ASTANA – The seventh game of the World Chess Championship took a dramatic turn with China’s Ding Liren freezing under severe time pressure and losing to Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi on April 18, reported the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
Photo credit: FIDE/Stev Bonhage.
Playing with black pieces, Ding surprised his opponent with the French Defense, a move last used in a World Championship match 45 years ago.
However, Ding misplayed and resigned on the move 37 after almost four hours, giving Nepomniachtchi a 4:3 lead.
Five out of seven games in the match have ended with a decisive result, with two others ending in a draw. Nepomniachtchi and Ding have seven more games to play in this championship.
The eighth game will take place on April 20 in Astana.
