Annotations by GM Elshan Moradiabadi1.c4...As mentioned by Nepo in the post-game conference, he did not think there was a high probability of Ding playing the English in this game. We all remember how Nepo had a crucial victory against Ding in the first round of 2022 Candidates in Spain.1....Nf61...e52.g3c63.Nf3e44.Nd4d55.cxd5Qxd56.Nc2Nf67.Nc3Qe58.Bg2Na69.O-OBe710.Ne3O-O11.a3Re812.b4Ng413.Bb2Qh514.h4Bf615.Qc2Nxe316.dxe3Bf517.Na4Bxb218.Nxb2Nc719.Nc4Re620.Rfd1Nd521.Rd4h622.Qd2Rae823.Kh2Bg424.Na5Rf625.Kg1g526.Nxb7gxh427.Nc5h328.Rxe4hxg229.Rxe8+Kg730.f4Qh1+31.Kf2Qxa132.Kxg2Bh3+was Black's win in Ding – Nepomniachtchi, Madrid, 2022.2.Nc3e53.Nf3Nc64.e3Bb45.Qc2Bxc36.bxc3...This is a good sign! Ding is playing for a win, after all. I am personally connected to this position, as I won from the Black side against GM Ilya Nyzhnyk in the last round of the 2022 U.S. Open. Despite my positive feelings for this position, Black has a few plans against White's ambitious move.6.Qxc3This move has proven to be too easy to handle these
days. See Chapter 7.6....d6The engine's favorite move.6...O-OThis was my choice when I was trying to play for a win. See Chapter 8.6...e4This leads to a forced sharp line, in which Black has few problems. This is also covered in Chapter 8.7.e4O-O8.Be2Nh5Nepo committed to this rather quickly. I suspect he had some in-depth analysis (dah!) and he was confident that he would recall it as he played through the next few moves. For better alternatives, see Chapter 9.9.d4Nf410.Bxf4exf411.O-OQf612.Rfe1Re813.Bd3...Ding mentioned that he was already out of his preparation. Yet, he continued with energetic play and clear plans. This is what he is known for: crystal clear plans!13....Bg414.Nd2!...Without hesitations.14.e5dxe515.Bxh7+Kf8only hands over the initiative to Black.14....Na515.c5!...Ding plays enthusiastically. This does not worry the engines a bit, but in a practical sense, White has something to play for now.15....dxc516.e5Qh617.d5Rad818.c4b619.h3Bh520.Be4!...Another excellent idea, though engines like Qc2-c3 follow by retreating the bishop to c2 a tad better. This move keeps the knight on a5 at bay. Also, the e5-pawn is tactically protected thanks to the Be4xh7+ idea.20....Re721.Qc3Rde822.Bf3Nb723.Re2f6The knight needs the d6-square. However, this leaves White with a monstrous center.24.e6Nd625.Rae1Nf5?!This is the beginning of a strategic catastrophe.25...Bg626.Ra1!An odd move, suggested by the engines.Qg527.a4a528.Ree1!Some Ra1-a3, Bf3-g4, or Bf3-Be4 are suggested by the engines and it appears that White is maintaining long-term pressure by 'dillydallying' his pieces around Black's queen. I am not convinced White is even that much better, but it is certainly unpleasant for Black.Qh629.Bg4Kf830.Qb3Qg531.Nf3Qh626.Bxh5Qxh527.Re4Qh628.Qf3Nd4??Nepo walks into a strategically losing position where White dominates the board with his knight. It reminds me of the game Hort – Kurajica where Hort played 20.Rd6! and dominated the dark squares. See Chapter 10.28...g529.Rxd4!...Ding returns the "favor" of Nepo's second-round exchange sacrifice. The remainder is an immaculate technical display by Ding.29....cxd430.Nb3g5?!Bad but it really does not matter.31.Nxd4Qg632.g4!...securing the f5-square.32....fxg333.fxg3h534.Nf5Rh735.Qe4Kh836.e7...(Around here, several commentators were debating whether White could “slow play” the position. One possibility was even walking the king over to the queenside, reminiscent of Karpov – Jussupow (1993) as shown in Chapter 11 - JJL)36....Qf737.d6!...Taking advantage of the move ... Kg8-h8.37....cxd638.Nxd6Qg838...Rxe739.Nxf7++−39.Nxe8Qxe840.Qe6Kg741.Rf1Rh642.Rd1f543.Qe5+Kf744.Qxf5+Rf645.Qh7+Ke646.Qg7Rg647.Qf8A neat victory for Ding. A step-by-step execution of his plans, tailored to perfection! It is amazing how fast he managed to come back from a barely recognizable shadow of himself to the man who won this game in style.1-0