Chinese Grandmaster Ding Liren scored his first victory in the World Chess Championship match against Ian Nepomniachtchi on Thursday, April 13, evening the score at 2:2. In game four, a confident Ding scored his first victory in the match for the title of World Chess Champion after Nepomniachtchi lost his way as Black in the middlegame following a serious blunder. Ding exerted pressure from the opening, and just as the position appeared to be heading toward equality, Nepomniachtchi's quickly played blunder, 28...Nxd4??, allowed a pretty exchange sacrifice. After that, Ding's solid technique brought home the full point. In the Two Knights system of the English opening Ding – playing as White – managed to create a position which was more suitable for him. White was in control of the centre and was dictating the pace, but the position was even. Black needed to sustain White’s advances and, with precise play, should have held his own. In positional maneuvering Ding showed more sophistication and focus. In the critical moment of the middle game Nepomniachtchi made a move after just two minutes of thinking and blundered, leading directly into a lost position. Nepomniachtchi tried to resist but there was no escape and he resigned on move 47, after three hours and 50 minutes of play. It is an important comeback for Ding who started the match badly and a big challenge for Nepomniachtchi who has now lost the edge. The score is now 2:2 with two draws and two victories for each player. Friday is a rest day, with the next, fifth game of the match, set to take place on Saturday, April 15, at 3 PM Astana time.
