Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi destroys Chinese Ding Liren with Spanish opening

Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi has edged ahead in the world chess championship, dealing a big blow to Chinese number one Ding Liren.

Ian Nepomniachtchi has struck back in the world chess championship, employing an opening made famous by a Spanish priest in the 16th century.

The Russian won game five of the match being held in Astana, Kazakhstan, recovering from a brutal loss against his Chinese opponent Ding Liren after the rest day.

Ding Liren ponders his next move in Astana. Picture: Chess.com

Nepomniachtchi slowly built up a positional advantage with the Ruy López Opening: Morphy Defense variation, which is named after the priest Ruy López de Segura who wrote about the system in 1561.

The game followed a well-known path, with white holding a steady advantage. A decision to exchange the light square bishops left Liren with a passive position and was criticised by Chess.com commentator Anish Giri.

Ding Liren’s move 30. Qf6 was his first major mistake. Picture: Chess.com

Black’s first big mistake was 30. Qf6, which Nepomniachtchi capitalised on by centralising his queen with the move 31. Qe4.

Computer analysis showed Nepomniachtchi was winning when he again found a strong move 36. Re4.

Ian Nepomniachtchi found the strong move 36. Re4. Picture: Chess.com

Ian Nepomniachtchi launched his kingside pawns towards the enemy king in a positional masterpiece. Picture: Chess.com

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Liren was left moving his rook aimlessly on the back rank as Nepomniachtchi marshalled his forces towards the black king.

As Nepomniachtchi closed in on the win, Giri said the Russian “smells blood”. “Black is really lost, there is no hope,” he said.

Ian Nepomniachtchi turned bright red when he thought he had thrown away the win. Picture: Chess.com

There was a moment of panic for the Russian when Liren found 46. Ra2 — and Nepomniachtchi’s ears again turned red, along with his face, until he realised he was still winning with the line 47. Kg4.

Liren resigned after the clinical move 48. Rh6, with the chess engine showing a forced mate in 22 moves.

The match has been a bloodbath with three decisive games in the past four games and there are still nine games remaining.

The win means Nepomniachtchi now has a one-game lead, with Liren to play with the white pieces tomorrow night.