World Chess Championship enters final phase as Nepomniachtchi retains lead
Despite Ding’s advantage of playing with the white pieces, he was unable to secure a win, getting only a slightly better position. With just four more games scheduled to take place, Nepomniachtchi maintains the lead with 5,5:4,5 In a tense match where every move counts, with the advantage of leading the white pieces and trailing Ian Nepomniachtchi, Ding Liren was under more pressure to play for a win in game ten. Despite White managing to create some initiative, Black was just in time to defend everything and held his ground in the endgame. In the Four knights variation of the English opening, Ian Nepomniachtchi opted for a sharper but solid line where Black leaves his king uncastled and pushes on the kingside. The two entered a position which Nepomniachtchi tested as White in 2020, meaning he was familiar with the line. Ding Liren played the optimal moves, got some initiative and even won a pawn but it seemed that Ian was in his preparation as he went for a slightly inferior but defendable ending. The endgame resembled the situation from game nine. In that game, White (Nepomniachtchi) had a pawn advantage in a dead-even draw but opted to press his opponent for another 30 moves. Now, it was Ding’s turn to return the favour as he pushed in an even position with a pawn up. Black managed to activate his rook on the queenside just in time to stop White from seizing more initiative. Ding played on, trying to edge a victory, but Nepomniachtchi defended well and was better on time. Gradually, all the pieces came off the board and, after three hours of play and with just the two kings left on the board, the game ended in a draw on move 45. A solid outcome for Nepomniachtchi. With just four more games left in the match, Nepomniachtchi is leading with a score of 5.5 to 4.5, giving him an advantage in the upcoming eleventh game where he will play with the white pieces. Ding, on the other hand, must win two games and not lose the other two if he wants to take the crown to China. In the eleventh game, he will be leading black pieces which makes it riskier to play for a win. Game eleven takes place on Monday, 24th April at 3 PM Astana time. The honour of making the first ceremonial move was given to Kunsulu Zakarya, a prominent Kazakh scientist in the field of biological safety and the head of the Kazakhstan Academy of Sciences. In the Four Knights variation of the English opening, the opponents followed the game Nepomniachtchi – Cardoso (2020) up to move 14 (which Ian won but had a very bad position at some point), where Ding deviated with a logical decision to castle. Nepo responded with 14…h4. The position is even, although the white king is more secure and as long as the queens are on the board, Black has to be more careful. After a logical sequence 15.Qd3 g5 16.exd6 cxd6 17.Bd6 Qxd6 18.Qxd6 Bxd6 19.Rxd6 Ding headed for an endgame where Whtie has an extra pawn but has a bad pawn structure. Commenting on White’s choice to go for the endgame, Grandmaster Daniil Dubov noted: “Ding could be a little bit annoyed with the previous game where he was tortured in an even endgame… So he is probably saying: you know what, now it’s my turn and I will play this dry position.” After 19…Be6 20.f4 White opened the f-file for the rook but Black has enough defensive resources. Ian’s only problem was his advanced and vulnerable h3-pawn. With this in mind, he timely brought his rook to the queenside and created a sufficient counterplay against White’s weaknesses. In subsequent play, Nepo confidently held his ground and forced the exchange of a pair of rooks closer to the time control. 34…Bb3! And now, it was time for the bishops to go off the board. After forced 35.Bxb3 35…Rxc3+ 36.Kh4 Rxb3 37.Rb5 Ra3 38.Rxb6 Rxa4 39.Kxh3 White preserved his extra pawn but the rook endgame that emerged is dead drawn. Just a few moves down the road the opponents shook hands. After the game Ding noted that he did achieve some initiative, but nothing substantial. “At one point I am wondering if I could retreat the bishop instead of taking on d6 so I played the more natural move. Ian defended quite well so I didn’t have many chances in the game”. Asked about his confidence level about winning the match, Ding said: “We still have more games left. I wouldn’t say how much confidence I have”. Nepomnianichtchi said that the whole line played in the game “is interesting”. He recalled the game from 2020 when he got into the same position as White against Carlos Jose Gabriel “and I got lost with White within a few moves”. “I thought it was quite a nice line. The move of the bishop to c5 looks a little bit scary, but if you go for some forcing lines then you take extra risk. As far as I know, there’s not much White can do here”, said Nepomniachtchi. One of the questions in the press conference referred to the report about Ding Liren’s preparation being leaked online. While Ding and his team refused to comment on this, Ian Nepomniachtchi was asked for his thoughts. “My team took a look. I wouldn’t say it should be as hyped as it actually is. I am still more or less doing what I was going to do. We didn’t change it too much I think”, said Nepomniachtchi. When asked about what fascinated him in chess when he was young, Nepo noted that he learnt chess as he learnt to read adding that he was “seeking for harmony between the pieces”. Text: Milan Dinic Photo: Stev Bonhage and David Llada Official website: worldchampionship.fide.com/ About the match The 2023 FIDE World Chess Championship match between Grandmasters Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi takes place from 7th April to 1st May 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan. The match
Winners crowned at 2023 FIDE World School Championship
The FIDE World School Chess Championship, a part of the 4th Rhodes Chess Festival, is in the books. The event took place from April 13 – 23, 2023, at the Rodos Palace Resort Hotel. A very demanding and highly competitive event came to an end, with the winners crowned in each category. Round 9 started with a fast quick between WFM Anastasia Kirtadze and Lilian Eshkol, with Anastasia securing 1st place in her section. The players, coming into the final 9th round as the leaders, secured titles in almost all the categories. The only exception was U17 section where FM Adam Tarhan came out on top after scoring an important victory, while his main rival Azeri FM Suleyman Suleymanli drew his game although he had some winning chances in the final position. Final standing in the open categories: U07 McCallum, Elliot (8) CAN Nurshin, Nurali (7.5) KAZ Ulan, Rizat (7) KAZ U09 Kiringoda, Thehas Rithmitha (7.5) SRI Bissaliyev, Aisultan (7) KAZ Zhauynbay, Alimzhan (7) KAZ U11 Yilmaz, Baver (8) TUR Obidov, Biloliddin (7) UZB Kuandykuly, Danis (6.5) KAZ U13 Durucay, Uygar (9) TUR Tenguundalai, Ganbat (7.5) MGL Mamedov, Edgar (7) KAZ U15 Kiladze, Luka (6) GEO FM Celik, Hasan Huseyin TUR Raczek, Krzysztof (5.5) POL U17 FM Tarhan, Adar (7.5) TUR FM Suleymanli, Suleyman (7) AZE FM Filip, Andrei (6.5) ROU In the U13 Yugar Durucay became the only player of the tournament to score outstanting 9 out of 9, after his victory over Kuanysh Dzhumakanov in the final round. In the girls’ categories, there was no change in the final rankings after the last round. The top trios in all sections preserved their positions. G7 1. Gerelt-Oyu, Tsogtgerel (8) MGL2. Kinzyabulatova, Reana (7.5) FID3. Rayna, Ajay Patel (7) IND G9 1. Berikkyzy, Alanna (8) KAZ2. Tselmuun, Ider (8) MGL3. Zhu, Alicia (7) USA G11 1. Buyankhishig, Batpelden (8) MGL2. Pehlivanova, Aleksandra (6.5) BUL3. Diaskyzy, Daliya (6.5) KAZ G13 1. Siskou, Evangelia (7,5) GRE2. Urangoo, Gurvanbaatar(7,5) MGL3. Sodgerelt, Naranbold (6.5) MGL G15 1. WFM Kirtadze, Anastasia (7,5) GEO2. Regidor, Kaye Lalaine (7) PHI3. WCM Yildiz, Elif Zeren (6.5) TUR G17 1. WIM Kairbekova, Amina (8) KAZ2. WFM Ciftci, Zeynep (7.5) TUR3. Akat, Elifnaz (6.5) TUR The battle between the compatriots from Mongolia in the U13 Gurvanbaatar Urangoo – Naranbold Sodgerelt decided the 2nd and 3rd places in the category. Aleksandra Pehlivanova’s win over Kateryna Onipko lifted her to 2nd place on the podium in the U11 category. Closing Ceremony The Rhodes Chess Club “Ippotis” organized a huge celebration at the closing ceremony full of music, colors and endless smiles. The “Jupiter” hall was overflowed with feelings of joy, emotion, a sample of a perfectly organized event. The ceremony was attended by Kallistos Diakogeorgiou (Deputy Governor of Industry, Energy and Natural Resources) on behalf of the South Aegean Region, the President of ECU Zurab Azmaiparashvili, the General Secretary of ECU Theodoros Tzorbatzoglou, the President of the Rhodes Chess Club “Ippotis” Stamos Karavas, the President of the Mongolian Chess Federation Erdenebaatar Gurvanbaatar, the Turkish Consul in Rhodes Salim Kirciali, the Vice Presidents of ECU Gunnar Bjornsson, Eva Repkova, Alojzije Jankovic, Jean Michel Rapaire and FIDE representative Ozgur Solakoglu. The closing ceremony started with a wonderful concert by the youth choir of Michalis Kalaitzis followed by traditional dances performed by the dance group “Proodos”. Both acts enthralled all those present who clapped rhythmically to the Greek beat. The awards ceremony started with the Deputy Governor Mr. Kallistos Diakogeorgiou giving the trophies and customized medals to the G17 category, followed by Mr. Salim Kirciali with the U17 category, Ms. Eva Repkova in the G15, Mr. Zurab Azmaiparashvili in the U15, Mr. Theodoros Dzorbatzoglu in G13, Mr. Ozgur Solakoglu in U13, Mr. Erdenebaatar Gurvanbaatar in G11, Mr. Gunnar Bjornsson in U11, Mr. Jean Michel Rapaire in G09, Alojzije Jankovic in G07 and Mr. Giorgos Mastrokoukos – on behald of the organizing committee – in U07. The top 3 countries (medalists) of WSCC 2023 are:Kazakhstan 9 (2 gold, 2 silver, 5 bronze)Turkey 7 (3 Gold, 2 Silver, 2 Bronze)Mongolia 6 (2 Gold, 3 Silver, 1 Bronze) The championships were a joint event of the Rhodes Chess Club “Ippotis” with the South Aegean Region and the Municipality of Rhodes through the Municipal Organization of Culture and Sports (DOPAR) under the auspices of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) and the Hellenic Chess Federation (ESO). The organizers express their gratidude to the event’s sponsors: Xenakis Cars, Beekeeping of Dodecanese, J&D Rent a Car, Rodos Palace Hotel, Radio Taxi Diagoras, Accounting Office of Papadimitriou and Associates (Papadimitriou Panagiotis), AtHolidays, Cafe Auvergne & Restaurant Romaio, Tropaion, Odeon of Dodecanese and the communication sponsors Eleftheros Typos To facilitate transportation, Mr. Nikos Xenakis (Xenakis Cars) as the sponsor of electric mobility, provided 3 modern cars (electric – hybrid) covering the needs for the transportation of the organization’s executives. Official website: wscc2023.ippotis.com/ Text and photos: Official website