[Event "FIDE World Championship 2023"] [Site "Astana, Kazakhstan"] [Date "2023.04.13"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Liren, Ding"] [Black "Nepomniachtchi, Ian"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2788"] [WhiteFideId "8603677"] [BlackElo "2795"] [BlackFideId "4168119"] [TimeControl "40/7200:20/3600:900+30"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "A28"] [Opening "English Opening: King's English Variation, Four Knights Variation, Quiet Line"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/Premier_Chess"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/Xtb4nBJu/81gk3WBc"] [Orientation "white"] 1. c4 { The English is becoming a lot more popular these days at the elite level as many of the other main lines are so heavily analyzed these days. Our recent podcast guest Jon Edwards, 2022 Correspondence Champion, says the Ruy Lopez is solved as a draw. } 1... Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 Bb4 { Nepomniachtchi plays a Nimzo Indian-like variation, with his "e" pawn on e5, instead of e6. } 5. Qc2 Bxc3 6. bxc3 { Interesting choice by Ding; I'd expect Qxc3 to not double his pawns. } 6... d6 7. e4 O-O 8. Be2 Nh5 9. d4 Nf4?! { Doubling his pawns for no reason, giving white a slight advantage. He should play Qf6 as preparation for Nf4. } 10. Bxf4 exf4 11. O-O Qf6 12. Rfe1 Re8 13. Bd3 Bg4 14. Nd2 Na5 15. c5! { A strong pawn sacrifice, trying to steamroll his center pawns. } 15... dxc5 16. e5 Qh6 17. d5 { Making a powerful duo in the center. } 17... Rad8 18. c4 b6 19. h3 Bh5 20. Be4 Re7 21. Qc3 Rde8 22. Bf3 Nb7 23. Re2 f6 24. e6 Nd6 25. Rae1 Nf5 26. Bxh5 Qxh5 27. Re4 Qh6 28. Qf3 Nd4? { A bad blunder by Nepo, overlooking a winning exchange sacrifice. } (28... g5 29. g4 Nd6 30. R4e2 $14) 29. Rxd4 cxd4 30. Nb3 g5 31. Nxd4 Qg6 32. g4 fxg3 33. fxg3 h5 34. Nf5 Rh7 35. Qe4 Kh8 36. e7 Qf7 37. d6 cxd6 38. Nxd6 Qg8 39. Nxe8 Qxe8 40. Qe6 Kg7 41. Rf1 Rh6 42. Rd1 f5 43. Qe5+ { Mate in 19! } 43... Kf7 44. Qxf5+ Rf6 45. Qh7+ Ke6 46. Qg7 Rg6 47. Qf8 { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0