Worst game played in the hory of World Championships

Let me just put it in black and white. Game 2 of the 2023 FIDE World Championships between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren was the worst game played in the hory of the championships. The game ended in favour of Nepo, who was playing with black, in just 29 moves.
The play Ding was very strange. His behaviour too has been bizarre. He was very nervous during the first game as well and in the interview after the game, he revealed that after reaching Astana, Kazakhstan where the championship is being held, he actually changed his hotel room a day before the start. Something is wrong with him at the moment. He’s very underconfident and lacks self-esteem.
Perhaps it’s because everyone in Kazakhstan talks Russian. He may be intimidated it. He was constantly holding his head in both his hands. That’s definitely not a sign of a confident player. Something is affecting him and it’s imperative he deals with it immediately.
Ding’s poor start
You could know Game 2 was going to end badly for Ding the moment he played the fourth move. He played h3, a move played only two amateurs in the past. It is a waste of precious time and achieves nothing in return. It’s a very strange move that gives away all the advantage and position to the opponent, rather than gaining an advantage while playing with white. If I had seen this move played in a club match, I would say that the player is not a good one.
The game still needed Nepo to take the initiative. Though Ding didn’t make a great move, Nepo still had to make a move signaling intent that he was ready to take on white. And it was on the 11th move that Nepo made the decisive call. He played his knight to a5 (Na5), there deciding to be aggressive. It was that move that Nepo showed that he has prepared well to take on Ding. move 18, Nepo had already put Ding in a position to resign though the Chinese did well to pull on the game to move 29. After playing for two hours, the game was already in a decisive stage and it was clear that this was the worst possible play any player in any World Championship.

Not to nitpick but I find 2 things very annoying about #NepoDing #WorldChessChampionship coverage:
1. The players are almost never at the board at the same time. Too much time spent in their personal areas. The fans around the world are tuning in to literally see 2 empty chairs… pic.twitter.com/9R1tElFH3v
— Susan Polgar (@SusanPolgar) April 10, 2023
A World Championship takes a huge mental toll on a person but I’ve never seen a competitor play amateur moves. The World Championship match between Nepo and Magnus Carlsen was one-sided in favour of the Norwegian, but it’s not like Nepo just gave up. The first six games were draws. Viswanathan Anand vs Carlsen in 2013 was dominated Carlsen but even there, both the players had come up with a well-thought-out plan and strategy.
It seems that this match is going to be very one-sided because Nepo hasn’t even had to try very hard. In the first game, he didn’t try at all. I think he was just judging his opponent. And the second game, he just played some initial moves and move 11 he found he had the opportunity of seizing the initiative. Then, of course, he played like a lion. He sensed that his opponent had already gotten into a bad position. He developed a sense that something was missing in his opponent’s preparation or mental temperament and so decided to play the most aggressive game he has played in recent times. What’s important to note also is that Nepo really didn’t make any makes.

Ding’s position is getting worse the minute. It would be devastating to lose with white in a #WorldChessChampionship match. 18…f5 looks lethal. Very bad match strategy, or lack of one, Ding and his team. It clearly shows to me experience deficiency. #NepoDing pic.twitter.com/O5COy5tE2O
— Susan Polgar (@SusanPolgar) April 10, 2023
Nepo’s strategy that he would outplay his opponent in simple positions rather than going for complex positions seems to be working because Ding is somehow going through his worst patch, at least here.
In Game 1 Ding didn’t do particularly badly because his opening was such. In Game 2 however, his entire play got into a very passive and cramped position move 11 which itself is an alarming factor. I think it is time for him to really recover and look for a different approach toward this match and to his chess.
He needs to be more confident and assertive with regard to his position. He played very passively. He was shuttling his bishop without really hitting any target. He was making moves without really analysing.

After the press conference, Ian Nepomniachtchi was crowded fans and journals! #NepoDing pic.twitter.com/RKNrduqiRQ
— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) April 10, 2023
Ding seemed very scared and as though he has not prepared for this match. One has to be more professional at this level. There’s a lot of buzz in China regarding this match as he is the first Chinese GM to be playing in the Championship and perhaps the enormity of the occasion has gotten to him.
It’s no secret that he is a very reserved person and doesn’t like attention, which is exactly what is happening. But it’s up to him to deal with it.
The day off
If anything has to change in this match it has to change on this rest day. Ding has the game to back himself but needs to have the mental strength to brave this challenge. This rest day will prove vital to the remainder of the Championship. It’s his day for introspection.
Ding will be aided the fact that his parents are there with him in Astana. He’s very close to his mother and has spoken about how she helps him whenever he is down. Mothers, I believe, have healing power and it’s something that Ding needs more than anything. Right now he seems self-defeated.
(As told to Anil Dias)