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GM Ian Nepomniachtchi moved one step closer to the world championship title on Sunday after equalizing with Black and drawing in 45 moves in the 10th game of the 2023 FIDE World Championship.

GM Ding Liren reverted to the English Opening and valiantly tried to imbalance matters, but his opponent was up to the task and exchanged into a drawn rook endgame. Nepomniachtchi, now leading 5.5-4.5, is just two points away from claiming the world championship title.

The 11th round of the world championships will continue on Monday, April 24, at 15:00 Astana time (2 a.m. PT/11:00 CEST).

How to watch the 2023 FIDE World Championship

Coming into the 10th game, the intrigue centered around the importance of Ding's rest day and specifically, whether he could concoct preparation that could challenge the resolute defense of Nepomniachtchi.

The negative impact of a training games leak was put to bed by Nepomniachtchi, who claimed that his own preparation strategy did not change much after his team "took a look" at the games. He further reinforced this, stating: "I'm still doing what I'm supposed to do. This information didn't change it much."

Another factor in the championship has been GM Richard Rapport's influence on Ding, but in game 10, the Chinese number-one stayed true to his usual style, playing in a classical fashion.

Sachdev correctly predicted that Ding would play 1.c4 in a return to the opening move that he employed and won with in round four, and the position quickly turned into the English Opening: Four Knights, Nimzowitsch Variation.

Nevertheless, Nepomniachtchi seemed adequately prepared to deal with Ding's English Opening and even managed to surprise the world number-three with 9.Bc5, instead of the more common 9.Be7. The move had been played just four times in master-level chess games and notably, the highest-rated player who had previously played the move was none other than our own GM Rafael Leitao, who provides his own insights on the game later in the article.

The move somewhat paralyzed Ding, who later admitted that it came as a "complete surprise" to him, also evidenced by the fact that the challenger spent 11 minutes deciphering the move.

Unfortunately for Ding, after 10.Kf8!, a most unusual move in the eyes of many chess viewers, the resulting position was one that Nepomniachtchi was indeed familiar with. In fact, the world number-two had played the exact same position from the white side in a 2020 Titled Tuesday clash with the now-GM Jose Gabriel Cardoso, something that was potentially missed by Ding and his team.

Ding's masterful calculating ability still allowed him to progress through the middlegame with a minuscule advantage; however, Nepomniachtchi was able to force the queens off the board, aided by some enterprising kingside pawn play. In the process of trading queens, Nepomniachtchi did give away a pawn but gained adequate compensation in the form of rapid development and structural weaknesses on White's queenside.

The resulting endgame, which featured a pair of rooks and a bishop alongside several pawns each, was identified by both players as close to equal. Although Ding would later state: "I believe I had some chances in the endgame," the quick rate of play by both players indicated their confidence that they were heading toward a draw.

"The defensive resources for Black are vast" was the take from former world championship challenger Caruana, who firmly believed that the players would reach a peaceful conclusion from early on in the piece. Demonstrating that Black had compensation for the pawn, Caruana asked viewers to "look at all the pawns on light squares" and note that they were easy to target for Black's bishop and rooks.

It was no surprise that pieces began to fly off the board as the combatants neared the 40-move mark. By move 37, with only a rook and three pawns left each, Ding was able to cash in his initiative and win one of Nepomniachtchi's pawns, but the resulting endgame was a straightforward rook and two pawns versus rook and one pawn ending.

For just the second time in a world chess championship, the players dueled all the way until their kings were the only pieces remaining on the board.

What made the game so incredible is the accuracy rating of the two players, which clocked in at 98.6 percent and 98.7 percent for Ding and Nepomniachtchi respectively, according to Chess.com's Game Review tool. Neither really put a foot wrong.

For an extensive look into the round 10 clash, Leitao's annotations are below.

After shaking hands on move 45, Ding left the board and stormed out of the room. Despite showing no obvious signs of anger, he was undoubtedly unhappy with the result. With just two White games left in the match, the pressure on the Chinese GM increases with each passing round.

Now with Ding due to play with the black pieces in round 11, many feel that the odds are against him. GM Hikaru Nakamura weighed in during his YouTube recap and proclaimed that he felt Ding is "running out of steam" in the opening phase of the game.

To Ding's credit, the surprise element has been a refreshing and entertaining feature of the world championship match and should another surprise pay off on Monday, he will find himself at 5.5-5.5 alongside Nepomniachtchi.

For now, rest and preparation are the two most important things for Ding if he is to mount a resurgence. As for Nepomniachtchi, he will feel bullish about his chances to secure two more match points and achieve his dream of becoming the chess world champion should things go well in round 11.

You can watch video recaps of the FIDE World Championship in our playlist below (clickhere).

Match Score

The 2023 FIDE World Championship is the most important over-the-board classical event of the year and decides who will be the next world champion. Nepomniachtchi and Ding play a match to decide who takes over Carlsen's throne after the current world champion abdicated his title. The match has a 2 million prize fund and is played over 14 classical games; the first player to gain 7.5 points wins.

Previous Coverage

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Nepomniachtchi Holds Ding To Draw, Closes In On World ... - Chess.com

There has always been trash-talking in sports like basketball and football. Pro wrestling derives its legitimacy from the quality of the trash-talking by glowering behemoths vying for supremacy in the squared circle. But chess?

Several months ago I wrote about trash-talking and ferocious playing among older pool hustlers at a recreation center in East Liberty. It didnt take long for another venerable sport 1,400 years old by most estimates to come to my attention because of the familiar litany of trash-talking.

The men and women who gather to play friendly but raucous rounds of chess every Tuesday and Thursday afternoon at the University of Pittsburghs Community Engagement Centers in Homewood and the Hill District have never treated it like the Game of Kings it was billed as in ancient India where the game was born.

The folks who came together to play recently at the Homewood CEC have colorful nicknames like June Bug, Toby a.k.a. Sho Nuff of Shaolin Temple #9, School Teacher, the Pawn Instructor, whose motto is seek and destroy, and Master Brown.

I call myself the Jedi, said a player the others call June Bug. I control players with weak minds. His friend Sho Nuff a.k.a. the New Bully accused June Bug of hamming it up.

A lively debate broke out about whether chess was stressful or not. Several of the players who regularly play chess in the Hill District loudly announced that the neighborhood produces the citys best players. Were the best in Pittsburgh, a Hill District player who was visiting Homewood said, and we regularly prove it.

There were no women present on the day I visited, but they, like the men, have nicknames and no shortage of confidence. On any given day, most of the chess board combatants are middle-aged or older, overwhelmingly African American and inclined toward hyping their mastery of a game that recognizes no caste system. A full house might be as many as 15 to 20 people.

Donald Boyd, aka Pawn Instructor, has been playing the game for decades. He even taught neighborhood kids to play the game during classes conducted at the Homewood Library decades ago.

One of Boyds proudest moments is captured in a black and white photo featuring WQEDs Fred Rogers visiting his chess club at the Homewood Library sometime in the 1990s.

Now youre in my neighborhood, he told the childrens television icon while conducting the tour. The way Pawn Instructor recalls that moment caused his chess-playing buddies to crack up. Sassing Mr. Rogers to his face was Olympic-level trash-talking as far as they were concerned.

Learning this game teaches kids the skills they need in everyday life, said Bill Scott, aka The School Teacher. It helps them to think ten steps ahead.

This is a lesson that Pittsburgh Police Officer Dave Shifren, the man who started clubs in Homewood and the Hill District, has known for years. Shifren started a chess club for kids and teenagers six years ago in Hazelwood before establishing similar clubs in Brookline, Beechview and Knoxville. The pandemic shut down many of those programs that were housed in schools and libraries.

Undaunted, Shifren moved the chess clubs to Market Square because they were open-air. To his surprise, kids didnt show up in the numbers they used to, but curious adults did. Before he knew it, Shifren had an older, more experienced constituency of players.

He opened the first chess club for adults in the Hill District. It was followed by the club in Homewood. This success led to the revival of chess clubs for kids around the city. Shifren believes that interest among very young players is still there because attendance is growing.

Shifren will be familiar to readers of this column as the driving force behind book discussion groups for adults that meet in both the Hill District and Homewoods Community Engagement Centers. Instead of walking a beat all day, Shifrens role on the force has shifted to that of community engagement officer whose interest in literature, screenwriting and chess has served him and the department well, especially in neighborhoods with troubled relations with police. Knowing how to listen and tell stories works to his advantage.

Always thinking of the next angle, Shifren is considering starting a movie screening discussion group.

Gerald Smith, the only player wearing a mask that afternoon, jokes that Shifren, who is always in uniform doesnt have to walk a beat around us.

At one point, two players concentrating on a game are exchanging chess pieces at lightning speed, making it look easy.

My level of play isnt as good as these guys, Shifren said, but after 40 years of teaching, I can teach someone who is at zero and bring them to a two or a three where Im at. I cant take them to an eight or a nine like these guys.

When I asked how many of them were ever ranked by professional chess federations, most of their hands went up. Turns out, many of the players were ranked decades ago, but life interfered. They worked jobs and raised families, but they still played the game when they could. Theyre older now, but they look forward to playing folks as good as they are, if not better, because it is the only way to improve their game.

The chess club hosted by the Hill District CEC meets on Tuesdays, from noon to 3:30 p.m. at 1908 Wylie Ave. The chess club hosted by the Homewood CEC meets on Thursdays, from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. at 622 N. Homewood Ave.

On Tuesday, May 2, 33-year-old Edgar Colon Melendez the 8th highest rated player in the history of Puerto Rico, whos also a graduate student at Pitt will visit the Hill District CEC to meet members and play chess.

When Shifren retires from the Pittsburgh Police in a year, he hopes hell be able to continue working with all the clubs he started and maintain the friendships hes made across the thin blue line that separates too many cops from the communities they patrol.

Tony Normans column is underwritten by The Pittsburgh Foundation as part of its efforts to support writers and commentators who cover communities of color that historically have been misrepresented or ignored by mainstream journalism.

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Jedi mind tricks and trash talkin' over chess in Homewood - NEXTpittsburgh

Jonah Audu and MichelleChiamaka Nwankwo, at the weekend, emerged champions of the inaugural Eduline Chess Academy Primary and Secondary School Championships held at Fun Plex Resort, CMD Road, Magodo, Lagos.

The competition, which featured over 75 students, was supported by Cornerstone Believers Church.

Organiser of the event, Gabriel Airewele, said the Eduline Chess Academy tournament is aimed at grooming and exposing children to the game at the grassroots level, adding that it would be every month to sustain students interest in it.

Airewele said: The Eduline chess competition brought students from all over Lagos State to participate in the games.

Prizes were won under different categories, but the main champions, Michelle Chiamaka Nwankwo, who excelled in the Primary Schoolcategory and Jonah Audu, who won the secondary school category,gave a good account of themselves to emerge tops among other students at the event.

The competition is for students not older than 18 years.

The parent body, Eduline Learning Co., according to the organiser, is promoted by Airewele, a partner, Rocklegal Law Firm and Pastor Emmanuel Okonkwo, the senior pastor at Cornerstone Believers Church.

Airewele affirmed his commitment to youth development through chess, adding that to encourage the students, cash prizes, books and other gift items were given to participants at the end of the event.

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Audu, Nwankwo are inaugural Eduline academy chess champions - Guardian Nigeria

With so much happening around the City College community, The Channels would like to offer a single place for the essential information. Well be compiling a weekly list of current and upcoming events to keep readers up to date on campus news.

City Colleges math lab is offering free tutoring, finals and test preparation, homework help, and ample study space in room 102 of the IDC building on West Campus. According to an email sent out by the Math Lab, students are welcome to drop in at any time, with no appointment needed.

The Cartwright Learning Resources Center is offering online and in person computer tutoring and technical support to all City College students. According to an email sent by the CLRC, six computer tutors are available to assist with printing documents, navigating google apps, Microsoft office, pipeline, and canvas. The tutors are available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at the CLRC building on West Campus. They are available virtually from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the link provided on the City College CLRC webpage.

The Career Center is hosting a Healthcare Job Fair from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. on the Pergola walkway between Health Technologies and the Student Service Buildings. According to an email sent by the Career Center, students are encouraged to bring their resumes and explore the various healthcare facilities available to apply to, such as the Assisted Health Care of Santa Barbara and the Sansum Medical Clinic.

Phi Theta Kappa is hosting a second chess competition from 5 p.m to 7 p.m on Wednesday, May 10 at the Luria Library on West Campus. According to an email sent out by PTK, free food and drinks will be provided for both players and spectators. Register for the event using the QR code or the link included in the email.

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News Briefs: Free tutoring, job fair, and PTK chess competition - The Channels

A father and son chess-playing duo have spent hours working on their game in scenic parts of their hometown, culminating in a championship final where the pupil became the master.

It took just 20 minutes for Elijah Davidson, 11, to beat his father Jamie Davidson in the final of their chess championship, played over six games, at Timarus Caroline Bay Soundshell on Sunday.

Cheered on by family members, and catching the attention of a few passersby, the Davidsons were all concentration as they worked their way through the game, Jamie running the London System to fluster his son.

But, Elijah knew all the moves and won the championship 6-4, his father said.

READ MORE:* Caroline Bay Soundshell seating demolished* Timaru's Caroline Bay Soundshell seating work underway * Caroline Bay Soundshell seating project awaiting final plans

I lost to an 11-year-old, Jamie said after the game.

Elijah really likes to trade pieces, and he traded them well, and ended up with just more value on the board and was able to check mate me in the end.

Stuff

Jamie Davidson and 11-year-old son Elijah play the final game in their chess championship at the Caroline Bay Soundshell on Sunday afternoon.

The pairs chess journey began about a year ago, when Jamie taught Elijah how to play the game.

Keen to get his son off Xbox, Jamie thought the game would be a good challenge, as he had been enjoying puzzles set up for him by his father while he was at school.

He comes home and blows me away how quickly he can solve them, Jamie said.

I knew I was in trouble when he started solving some high-end puzzles.

John Bisset/Stuff

Elijah contemplates his next move.

Having learnt from his grandfather, Jamie decided to pass on his chess knowledge to Elijah.

He took a keen interest a few months ago, and it turned out he was pretty good, so we started a chess championship.

From there the pair have been playing around the town, choosing the Soundshell as their finale spot for a bit of a laugh and to make the competition a bit more serious, he said.

The games have been mostly timed for 30 minutes, but one untimed championship game went for more than two hours, Jamie said.

John Bisset/Stuff

Jamie taught his son to play chess to get him off the Xbox.

Having discovered the shared interest in the game, Jamie said there did not appear to be a chess club in South Canterbury and he, and Elijah, were keen to talk about it with anyone else interested.

They liked the fact they could play chess anywhere, and would take a table, a chess board and their pieces out to play.

The pair were also keen to see more giant boards and pieces around the place, so anyone could play outdoors.

Elijah was happy with the win, which came with a trophy, and the honour of beating his father, and teacher.

John Bisset/Stuff

Jamie makes a move in his game with Elijah.

It feels amazing, he said.

Im so proud of myself.

Elijah said he would often think of chess moves he could make, even when he was not playing the game.

He enjoyed playing chess with his father while they had dinner and was looking forward to beating him some more.

John Bisset/Stuff

Elijah, 11, won the championship on Sunday.

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Check mate: Father and son chess-playing duo spend hours ... - Stuff