1. d2d4  1... g8f6  2. g1f3  2... d7d5  3. c1f4 The long-awaited moment has arrived when the London System makes its first appearance in a world championship match. If I have criticized London players, here I demonstrate my complete regret for doing so. This is not a very common weapon in Ding's repertoire, but he has used it before, and Nepomniachtchi said he expected it at some point. 3... c7c5  4. e2e3  4... b8c6  5. b1d2  5... c5d4  6. e3d4  6... c8f5  7. c2c3  7... e7e6  8. f1b5 Not the most popular choice. 8... f8d6  9. f4d6  9... d8d6  10. e1g1  10... e8g8  11. f1e1 There are not many games in this position, and most of them are by GM Gata Kamsky, a great expert in the London System. The position looks calm and even monotonous; it is difficult to predict the fireworks that we will see later. White's plan is to try to exert some pressure on the queenside, advancing the a-pawn and trying to get the knight to c5. Black's position is very solid, but there is no clear game plan. 11... h7h6 A useful move, giving the bishop a square and the king some air. However, due to White's next move, this move may not be the most accurate. 12. f3e5 A new move. 12... c6e7 Necessary to avoid the exchange on c6. 13. a2a4  13... a7a6  14. b5f1  14... f6d7 [%c_effect d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 15. e5d7  15... d6d7  16. a4a5 [%c_effect a5;square;a5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] With the structure on the queenside fixed and Black with weaknesses on the dark squares, White has a small advantage. 16... d7c7  17. d1f3  17... f8c8  18. a1a3 A sophisticated move. The rook will come in handy on the third rank later in the game, but more conventional moves are available. 18... f5g6 Black's problem is that there are no active moves available. 19. d2b3  19... e7c6  20. f3g3  20... c7e7  21. h2h4 [%c_effect h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A great move, gaining space on the kingside and showing the opponent that he is not in a hurry. Interestingly, in the previous game, it was Nepomniachtchi who executed an excellent pawn advance to h4. 21... c8e8 Nepomniachtchi decides to prepare a plan with e6-e5. The computer shows that this makes things worse, but it's hard to play without an active plan. 22. b3c5  22... e6e5  23. a3b3  23... c6a5  24. e1e5  24... e7f6  25. b3a3  25... a5c4  26. f1c4  26... d5c4 This is a critical moment in the game. 27. h4h5 [%c_effect h5;square;h5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This is a mistake due to a clever tactical resource. 27... g6c2 [%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] 28. c5b7  28... f6b6  29. b7d6 [%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] 29... e8e5  30. g3e5 This is clearly better than taking with the pawn.