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In the second game of the match to determine the 17th World Champion in chess, Ian Nepomniachtchi defeated Ding Liren with black pieces in a game that lasted just 29 moves and three and a half hours, FIDE reported.

Ding Liren surprised his opponent early in the opening, throwing Nepomniachtchi off his theoretical preparation. Despite the element of surprise, a slight edge in the position and a more significant one on the clock, Ding Liren did not find the best way forward in the middlegame and allowed Black to take the initiative and dominate on the board. Ding had to sacrifice a bishop and two pawns for a rook to ease off some pressure, but that wasn’t enough to save the game. Nepomniachtchi was confidently building up the pressure.

Ding also ended in desperate time trouble – with just three minutes to make 15 moves to reach the first time control. White struggled but ultimately had to resign.

A serious blow to Ding in his first game as White and a very important victory for Nepomniachtchi with black pieces, giving him an early advantage in the match.

Today is the first rest day, with the third game of the match set to take place on Wednesday, 12th April at 3 PM local time in Astana.

Ding Liren had this comment about the game: “To lose like this… I cannot understand what’s happening. After 18…f5 the position is very difficult for me. I missed nearly everything in the game.”