The Matrix in Theory

Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi – Jan-Krzysztof Duda
Candidates Tournament 2022; Madrid, June 23, 2022
Réti Opening A07

1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 e6 4. 0-0 Nd7 5. h3 Bh5 6. d4 Ngf6 7. c4 c6 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Ne5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Ne4 11. Nd2 Nxd2 12. Bxd2 Bc5 13. Rc1 Qe7 14. Kh2 0-0 15. g4 Bg6 16. f4 h6 (16. ... f5 17. Qb3 Rad8 18. gxf5 Bxf5 19. Rxc5 Qxc5 20. e4 Bg6 21. Bb4 Qc4 22. f5 Bh5 23. Bxf8 Qxb3 24. axb3 Kxf8 25. exd5 cxd5 26. Kg3 d4 27. Bf3 Bxf3 28. Kxf3 d3 29. Rd1 d2 30. Ke3 Rd5 31. Ke4 Rd8 32. Ke3 ½ : ½ Svidler – Karjakin, 80th Tata Steel Chess Tournament, Wijk aan Zee 2018) 17. Qe1 Rfe8 18. Qg3 Bh7 19. h4 Rad8 20. g5 hxg5? The opening of the h-file proves to be catastrophic, as White’s attack develops easily and naturally. 20. ... Kh8! would still make a tough defence. 21. hxg5 Bb4

22. Bxb4 Qxb4 23. f5! A Pawn storm is coming. 23. ... Qxb2

24. e6! fxe6 25. g6 exf5 26. gxh7+ Kh8 27. Rb1 Qf6 28. Rxb7 Rxe2

29. Rxf5! Pretty, though easy. 29. ... Qh6+ 30. Kg1 Rxa2 31. Rbf7 Ra1+ 32. Bf1 d4 33. Rg5 Qd6 34. Qf2 Qa3 35. Rg3 1 : 0.

12th World Chess Champion Anatoly Yevgenyevich Karpov did not hide his satisfaction with Nepomniachtchi’s performance so far: “Ian Alexandrovich is indeed my pupil”, he said. “And still I can’t see anyone who may be head and shoulders above him in the Candidates Tournament. If Ian Alexandrovich continues to play consistently, then only Fabiano Caruana will be able to compete with him at a distance. Ian Alexandrovich is one of the strongest in the field”. Photo: Stev Bonhage/FIDE.