[Event "Import"] [Site "https://lichess.org/pY9HeYwA"] [Date "2023.05.17"] [White "Giri, A."] [Black "Ding Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "2768"] [BlackElo "2788"] [TimeControl "-"] [Termination "Unknown"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C50"] [Opening "Italian Game: Giuoco Pianissimo, Normal"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/rizenchik"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/hCjDu7bX/YT97cIJz"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 d6 7. c3 a5 8. Nbd2 Ba7 9. a4 O-O 10. h3 { It's the 10th move only, but the position is already new to the Mega database. Anish goes for h3 which is more of a waiting move; White doesn't rush to castle his king leaving the idea of g4-g5 attack open. Anish waits for Ding Liren to make a decision. } 10... g5 { And sure enough, Ding Liren makes the mistake that Anish was probably hoping for when he played h3 instead of castling. A highly committal move by the new world champion for which Anish Giri was fully prepared for. Ding should've played 10... Be6 instead. } 11. Nxg5 { A fantastic sacrifice! I believe Anish knew this idea. Maybe not in this exact position, but he has probably analyzed it in similar positions. } 11... hxg5 12. Bxg5 Kg7 13. Qf3 Be6 14. Nf1 { Stockfish says the game is over, but surely White still has some work to do in an actual game. Anish tries to bring all of his pieces toward the weakened black king. } 14... Rh8 15. Ne3 Qe7 16. O-O-O (16. Rf1 { Should've been played immediately. The idea is to prevent Be3 and keep the rook ready for attack once the f file opens up. Anish found this idea too, but he first played 0-0-0 which gave Ding a chance to defend his f6 knight with the help of the Nb8-Nd7 maneuver. If Black plays } 16... Nb8 { now, then } 17. Nf5+ Bxf5 18. Qxf5 Nbd7 19. O-O-O c6 20. Rde1 { To prevent Be3 in case of f4 } 20... b5 21. Ba2 b4 22. f4 bxc3 23. Bxf6+ Qxf6 (23... Nxf6 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. fxe5 Qxe5 26. Qxf6 Qxf6 27. Rxf6 cxb2+ 28. Kb1 Bc5 29. Rxf7+ Ke8 30. Ref1) 24. Qxd7 exf4 25. Qg4+ Qg6 26. Qxf4 Bd4 27. Qxf7+ Qxf7 28. Rxf7+ Kh6 29. bxc3 Bxc3 30. Ref1) 16... Rag8 { Giri's long castle was a chance for Ding to defend the position but he made another mistake. He should've taken } (16... Bxe3+ 17. fxe3 Nb8 { And now at least he manages to bring the knight on d7 and hold the position. White still has compensation but there is no specific path to victory now. }) 17. Rhf1!! { Anish won't give Ding another chance. Now his attack is unstoppable. } 17... Nb8 { Ding tries to complete the Nb8-Nd7 maneuver but it's too late now. } 18. d4 exd4 19. cxd4 Nbd7 20. e5 dxe5 21. d5 Qb4 22. Qe2 { A good and solid move by Anish takes away all the hope of the world champ. } 22... Bxh3 23. gxh3 Kf8 24. h4 { Anish went on to convert his advantage rather confidently. } 24... Bd4 25. Rxd4 exd4 26. Nf5 Rxg5 27. hxg5 Ne5 28. Bb5 Nfg4 29. Kb1 Kg8 30. Nh6+ Nxh6 31. Qxe5 Ng4 32. Qxc7 Kg7 33. g6 Rf8 34. gxf7 d3 35. Rg1 Rxf7 36. Qc3+ { 1-0 White wins. } 1-0