Ding Liren v D. Gukesh Game 12

1. c4 e6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 d4 {White will be happy with this. An unbalanced pawn structure.} 5. O-O {Ding was White v Praggnanandhaa earlier this year and won. In that game Black played 5...c5.} 5... Nc6 {A new position to both players but they follow theory for a few more moves.} 6. e3 Be7 7. d3 {A seven minute think from Ding. Not a serious waste of time. Getting into the zone.} 7... dxe3 8. Bxe3 {This starts a mini argument. Is that pawn on d3 a permanent weakness.} 8... e5 {Putting a clamp on the d4 square. Fixing the d3 pawn. If White plays d4 all the tension will be gone.} 9. Nc3 {After a ten minute think from Ding which is almost blitz compared to some previous opening thinks.} 9... O-O 10. Re1 {Eyeing the e5 pawn. A kind of King's Indian/Pirc reversed set up. Ding is a K.I.D. player. Getting interesting.} 10... h6 {Gukesh had a 17 minute thought here. A flexible move cutting out Bg5 and Ng5 options.} 11. a3 {Looking for Queenside expansion with possible Qc2 Rad1 and d3-d4 ideas.} 11... a5 {Standard reply in these set up preventing b4. Ding is 30 minutes down on the clock. (a note often repeated throughout this match.)} 12. h3 {Preventing Ng4 and Bg4.} 12... Be6 {Natural developing move.} 13. Kh2 {A common move after h3/h6 in a fianchetto system. Holds the h-pawn After Qd7.} 13... Rb8 {I did not see that one after minutes by Gukesh, is the c6 Knight is coming to d4.} 14. Qc2 {Getting ready for Rad1} 14... Re8 {The 14...Nd4 idea has been shelved. Black has to watch out for d3-d4.} 15. Nb5 {Preventing Nd4 for now.} 15... Bf5 {Tickling the d3 pawn and hold up d3-d4. Getting to a critical phrase in the game.} 16. Rad1 Nd7 {With Nc5 hitting d3 ideas. Times Ding 50 minutes for 24 moves. Gukesh 60 minutes.} 17. Qd2 {After 13 precious minutes. Gukesh now dived into the labyrinth of lines and variations.} 17... Bg6 {After nearly 30 minutes. In a lot of lines the f4 Bishop was hanging.} 18. d4 {Almost immediately from Ding Who is now ahead on the clock.} 18... e4 {Trying to keep the position closed.} 19. Ng1 {This Knight is going to e2 and f4.} 19... Nb6 {Nibbling at the c4 pawn. 20. b3 will probably meet 20...a4.} 20. Qc3 Bf6 {Pinning the d4 pawn.} 21. Qc2 {Stepping out of the pin.} 21... a4 22. Ne2 {Once this Knight comes to f4 White has tremendous pressure.} 22... Bg5 {Gukesh is not going to let it stay on the board,} 23. Nf4 Bxf4 24. Bxf4 {Hitting the c7 pawn.} 24... Rc8 25. Qc3 Nb8 {A reasonable choice by Gukesh. Allowing Na7 and dropping the exchange.} 26. d5 {But Ding is now in control. That b5 Knight is a much better piece than that c8 Rook.} 26... Qd7 27. d6 {A hammer blow from Ding who know smells blood.} 27... c5 28. Nc7 Rf8 29. Bxe4 {Ding picks up a pawn. Gukesh has 7 minutes for 11 moves. Ding 9.} 29... Nc6 30. Bg2 Rcd8 31. Nd5 {Actually threatening 32, Bxh6 and 33. Nf6+ Black could not play 32...Nxd5 34.Qxg7 mate.} 31... Nxd5 {So that Knight had to come off.} 32. cxd5 Nb8 33. Qxc5 {Another pawn for Ding.} 33... Rc8 34. Qd4 Na6 35. Re7 Qb5 36. d7 Rc4 {White can play 37.Qxc4 Qxc4 38.Re8.} 37. Qe3 {But with so many winning moves to choose from Ding goes another way.} 37... Rc2 {38.Re8 Qxd7 Ding takes that option off the board.} 38. Bd6 f6 {There is no way to save this game. This allows Ding to finish with a flourish,} 39. Rxg7+ {Gukesh resigned. The end would be...} 39... Kxg7 40. Bxf8+ Kxf8 41. d8=Q+ Kg7 42. Qee7+