A week after Ding Liren became the new world chess champion and a day after King Charless III was crowned in London, GM Jon Speelman reflects on the memorable match from Astana. Referring to Ding’s much praised decision to play .Rg6 in the deciding game, Speelman writes: “That’s the one moment of the match that I’m going to revisit, not so much from the technical point of view but the psychological. Decision-making in chess involves both pure chess skill and general intelligence, and the small calculated risk that Ding took was a prime example”. | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage
Going for a mainstream system in elite-GM practice, Ding Liren managed to hold a draw with the black pieces in game 9 of the World Championship match. Ian Nepomniachtchi did get an edge, but could not break through Ding’s defences. The Russian GM thus kept his 1-point lead, as five games remain to be played in Astana. | Photo: FIDE / Stev Bonhage
Nothing changed atop the standings of the Tata Steel Masters, as Nodirbek Abdusattorov held Anish Giri to a draw with black, and Magnus Carlsen could not get much with white against Wesley So. Thus, Abdusattorov still has a half point lead over Giri ahead of the tournament’s final weekend. Meanwhile, in the Challengers, Alexander Donchenko beat top seed Amin Tabatabaei to go into the final two days of action in sole first place. | Photo: Jurriaan Hoefsmit / Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2023
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