World Chess Championship: Ian Nepomniachtchi remains a point ahead of Ding Liren after Game 11 draw

Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren split a point following a quick game. With only three games left to determine the 17th World Champion, the pressure is mounting on the Chinese GM.

With only three games left to determine the 17th World Champion, the pressure is mounting on Ding Liren (right) with Ian Nepomniachtchi a point ahead. (Photo: FIDE/Stev Bonhage)

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1x 1.5x 1.8x

Game 11 of the World Chess Championship 2023 between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren to determine the 17th World Champion ended in a draw after 39 moves and just after an hour and 40 minutes of play. The score is now 6:5 for Nepomniachtchi, with just three more games left for Ding to mount another comeback in the contest.

With just three more games left, the pressure is increasing for both players: Nepomniachtchi needs to maintain course and keep his guard up, while Ding is under increasing pressure to secure a win.

Grandmaster Pravin Thipsay has been analysing games of the World Chess Championship for The Indian Express. You can read his analysis of Game 10, Game 9, Game 8, Game 7, Game 6, Game 5, Game 4, Game 3, Game 2, and Game 1.

In the Berlin line of the Ruy Lopez, Nepomniachtchi, playing as White, deviated from the c3-line he played before in the match and opted to go with 8.a3. Ding also avoided the most popular track. As the game developed, White managed to gain slightly more initiative and a more comfortable position on the board. Ding was on the defensive side and was more passive.
After the somewhat premature move 15…c4 by Ding, opening some weaknesses, White had a chance to put more pressure on Black. Nepomniachtchi instead opted to simplify the position. After a series of exchanges on the board, the two entered a drawn rook endgame.

Again, as in round nine, a position transpired on the board where White had an extra pawn in the endgame but it was a draw. Unlike in round nine where the debate in a drawn position lasted for two hours, here the two played much quicker and agreed to split a point.