Ding Liren v Dommaraju Gukesh Game Six

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 {A London System. Don't go...come back. this one is good.} 2... d5 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Bd6 6. Bb5+ {This is what Carlsen played v Ding at Tata Steel in 2023. It ended in a draw.} 6... Nc6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. Bxd6 Qxd6 9. Qa4 {We are still following the Carlsen game, both players are moving quite quickly.} 9... O-O 10. Qa3 {In the 2023 game Carlsen played 10. 0-0 but we are still in the players prep.} 10... Ne4 11. Nfd2 {Still in known theory. Whose prep runs the deepest?} 11... e5 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qxc5 {Still know theory, four other games have gone this way since 2021.} 13... Qg6 {Gukesh avoids a Queen swap. not for the first time in this game...stay tuned.} 14. Nd2 {Offering the g2 pawn for an open file v the Black King.} 14... Qxg2 {Knowing he is walking into a prepared line Gukesh takes it.} 15. O-O-O Qxf2 {And this one - Game On.} 16. dxe5 {In Aronian - Perez 2022 White played Rde1, then Rhf1 and there was a 3 fold rep with Black Queen going from h2-f2.} 16... Rb8 {Gukesh is slowing down now. That move took six minutes.} 17. Nc4 {Still is in Ding's prep, he is moving quickly, Black's reply came after 14 minutes.} 17... Be6 18. Rd2 Qf3 19. Re1 {Black cannot allow that Knight to stay on the board.} 19... Bxc4 {But it took Gukesh 20 minutes too take it.} 20. Qxc4 {The battle continues with the heavy pieces.} 20... Qf5 {We are now at the end of Ding's prep. And how do we know...} 21. Qxc6 {...because he spent 43 minutes on that move.} 21... Qxe5 22. Qd5 {After out-prepping his opponent and gaining then losing a massive time advantage, Ding offers a draw.} 22... Qe7 23. Qd6 Qg5 24. Qd5 Qe7 25. Qd6 {Are we going to see a three fold rep draw?} 25... Qg5 26. Qd5 Qh4 {Gukesh wants to play on. Good for him. Ding lost that battle of minds.} 27. Red1 g6 {Luft. I'll not bother showing another selection of RHP games featuring a back rank mate..} 28. Qe5 {Now a bit of heavy piece shuggling as both players try to eek out a blunder or a poor decision.} 28... Rbe8 {I was thinking Rfe8 but that leave the f7 exposed.} 29. Qg3 {Another Queen swap offered by Ding....} 29... Qh5 {...and knocked back by Gukesh.} 30. Qf4 Qa5 {Probing for a weakness. The game is delicately balanced.} 31. a3 Qb5 32. Rd4 {Ding is trying to suck out f5 which could give White chances.} 32... Qe2 {33.Rxe4 Rxe4 34. Qxe4 Qxh2 was on. Ding saves the h2 pawn.} 33. R1d2 Qf3 {Gukesh offers a Queen trade under his terms.} 34. Kc2 Qxf4 35. exf4 f5 {Now with the Queens off Black is happy to play f5.} 36. h4 {Ding does not want to see h6 and g6 appearing. He also has another idea in mind.} 36... e3 {That pawn could get surround but Gukesh has worked out it is OK.} 37. Re2 Re7 38. Kd3 Rfe8 39. h5 {Crippling the Kingside pawns and turning them into targets,} 39... gxh5 40. Rd5 h4 41. Rxf5 {Both players are now receiving a 30 second increment.} 41... Rd7+ 42. Kc2 Kg7 43. Rg2+ {Will Gukesh play 43...Kh6 44. Rf3 + and mate next move.} 43... Kh8 {No. But I do have a couple of RHP games that went that way in similar positions.} 44. Re2 {White has to go back to e2 to block the e3 pawn.} 44... Kg7 {We have had our fun for today signals Gukesh.} 45. Rg2+ {And Ding too is happy to enjoy tomorrow's rest day.} 45... Kh8 46. Re2 Kg7 {Draw by Three fold Rep.}