Why Ding Liren is the next big thing
Odd, isn't it? To be writing an article of praise on a particular person, at the time when he is on -1 after three rounds, in a tournament where he is considered one of the clear favourites? But sometimes, it's not your results that define you.
In the ongoing Candidates 2020, Ding Liren, one of the favourites, started out with a horrific 2 losses in as many rounds, and it wasn't just the results, but also the game quality that seemed to have taken a major blip. On the other hand, there was his main rival and the top seed Fabiano Caruana, who started out with an effortless draw with Black and a nearly flawless win with White to jointly lead with 1.5/2. The two favourites, at opposite ends of the standings, met in the 3rd round.
Fabiano arrives at the board as Ding looks on. Photo: Maria Emilianova/Chess.com
Ding Liren- Fabiano Caruana; Candidates 2020 Round 3
Fabiano goes for the Slav, an opening he hasn't been playing since quite some time. It's clear that an opening expert like him has to have a good idea up his sleeve. At this moment, it's easy to go for the Exchange Slav and make a simple draw, steady your score a bit and then hope to strike back in the next rounds. For a moment, Ding contemplated this idea, but as he said afterwards: "Today when he played the Slav, I thought for one moment to just play cxd5 and make a quick draw. But then I thought that's not my style, and I should press for more."
Right, nothing spectacular. Ahead we go.
One of the big main lines in Slav. White has a few options here; 6.e3, 6.Nh4 or the ambitious 6.Ne5!? All have been heavily analysed. With 6.e3 White usually gets a small advantage but Black is solid, and it can be similar in the 6.Nh4 lines. Whereas 6.Ne5 is known to lead to much more complex fights, as the game takes on a sharp character right from the start. Ding went for 6.Ne5 and after 6...e6, 7.f3-Bb4, 8.Nxc4-0-0, 9.Kf2 we reach the following position:
So far, all known. Here Caruana unleashes the novelty 9...e5!? A very strange looking move giving up a pawn for no apparent reason. After a long think Ding goes for 10.Nxe5, which seems like the most critical test. And then comes the awe-inspiring 10...Bc2!
Black is making one energetic move after the other, not at all giving White the chance to complete his development. Again, White has a few choices. After 11.Qxc2-Qxd4, 12.e3-Qxe5, 13.g3 it seems like a balanced position- White's king is not very safe, but he has the two bishops advantage and if he manages to consolidate then White is statically better. Another option is 11.Nxf7!? but after 11...Ng4! 12.Ke1-Rxf7, 13.Qxc2-Qxd4!, 14.fxg4-Nd7!! Black has amazing long term compensation- White's king is stuck in the centre forever and he will be forced to defend for the rest of the game! And there is 11.Qd2, simply moving the queen and keeping the d4 pawn protected.
At such a moment, it's easy to feel intimidated by opponent's preparation and chicken out with 11.Qxc2, and try to go for a more safe game. But here is where we must give it up for Ding. He had full faith in his calculating abilities, he knew that Caruana and his team have analysed 11.Qd2 with an engine till the very end, and he still goes for it. Black has it all worked out at home, but Ding just doesn't care.
There's a reason they say all that matters on the chessboard is good moves.
After 11.Qd2-c5, 12.d5-Bb3, 13.e4-Re8, 14.Qf4 we reach the following position:
White is a pawn up and has a strong center. A couple of moves and he might as well be completely winning. Not in Fabi's plans, of course. He keeps blitzing. 14...c4! Sacrificing a second pawn but opening up the diagonal b6-g1 and making the White king even more vulnerable, not to mention that Bd6 is a winning threat. Well? Challenge accepted. 15.Nxc4!-Nbd7!
"Nothing makes sense anymore, this is the post-apocalyptic world!" (Carlsen) What on earth is Caruana doing? Giving pawns away and then just developing as if nothing happened?! But this is what chess in today's generation looks like.
And at this moment, it would seem Ding was staring a 3rd loss in the face. Although his position is by no means worse, when you are playing against an engine that's what you'd expect. But the truth is far from that; Even with all the psychological pressure and his time ticking down- he remained confident in his calculation skills.
16.Be3-Nf8!? 17.Bd4-Ng6.
18.Qf5! Brilliant presence of mind by Ding Liren. I feel he played this move on a more practical basis; the point is that after 18.Qc1 or 18.Qd2 Black has many sacrifices hanging in the air, which would be painfully difficult to calculate and moreover those lines are more likely to be looked at by your opponent at their home. While here it seems there are no immediate dangers, and the White queen, although vulnerable, is doing a good job controlling the center. Presumably this is the point where Caruana was out of his preparation. Now they both were in unknown territory, and while Ding had to defend very well, Fabiano too would have to prove his compensation.
After 18...Bxc4!, 19.Bxc4-Qc7, 20.Be2-Bc5, 21.Bxc5-Qxc5 (Objectively the best was 21...Re5! 22.Qh3-Nf4! but it was quite tough to calculate over the board. That said, Caruana had a lot of time on his clock, and should have probably thought for a bit longer.), 22.Kf1 we reach the following position:
22...h6? Moral Victory! If your opponent needs to play such a move like ...h6 being two pawns down you know you're doing well. All that time burnt, all the risks taken, it seems like it's finally coming to fruition. Black should have played 22...Re5! 23.Qh3-Qb4! 24.Rb1-Nf4, 25.Qg3-N6h5 followed by ...f5! The main thing is not to let White consolidate! One move wasted by Black and it will be catastrophe, as happened in the game. For this reason, I am not a big fan of Caruana's choice in this game- against such a principled player like Ding, such a line could easily backfire.
Ding simply played 23.Rd1-Qb6, 24.Rd2-Qe3, 25.Rc2-a6, 26.Qh3!-a6, 27.Qg3! and White is about to consolidate while Black's ideas are too slow. White is nearly winning. Fabiano fought for long but Ding played flawlessly to bring home the full point.
Back in business, is the Chinese no.1. Photo: Maria Emilianova
Sometimes, it's not your results that define you. Ding Liren proved that with some stunning mental fortitude and resilience.
