Queen in 3-D

Dommaraju Gukesh – 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén)
World Chess Championship 2024; match game 11; Sentosa, December 8, 2024
Réti Opening A09

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 c5 4. e3 Nf6 5. a3 Bg4. The time spent on his fourth and fifth moves (respectively 38 and 22 minutes) goes to show that 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) had been surprised by Gukesh’s opening.
6. exd4 cxd4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Qc7 9. d3 a5 10. b5 Nbd7 11. g3 Nc5 12. Bg2 Nfd7 13. 0-0 Ne5 14. Qf4 Rd8 15. Rd1

15. ... g6!? Afterwards 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) called this — probably exaggerating a bit — “a horrible move” as it drives his Bishop “clearly out of play”. Hence 15. ... e6! 16. b6 Qd6 was a better version of it.
16. a4 h5 17. b6 Qd6 18. Ba3 Bh6 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qe4 Nc6

21. Na3. “Here I thought I am fine after 20. ... Nc6 but I missed 21. Na3 very strong idea to give up the b6-Pawn, doubling on b-file and play on dark squares. My Bishop is totally out of place, not on e7. It is very badly placed on h6. I don’t know where I can improve”, 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) said.
21. ... Rd7 22. Nc2 Qxb6 23. Rab1 Qc7 24. Rb5 0-0 25. Na1 Rb8. According to Gukesh, 25. ... Na7 26. Rxb7 Qxb7 27. Qxb7 Rxb7 28. Bxb7 Rb8 was Black’s best chance, since now “it’s really though for him”.
26. Nb3 e6 27. Nc5 Re7 28. Rdb1 Qc8?? With 7 minutes left on his clock, 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén) falls into a nervous breakdown and blunders away the game. 28. ... Nb4 29. Nxb7 Bf8 was still playable.

29. Qxc6! 1–0.

Four-time Women’s World Chess Champion 侯逸凡 (Hóu Yìfán) makes the first move for 丁立人 (Dīng Lìrén). Photo: Lesley Turpijn.