World Chess Championship (Game Seven)

1. e4 e6 {The French, a mild surprise. Though Ding has played it before.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 {The Tarrasch variation.} 3... c5 4. Ngf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 {Hitting the e-pawn. Now what e5 or exd5.} 6. exd5 {Qxd5 or Nxd5} 6... Nxd5 {Still into well know theory.} 7. N2f3 {7...Bb5+ has a few tactical tricks but I know what's coming.} 7... Be7 {The sensible quiet way. Ding is trying to quieten down the match.} 8. Bc4 {Putting a bit of bite into the game. Is Nf5 in the wind. .} 8... Nc6 {Inviting an exchange at the cost of a weak pawn structure.} 9. Nxc6 bxc6 {The Point being the c8 Bishop is in the game with Ba6.} 10. O-O O-O 11. Qe2 {Stopping for now a5 and Ba6. } 11... Bb7 {I was thinking 11....Qc7. This was played after a long thought.} 12. Bd3 {The Bishop slips back to the Greek gift diagonal.} 12... Qc7 {A good flexible square for the Queen in this set up.} 13. Qe4 {Good. looking for a weakness. Now is it to be Nf6 or g6.} 13... Nf6 {The most solid way to stop checkmate. But now Qh4 .} 14. Qh4 {Played quickly by Nepo.} 14... c5 {I was thinking h6 so as to answer.....} 15. Bf4 {This move with Nd5. Maybe after h6 Bxh6 was big move.} 15... Qb6 16. Ne5 {With Nd7 in mind. (Nxd7 Qxh7 mate) game at a critical stage.} 16... Rad8 {Ding down to 43 minutes for the next 24 moves. This move sets up Rxd3.} 17. Rae1 {A Rook lift Re3-Rg3 coming. I saw that with Rfe1.} 17... g6 {This had to be played at some time.} 18. Bg5 {Looks good but Black can slip in.} 18... Rd4 19. Qh3 {Now Nd5 inviting some exchanges.} 19... Qc7 {Not expecting that it covers the e7 Bishop and stops Nd7 ideas.} 20. b3 {I cannot get that one. I thought of maybe c3 or even f4.} 20... Nh5 {A fighting defence, that Knight is well place there.} 21. f4 {This look like the only move to keep the attack going.} 21... Bd6 {I was expecting a piece swap. Ding is putting up a fighting defence. What a game!} 22. c3 Nxf4 {Played right away by Ding. Both players have 25 minutes to reach move 40.} 23. Bxf4 {An exchange sac and the next series of moves came very quickly by both players.} 23... Rxf4 24. Rxf4 Bxe5 25. Rh4 Rd8 {All played within a 10 seconds. What just happened.?} 26. Be4 Bxe4 27. Rhxe4 Rd5 {The smoke clears White is the exchange up for a pawn. but is it enough?} 28. Rh4 {28.c4 is answered by 28...Bd4+} 28... Qd6 {Ignoring the hit on h7 29.Rxh7 Rd1} 29. Qe3 {With Qh6 ideas.} 29... h5 30. g3 {To take away Bxh2+ tricks.} 30... Bf6 31. Rc4 h4 {Wonderful play with less than 5 minutes on the clock for 8 moves.} 32. gxh4 {The only move. Now is it Rd2 by Black.} 32... Rd2 33. Re2 {And now Ding froze at the board. I happened to me once. It's awful.} 33... Rd3 {He had 45 seconds left.} 34. Qxc5 Rd1+ 35. Kg2 Qd3 36. Rf2 Kg7 {Ding was playing on fumes. here.} 37. Rcf4 {Black is lost.} 37... Qxc3 {..and Ding ran out of time.}