The Week in Chess

Ding Liren won the sixth game of the FIDE World Chess Championship match Astana, Kazakhstan to level the score against his opponent Ian Nepomniachtchi. Ding chose the London System which appeared for the very first time in a title match. Nepomniachtchi replied with one of the very main lines but after 14...Nd7 he slipped into an uncomfortable position.

20.Qg3 offered black an endgame, it was possible to take this and hope to hang on. 23.Rb3 was a good way of playing, 23.b4 was preferred by the engines. After this both sides seemed to find the best moves. 32.Rc5 was certainly a natural continuation but 32.Qe1 holding everything for a few moves seems to be better. Black's last chance seemed to be 32...Qxc3 which Nepomniachtchi would have had to have chosen intuitively as the saving lines were long and most likely the position just appeared lost.

After 32...Qc1 black was lost but he decided to bank on his a-pawn whose advance certainly looks dangerous. Ding launched an attack on Nepomniachtchi's King and crowned that after first time control with the beautiful 41.d5!! avoiding technical endgame play this move quickly forces mate with the very nice point that the d-pawn covers e6 allowing white to sacrifice his Queen for mate, 44.Qf7 threatened unstoppable checkmate and Nepomniachtchi resigned.

Ding Liren: “Today I wasn’t sure which opening to play. The line he played was out of my preparation. I tried to keep the position not so forced and have some possibilities to play for a win. And I think it turned out quite well.”

Ian Nepomniachtchi: "In some way, it was like a mirror from yesterday's game - the same material, the same patterns. The tension is high. Sometimes you can't perform at your best."

Score: Ian Nepomniachtchi 3 Ding Liren 3. Best of 14.

Rest Day Monday 17th April

Game 7 Tuesday 18th April 10am BST. There is another rest day after this game as the players switch the order of having white in the remaining pairs of games.