The real novelty.
1. c2c4  1... g8f6  2. b1c3  2... e7e5  3. e2e3 It seems that Ding has an inexhaustible amount of little ideas in the English Opening. 3... f8b4  4. g1e2 All very logical, and we've seen this in different forms before. White wants to play a3 and capture on c3 with a piece. 4... e8g8  5. a2a3  5... b4e7  6. d2d4  6... e5d4  7. d1d4  7... b8a6 [%c_effect a6;square;a6;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This rare move is probably the result of home preparation. The main question in this position is whether Black will be able to play the liberating d7-d5 move or not. 8. d4d1 The queen retreats as prophylaxis against Nc5. In case of 8... c7c6 [%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A new move in this position, but we will have a transposition later. The plan is to play Nc5 and then d7-d5. 9. e2f4  9... a6c7  10. e3e4 Ding wants to avoid the move d7-d5, which leads to easy equality.