They all thought it was a draw...but Ding plays Rg6!

The commentators, including Fabiano Caruana, were sure that Ding Liren was going to repeat moves. Caruana even wrote off Rg6 as losing for Ding. But Ding won the World Championship with this unbelievable move. Rg6 threw Ian off completely and he never had a chance after that.

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Lichess: shibin123

[taufiqal-kahfi]

Ian: "let me draw this and get the match to blitz"

Ding: "buddy, let's blitz RIGHT NOW"

[smrtguy]

Nepo’s mind went elsewhere once he assumed it would be a draw, once Ding played the rook Nepo had to bring himself back mentally and that is incredibly difficult to do.

[infinito]

the way he looked at the trohpy and grabbed those pieces was heartbreaking

[lane]

When Nepo looked right then knocked over the pieces, that might be one of the most emotional things I have seen in chess

[KC-dwyz]

He may not be the absolute best, he may not even win another title, but for this move alone Ding deserves the championship because that took so much guts

[TheTifier]

I'm glad Ding's risk paid off; especially when Ian had more time left than Ding. You can tell that Ian was not ready for Ding to go in for the win instead of going in for a draw. And ultimately, that risk paid off so well for Ding. Well played.

[wallaceblack]

That was so fun. The comentators did not even know what was happening. The computer kept moving back and forth for white and black. I feel sory for Nepo and happy for Ding.

[pw]

that Rg6 move was just amazing, with that he so deserved to win the championship

[Levijeh]

Ding displayed tenacity here, a trait that a world champion must have.

[riaarora]

I keep coming back to this match, it is for the emotions, the value this moment holds for the players that chess for me really shines.

[AlesZvolanek]

Chess look so calm but in fact some defeats can get totaly brutal. You're playing for multiple days, most games last hours, you're always focused, you've spent months with your team setting up tactics, openings etc... and then... all goes down the drain in a heartbeat.

[lane]

Even Hikaru went from total draw, to intense calculations, to holy shit ding is gonna win

[mk_]

Tania with Fake accent makes our ears bleed 😑

[robertdominicceasarsalvill]

In the words of one of the greatest if not the Greatest chess player of all time, "Self-pinning for immortality"
-Magnus Carlsen

[UmUs]

Watching this live was a rollercoaster of emotions

[neerajnongmaithem]

In motorsport their is saying, 'if you no longer go for a gap that exist, then no longer are a racing driver. Ding kept on playing for the win, that seperated him from nepo in that game. And that's why magnus has dominated world chess for so long, he is known for squeezing wins out of driest of draw positions

[samuelgrasia]

Ian was planning for a draw
Rg6 burst all of his plan
He didn't think of any plan if the enemy is playing for a win

[tannhaeuserx]

Tania was right after all. The blitz was coming up after Rg6. 😂

[Chessdrummer]

Rg6 was such a great moment and I am so lucky I got to see it live, that was epic!

[allistairelliott]

Aaaaand I'm back. I can't stop watching. In sport, in life, everyone says you have to take the chances that come your way. And here it is, for real, by Ding under the utmost pressure.

It maybe that Ding is going to be criticized for not playing enough chess after this, but I for one will always defend him. Just because of this.

Such bravery. Such stones. Bravo Ding. This will always be legendary.