No wonder the ex-champ (to be) is looking miserable. Nepo built up a good looking position that had a lot of potential but being one point ahead killed the game.
Ian. Nepomniachtchi - Ding Liren - Game 11
Header
PGN
1. e4 {Ding needs to get a win. Is it today we get a Sicilian.} 1... e5 {No. Another Lopez? A Scotch 3.d4.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 {No Berlin Defence. Good.} 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 {A quiet solid system often leading to interesting play.} 6... b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. a3 {Giving the Bishop a bolt hole.} 8... Na5 9. Ba2 c5 10. Nc3 Be6 {Offering to swap off the Lopez Bishop.} 11. Bg5 {11. Bxe6 can lead to a wild game. Nepo is not walking into a prepared line.} 11... O-O 12. Bxf6 {Eyeing the d5 square for the Knight.} 12... Bxf6 13. Nd5 g6 14. Qd2 Bg7 {Now what. h3, Nh2 and f4. Ng5 and f4. 15.Qg5 Queens off.} 15. Ng5 {Game on - f4 is coming. 15,,,Bh6 16.Nxe6 is good for White.} 15... c4 {I predicted this on a live thread. I'm after Nb7 and Nc5 ideas.} 16. Nxe6 {Black was intending Bxd5 now we have interesting things on the f-file.} 16... fxe6 17. Ne3 {As this was getting played I was considering Nb4. Ne3 is much better.} 17... Bh6 {No unpinning tricks yet} 18. Rad1 {with dxc4 and hitting the d6 pawn in the wind.} 18... Rb8 {A counter attack on b2 if White goes for d6.} 19. dxc4 {I honestly thought this might happen a mass of exchanges are coming.} 19... Nxc4 20. Bxc4 bxc4 21. Qxd6 Qxd6 22. Rxd6 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Rxf1+ 24. Kxf1 Rxb2 25. Rxe6 Rxc2 26. Rxa6 Ra2 27. Rc6 {Trading the a-pawn for the c-pawn} 27... Rxa3 28. Rxc4 Rxe3 29. Kf2 Ra3 30. Rc5 Ra2+ 31. Kf3 Ra3+ 32. Kg4 Ra2 33. Kh3 Re2 34. Rxe5 Kf7 {This is a draw The Rook can be chased away from e5.} 35. Kg3 Kf6 36. Re8 Kf7 37. Re5 Kf6 38. Re8 Kf7 39. Re5 {A Draw.}
