A picture taken after Game 7. A shattered Ding Liren and a relieved Nepo.
Game 8 (recap after my instant in game notes.)
Ding Liren played an obscure 9 Ra2 which appears to have been played before.
White did a pseudo sac to open the h-file and yet again we have been invited to
another tactical chess feast with short sharp knockouts appearing on the board.
Ding had a 30 minute think on what appeared to be an obvious move (17 d6). It’s
the type of move you just play and then think after the reply to see that happens.
Ding strung together a few quick replies so it appears he had it all worked out.
(A lot of punters had thought he had gone into another trance like the last game.)
Ding had the win on the board. Even I saw it here.
Ding did not play 26.Rd3 Rd8 (what else) 27. Rh3 1-0.
Nepo bluffed Ding into thinking he a perpetual which I too would have knocked
back if I was going for a win. Later analyse proved there was no perpetual.
(The line I give in a sub variation may not be the best it looks pretty convincing.
Ding Liren - Ian. Nepomniachtchi - Game 8
The question is can Ding Liren recover from his round 7 disaster.
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.}
That perpetual try by Nepo that Ding did not allow.
FEN
3r4/p1QP1pk1/1p2p1p1/2p2nP1/2P4q/P1P5/3R1P2/4KB2 w - - 0 32
[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.}