Photo from 'Game 1'
Courtesy of FIDE / Stev Bonhage

2022-23 WGP, New Delhi, Marred by Withdrawals

For the record:-

• 2023-03-23: Anna and Mariya Muzychuk will not play in the third leg of the Grand Prix (chessbase.com; Johannes Fischer) • 'On March 24, the third of four tournaments in the FIDE Women’s Grand Prix Series 2022/2023 will begin in New Delhi, India. Twelve players will compete, but the two Ukrainian grandmasters Anna and Mariya Muzychuk have decided not to take part, presumably because Kateryna Lagno, Polina Shuvalova and Aleksandra Goryachkina, who are members of the Russian Chess Federation but play under the FIDE flag, will be among the participants in New Delhi.' • NB: 'presumably'
  
  
• 2023-03-25: New Delhi GP: Abdumalik withdraws, first round postponed due to organizational issues (chessbase.com; Carlos Alberto Colodro) • 'The third stage of the Women’s Grand Prix series, set to take place in New Delhi, did not start as scheduled on Saturday, March 25. It was reported that some of the players were not received by official transport at the airport and that, at the hotel, they were informed that the rooms were not ready and the breakfast was not included in the price. Due to these conditions, Zhansaya Abdumalik withdrew from the event. FIDE and the eleven remaining players decided that the event would take place anyway, albeit starting on Sunday.' • NB: 'breakfast was not included in the price'
  
  
• 2023-03-27: What is happening in New Delhi at the Women’s Grand Prix? (chessbase.com; Sagar Shah) • 'The FIDE Women’s Grand Prix 2022-23 is into its third leg, and it is a huge moment for Indian chess. The start to the event has been rocky. One of the participants, Zhansaya Abdumalik, has withdrawn from the tournament after reaching New Delhi and spending a day at the venue. The players wrote an official letter to the FIDE President, and FIDE responded back with an official statement. Meanwhile, Zhansaya’s compatriot Bibisara Assaubayeva, who is present at the venue, wrote a post on social media voicing her opinions. We try to put it all together in this article.' • NB: 'a huge moment for Indian chess'

For the previous Grand Prix event, see 2022-23 WGP, Munich (February 2023).