Ding preferred the immediate 8...a5 in a recent game that he lost against Firouzja.
1. e2e4  1... e7e5  2. g1f3  2... b8c6  3. f1b5  3... g8f6  4. d2d3  4... f8c5  5. c2c3  5... e8g8  6. e1g1  6... d7d5 A fashionable line against the Anti-Berlin. 7. b1d2  7... d5e4  8. d3e4 