A draw in game 11 brings Nepomniachtchi closer to the World Chess Championship Title
Game 11 of the World Chess Championship Match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren ended in a draw after 35 moves. The score is now 6-5 for Nepo with three games left, and a rest day ahead.
The 11th game of the 2023 World Chess Championship Match started with the Ruy Lopez Defense, a line in which Nepomniachtchi had defeated Ding in the 2020 Candidates Tournament. Ding changed the root of the game in move 10, showing that he was prepared for it, and quickly moved to an equal rook endgame.
It was the quickest and probably the dullest game of a Championship Match that doesn’t fail to surprise us so far.
“It wasn’t my goal today to make a forced draw. It just happened that we exchanged all the pieces. In general, I’m just trying to play chess.” Nepomniachtchi commented on today’s rapid draw, adding: “I can’t say that I’m completely satisfied with the result of today’s game. But anyway in my situation, a draw is an acceptable result.”
There are three games left until the end and both players are preparing for a battle. “I should give it all to do the job. Of course, it’s not over yet.” Nepo said with Ding having a positive and fighting approach: “I think it’s too early to play something like the Sicilian. Still, there are three games ahead. In the Candidates, I won in the last game, so, anything can happen in the last three rounds.”
Of course anything is possible, especially in this match that has shown that classical chess can be surprising, tensed, resourceful, bold, and mentally tricky.
