1. c2c4  1... g8f6  2. b1c3  2... e7e5  3. g1f3  3... b8c6  4. e2e4 Another new opening in the match. This is a popular line in the English these days and one of my favorites for playing with White. A curious feature of modern chess is that you can quickly become an opening specialist just by playing online. It's my case with this English System: despite never having played it over the board, I've already played it in 61 online games, facing Caruana, Nakamura, and Kamsky, among other notable grandmasters. Maybe after so many games, my charm with this line has been a little broken, but the truth is that I don't consider it good enough to be used in the world championship. 4... f8c5  5. f3e5 This is White's only decent attempt, and it leads to forcing play. 5... c6e5  6. d2d4  6... c5b4  7. d4e5  7... f6e4  8. d1f3 Nowadays nearly everyone plays this move. 8... e4c3  9. b2c3  9... b4c5 [%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Ding confessed to being surprised by this move; even so it has been seen several times, even in a blitz game by Nepomniachtchi with the white pieces. 10. f3g3 The critical move: Black cannot castle, so how to defend the g7-pawn $2 10... e8f8 [%c_effect f8;square;f8;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Another move that took Ding by surprise. He was expecting 10...g6. 11. f1e2  11... d7d6  12. c1f4  12... d8e7 Other options are available and certainly Nepomniachtchi considered them, but this move seems the most precise road to equality. 13. a1d1  13... h7h5 [%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Black wants to bother the white queen with h5-h4. In some lines the rook can be developed through the h6-square. Nepomniachtchi knew this well, as when he played the white side of this position, he soon got a lost position after this move. But to me it's very surprising that Ding was out of book at this point. Shouldn't he study all of his opponent's recent games, including the blitz ones $2 14. e1g1 This novelty is the best attempt to achieve an advantage. 14... h5h4  15. g3d3  15... g7g5 It's always difficult to advance the pawns in front of the king, but this is a decent move since it invites White to go to an endgame a pawn up, but with excellent drawing chances. 16. e5d6  16... c7d6  17. f4d6  17... e7d6  18. d3d6  18... c5d6  19. d1d6 White wins a pawn, but his queenside pawn structure is weak. 19... c8e6  20. f2f4 [%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] This is the only chance, trying to exploit Black's kingside. But Nepomniachtchi defends with confidence. 20... f8e7  21. d6d4  21... g5f4  22. f1f4  22... h4h3  23. g2g4  23... a8c8  24. g1f2 The king heads to g3, keeping the h3-pawn under pressure. 24... c8c5 [%c_effect c5;square;c5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Preparing to attack the queenside. 25. a2a4  25... c5a5  26. e2d1  26... b7b6  27. f2g3  27... h8h6 Black has a fortress. White is unable to improve the position. 28. f4e4  28... e7f8  29. d4d8  29... f8g7  30. d8a8  30... a5c5  31. a8a7  31... e6c4  32. a7e7  32... h6c6  33. e7e5  33... c5e5  34. e4e5  34... c4b3 [%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] The final touch. 35. d1b3  35... c6c3  36. g3h4  36... c3b3  37. e5b5  37... b3a3  38. b5b6  38... a3a4  39. h4h3  39... f7f5 [%c_effect f5;square;f5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 40. g4f5  40... a4f4  41. b6b5  41... g7f6 