GM Alireza Firouzja - GM Ding Liren

Superbet Chess Classic, (5)

Ruy Lopez, Berlin Defence

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 The notorious tough Berlin Defence that Vladimir Kramnik dramatically rehabilitated, as he successfully bamboozled Garry Kasparov with it to take his title in London in 2000. 4.d3 If you are looking for dynamic play against the Berlin Defence, then this is now the way to play, as it avoids the tabyia of the so-called "Berlin Wall endgame" with the early exchange of queens after 4.O-O Nxe4 5.d4 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.dxe5 Nf5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 that's tough for White to break down. Instead, Firouzja wants to keep the queens on with this tepid-looking little move that's grown in popularity over the last few years. 4...Bc5 5.c3 O-O 6.O-O d5 7.Nbd2 dxe4 8.dxe4 a5 9.Qc2 Qe7 10.a4 Nb8 11.h3 Up to this point, we were following Game 9 of the Nepo-Ding Liren from the recent World Championship tussle in Astana. 11...Rd8 12.Be2 Nbd7 13.Re1 Nf8 14.Nb3 Bb6 15.Nfd2 Be6 16.Nc4 Bxc4 17.Bxc4 Ne6 Like his match against Nepo, once again Ding has got a good position from the Berlin. But in essence, this is an equal position, and one where Firouzja says Ding just got "a bit too aggressive" with his next move. 18.g3 h5

Ambitious, if nothing else. But sometimes when you are the king, you try to use that crown to intimidate an opponent.

19.Kg2 h4 20.Qe2 g6?! "A terrible move," according to Firouzja, as this leaves Ding's king vulnerable and weak. But right now we probably can't see why - but for a super-GM at this level, it soon becomes clear. 21.Nd2! Firouzja quickly highlights the weakness with Ding's previous move, as the knight coming to f3 opens the f-file and pressure piling down on f7, and even more so with the pawn sacrifice as the knight looks to land on g5. 21...Nc5 22.Nf3!

Strategically, White is much better but Firouzja was the first to admit in his post-game presser to now "losing his way."

22...hxg3 23.fxg3 Ncxe4 24.Ng5?! Initially Firouzja just thought that 24.Qc2 was winning, only to discover the instant "cold shower" of 24...Qc5! and Black is winning! The (full) point is 25.Ba2 Rd2+!!. It was only after the game that it suddenly dawned on him that the prophylactic retreat with 24.Ba2! was better for White, but nevertheless, he felt that with his 24.Ng5 Plan B, he should be no worse - but he hadn't noticed a big flaw that could have proved fatal.

24...Nd6 25.Ba2 Re8 26.h4 Kg7 27.Rf1 Rad8! The pendulum has swung back to Ding - but at the critical moment, he goes astray with dire consequences. 28.Bd2 e4 29.Bf4 e3 30.Rad1(see diagram) 30...Nfe4? The position has just gone random crazy, as ironically the simply winning was the other knight move with 30...Nde4! the subtle difference is that 31.Nxf7 Rxd1! 32.Rxd1 Nf2! 33.Rf1 Qd7! with the double threat of ...Qh3+ and ...Qc6+ that can't be easily met. 34.Ng5 Qc6+ 35.Nf3 9Much worse is 35.Qf3?? e2! 36.Re1 Nd3 winning.) 35...Qxa4 and Black has a material and winning advantage. 31.Bxd6 Nxd6 32.Bxf7! Despite the seemingly strong Black e-pawn at the end of the rainbow, all the tactics are winning for Firouzja. 32...Nxf7 33.Rxf7+ Qxf7 34.Nxf7 Rxd1 35.Qxd1 Kxf7 Amidst the maelstrom, it could well be that Ding initially thought he was winning with 35...e2? but there's a big sting in the tail with the very unlikely mate with 36.Qd7! e1=Q 37.Ne5+ Kf6 38.Ng4#!! 36.Qe2 Ke7? This is an illogical move that goes against the grain of saving the game with the advanced e-pawn. What was needed, as one of the talking heads on the commentary team pointed out, was the consolidating ...Bc5 looking to bring the bishop to d6 covering some awkward checks on d7, and Black having the better coordination of his pieces to hold the game. It was a strange decision that Ding almost immediately regretted the moment he made it. 37.Kf1! The king coming to e1 blockading the e-pawn is the key to freeing up Firouzja's queen to wreak havoc on Ding's loose position. 37...Rf8+ 38.Ke1 Rf2

Looks can often be deceptive, and here, the rook only looks threatening - but it it isn't, and so long as White doesn't panic, he should easily start mobilising his kingside pawns up the board. 39.Qg4 The (full) point is basically that Black can't now play ...e2 as the e-pawn becomes a liability and restricts Black's rook. 39...Kf6 40.Qg5+ Kf7 41.Qd5+ Kf6 42.g4! Rxb2 43.g5+ Ke7 44.Qe5+ Kd7 45.Qg7+ Kd6 46.Qxg6+ The rest needs to further comment, as Firouzja successfully shepherds his kingside pawns home for his first classical win over a world champion! 46...Ke5 47.Qe8+ Kf4 48.g6 Rb1+ 49.Ke2 Rb2+ 50.Kd3 Rd2+ 51.Kc4 Rg2 52.Qf7+ 1-0