It’s been a dream begin for Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi in his scheduled 14-game FIDE world championship match towards China’s Ding Liren. The two started play Sunday in Astana, Kazakhstan, for the vacated world chess title lengthy held by Norwegian world No. 1 GM Magnus Carlsen.

With Ding himself admitting he felt uncertain and distracted in his first journey to the sport’s largest stage, “Nepo” had a lot the higher play within the match’s first recreation Sunday earlier than conceding a draw, then grabbed the lead with a smashing TKO with the Black items in Game 2 on Monday.

The Chinese star has regarded rusty and overwhelmed in each video games, stunned by his opponent’s opening alternative in a Ruy Lopez in Game 1 and completely outplayed within the second recreation, a Queen’s Gambit the place White permits his opponent to construct up an enormous initiative on each flanks, resulting in a fast collapse. Heavy time strain in each video games didn’t assist the Chinese participant’s trigger.

Game 2 truly began with a mini-moral victory for Ding, whose 4. h3 novelty in a widely known Queen’s Gambit line compelled Black to improvise and alter. But issues begin to head south for White as early as 11. Ne4 Na5 12. Nxf6+?! (performed after a protracted, unproductive assume; 12. Nxc5 Bxc5 13. dxc5 Nd7 14. Bd2 was a extra wise path in the event you’re feeling shaky about your recreation) gxf6 (Ding mentioned he solely thought of 12…Qxf6) 13. e4? (the engines a lot want 13. dxc5 Qd7 14. c6, conserving the stability) c4!, and now Black not solely has the open g-file to play with, however enjoys vastly extra space on the queenside as properly. It seems at first as if Nepo could have bother discovering a spot for his king, nevertheless it seems to be completely protected after castling lengthy.

White’s 15. Bd2? makes issues worse, as with 15. Be3 (Qe1 can also be higher) 0-0-0?! 16. Rc1 Kb8 17. Bd3, Ding has the specter of 18. Nd2 with some reputable counterplay. And 18. Re1? (Qe1 f5 19. Kh1 is harder) once more occupies the precise sq. with the fallacious piece, leaving White open to a devastating counter: 18 … f5! 19. Bc2 (GM Robert Ris famous this very cool line: 19. exf5? Rxd4! 20. Nxd4 Rxg2+ 21. Kf1 Rxf2+!! 22. Kxf2 Qh2+ 23. Ke3 [Kf1 Qg2 mate] Bh6 mate) Nc6 (f6! 20. Qe2 e5 was additionally sturdy) 20. Bg5 (see diagram) Rxg5!, an trade sac that virtually performs itself. After 21. Nxg5 Nxd4 22. Qh5 f6 23. Nf3 (Nxh7 Qg7! 24. Nxf8 Rxf8 25. Bb1 Rg8 26. g3 f4, Black’s assault will quickly crash by way of) Nxc2 24. Rxc2 Bxe4, a second White pawn falls and Nepo’s bishops are about to run wild. It’s full domination for the second participant.

Black is very correct within the ultimate part: 26. Kh1 c3 (insult to damage — the queenside pawns White forgot to neutralize now resolve the bout) 27. bxc3 bxc3 28. Rd4 c2 29. Qh6 e5!, and Ding resigns as his rook has no good place to go; e.g. 30. Rxd6 (Rd2 c1=Q) Rxd6 31. Rc1 Rd1+ 32. Kh2 Bxf3 33. gxf3 Qd8! 34. Qe3 Rxc1 35. Qxc1 Qd1 36. Qb2+ Ka8 37. Qb6 c1=Q and the White queen checks will quickly run out.

Tuesday is a time off, and Nepomniachtchi could have the benefit once more of the White items for Wednesday’s Game 3.

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A future world champion might properly have been within the discipline as D.C.’s Washington Hilton lodge performed host to the National High School Ok-12 Championships that ended April 2. Organizers mentioned a record-busting 1,745 gamers from 38 states competed, breaking the report set in 2019 — and extra may have performed if the taking part in house have been out there.

FMs Jason Wang of Mason, Ohio, and Sharvesh Deviprasath of Coppell, Texas, shared particular person honors within the Open part, however North Virginia’s Chance Nguyen placed on a present by sharing the title within the Under-1900 part at 6-1 whereas main her Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology to the Under-1900 crew title as properly.

Nguyen clinched first place with a pleasant preventing recreation towards Maryland Class B participant Brandon Chen within the ultimate spherical, an advanced battle during which each gamers acquit themselves properly. In a Queen’s Pawn Opening, issues get messy early after 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. h5!? Bxd3 13. cxd3 d4!, beginning a brawl within the middle with each kings nonetheless uncastled.

Nguyen as Black wins a pawn however the combat is not at all over after 14. Ne4 dxe3 15. Bxe3 Nxd3+ 16. Ke2 Ne5 17. Qb3 Qd7 (Qd5 18. Qxd5 exd5 19. Nc3 0-0 20. Rad1, and White might have a slight positional edge regardless of the pawn deficit) 18. Bf4 Qd4!? (White’s central strain is getting uncomfortable, and even a queen commerce doesn't make clear issues) 19. f3 Qd4+ 20. Qxc4 Nxc4 21. Rac1!, inviting 21 … Nxb2? 22. Rc7 b5 23. h6! Nc4 24. g4 g6 (Rd8 25. Bg5! f6?? 26. gxf6 gxf6 27. Nf6 is mate) 25. Nf6+ Kd8 26. Rd1+, successful.

A essential crossroads comes after White regains the pawn with 25. hxg7 Bxg7 26. Nd6+ Kg6 27. Nxb7 Rhb8 28. Nc5 Rb2+ — the rule of thumb is {that a} king ought to be lively on this part of the sport, nevertheless it turns on the market are hidden risks for White’s king that resolve the competition: 30. Kd3? (Kf1! seems craven, however White remains to be battling after 30 … Bh6 31. Re1 e5 32. a4) Bh6! 31. Rxh6+ (sadly compelled, as 31. Rcd1 Rd8+ 32. Kc4 [Ke4?? Re2 mate] Rc8 33. Kd4 e5+ 34. Kc4 Bf8 wins) Kxh6 32. Nxe6 Rxa2, and Nguyen has received the trade and want solely join her rooks to acquire a successful ending.

White hurries the method together with the one actual oversight of the sport: 35. Nf4+ Kg7 36. Rd1? Ra4+, choosing off the unfastened knight. Chen fights on one other dozen strikes however the ending is rarely unsure.

(Click on the picture above for a bigger view of the chessboard.)

Ding-Nepomniachtchi, FIDE World Championship Match, Game 2, Astana, Kazakhstan, April 2023

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. h3 dxc4 5. e3 c5 6. Bxc4 a6 7. O-O Nc6 8. Nc3 b5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. a4 b4 11. Ne4 Na5 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. e4 c4 14. Bc2 Qc7 15. Bd2 Rg8 16. Rc1 O-O-O 17. Bd3 Kb8 18. Re1 f5 19. Bc2 Nc6 20. Bg5 Rxg5 21. Nxg5 Nxd4 22. Qh5 f6 23. Nf3 Nxc2 24. Rxc2 Bxe4 25. Rd2 Bd6 26. Kh1 c3 27. bxc3 bxc3 28. Rd4 c2 29. Qh6 e5 White resigns.

Chen-Nguyen, Under-1900 National Ok-12 Championships, Washington, D.C., April 2023

1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bf4 a6 4. e3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. Bd3 Bg6 7. h4 e6 8. Ne5 Nxe5 9. Bxe5 Nd7 10. Bf4 c5 11. dxc5 Nxc5 12. h5 Bxd3 13. cxd3 d4 14. Ne4 dxe3 15. Bxe3 Nxd3+ 16. Ke2 Ne5 17. Qb3 Qd7 18. Bf4 Qd4 19. f3 Qc4+ 20. Qxc4 Nxc4 21. Rac1 Nb6 22. h6 Nd5 23. Be5 f6 24. Bc3 Kf7 25. hxg7 Bxg7 26. Nd6+ Kg6 27. Nxb7 Rhb8 28. Nc5 Nxc3+ 29. bxc3 Rb2+ 30. Kd3 Bh6 31. Rxh6+ Kxh6 32. Nxe6 Rxa2 33. Kc4 Re8 34. Rh1+ Kg6 35. Nf4+ Kg7 36. Rd1 Ra4+ 37. Kb3 Rxf4 38. c4 a5 39. Rc1 Rc8 40. c5 Rb4+ 41. Ka3 Rb5 42. c6 Rb6 43. Rd1 Rcxc6 44. f4 Rc3+ 45. Ka2 Rc2+ 46. Ka1 Rc4 47. Rd7+ Kg6 48. f5+ Kh6 White resigns.

• David R. Sands could be reached at 202/636-3178 or by electronic mail at dsands@washingtontimes.com.

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