World Chess Championship (Game 8)

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {A Nimzo Indian.} 4. e3 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ {Both sides will be happy. White has two long term Bishops. Black has disturbed White's pawns} 6. bxc3 d6 {Planning e5 or c5 ideas.} 7. Ne2 {Going for f3 and e4 or Ng3} 7... c5 {c5 after a few minutes thought.} 8. Ng3 {The usually response to c5.} 8... Nc6 {Standard development.} 9. Ra2 {Hopefully the reason for this will become clear later.} 9... b6 {Black tries to ignore Ra2 and carries on developing.} 10. e4 {Going for an early central break. the Rook can go to e2, d2 or even f2 after f4.} 10... Ba6 {The usual square for a Bishop in this set up.} 11. Bg5 h6 {Both players moving quickly, has 9 Ra2 been anticipated by Black.} 12. h4 {And it's game on...played quickly by Ding so still in prep.} 12... hxg5 13. hxg5 g6 {Black has to give piece back.} 14. gxf6 {Best. Played after 9 minutes thought. Ding just recalling his lines.} 14... Qxf6 {Forced. and now 15.Qg4 -h3 looks on. e5 and Ne4 maybe Rd2 to hold d4.} 15. e5 {After 14 minutes though. Ding burning up time again.} 15... dxe5 {The first real think from Nepo (12 minutes) both out of prep. Game on....} 16. d5 {Yes! I was looking at that and it was played. Nepo will take his time here.} 16... Ne7 {After 10 minutes, inviting dxe6 or d6.} 17. d6 {After 33 Minutes....It was an obvious move. Cannot see what else he was considering.} 17... Nf5 {Played immediately so Nepo was thinking on Ding's time.} 18. Ne4 {This opens up g2-g4 ideas.} 18... Qd8 {Now g4-g5 and Nf6+ looks like a plan.} 19. Qd3 {The Queens has Qh3 ideas. Getting to an only move stage.} 19... Kg7 {And that look good and solid.} 20. g4 Bb7 {Defending tactically. That e4 Knight is too strong.} 21. Rh3 {21. gxf4 exf4 wins the piece back. Now Bxe4 looks best.} 21... Nh4 {That was a pleasant surprise, I thought that e4 Knight was coming off} 22. g5 Bxe4 {Played after 12 minutes thought. 22...Rh8 to quieten down the h-file looked better,} 23. Qxe4 {Played instantly.} 23... Nf5 {Nepo's defensive plan. Looks OK. now it is about the d6 pawn.} 24. Rd2 {To hold the d-pawn.} 24... Rh8 {To take away tricks down the h-file.} 25. Rxh8 Qxh8 {Now 26.Rd3 with Qxe5+ and Rh3 ideas.} 26. d7 {Looks good. Maybe it's another way to win this.} 26... Rd8 27. Qxe5+ Kh7 28. Qh2+ Kg7 29. Qe5+ Kh7 30. Qh2+ Kg7 {To gain some clock time. Ding has learned at least one lesson from game 7.} 31. Qc7 Qh4 {Nepo is going for a perpetual.} 32. Kd1 {And Ding believes him. I'll do a sub game to see if it was on.} 32... Qxg5 {Was this a nice bluff by Nepo.} 33. Kc2 Qe7 34. Bg2 e5 {Nepo is going to use this pawn to create counter play.} 35. Be4 Nh6 36. Qxa7 {Ding puts a pawn in the bank.} 36... Ng4 37. Bf3 Nxf2 {Nepo gives up the Knight to get that d7 pawn.} 38. Rxf2 e4 39. Re2 f5 {The d7 pawn can be picked up next move.} 40. Qxb6 {Played with 4 seconds left on his clock.} 40... Rxd7 {I was thinking 40...Qxd7 with an attack down the d-file but 41.Rg2 hits g6.} 41. Qb8 {White has to watch out for Black playing Qd6 unpinning the Queen and Qd3+} 41... Qd6 {Black takes off the Queens. It's the three Kingside pawns v the Bishop.} 42. Qxd6 Rxd6 43. Bxe4 {Ding does not fancy the three pawns v Bishop ending.} 43... fxe4 44. Rxe4 Kf6 {This looks like it’s drawn....It must be.} 45. Re8 {Draw offered by Ding and agreed.}

[FEN "3r4/p1QP1pk1/1p2p1p1/2p2nP1/2P4q/P1P5/3R1P2/4KB2 w - - 0 32"]
[PlyCount "77"]
32. Qxd8 Qe4+ 33. Re2 Qb1+ 34. Kd2 Qb2+ 35. Kd3 Qb1+ 36. Rc2 Qxf1+ {I think here a player would stop analysing and not allow the perpetual.} 37. Kd2 Nd6 {Threatening Nxc4 mate!} 38. Qf6+ Kh7 39. Qh8+ Kxh8 40. d8=Q+ Kg7 41. Qxd6 {And White wins.}