Pressure MOUNTS On Ding Against Nepomniachtchi | Game 12 of the FIDE World Championship: Can He Win?

[@PedrinhoCruzeirense]

It's so easy for us to criticize the contenders for their "poor", "unprecise" games. Maybe Magnus have reasons to mock - but I believe even Magnus would not dare to call them "patzers". It's a human game. Not a computer's match. In fact, I am loving this match as I never loved any other match before!!! For me (a real patzer myself), this match is unforgetable, regardless of who will win it. I'm rooting for Ding, but even if he loses it, this match will be in my head for the rest of my life. Chess is not perfection. The day it becomes "perfectly played" it will lose its magic.

[@daarom3472]

2100: Stockfish v547 plays a move General AI: blunder, mate in 42

[@Canonall]

@@daarom3472 Nobody is expecting 100% accuracy, but why does Ian play so fast? It literally makes no sense. He keeps making dumb blunders in important situations and still he doesn't learn. I guess he doesn't deserve a world title.

[@jeffvanderwerf3391]

Well said. I guess that a handful of people in the world could pan this as "poor chess," Caruana among them, but these are still awesome players who are trying to win in an extremely high-pressure environment. Whether or not it is at the level of Magnus, this is an extremely entertaining match.

[@PetitionHirnumlagefuerHabeck]

Let's be honest, 99.99% of the spectators wouldn't even have a remote idea concerning the quality of the games without an engine running parallel. The critcism is more comical than anything else.

[@daarom3472]

@@PetitionHirnumlagefuerHabeck you can add a few 9's I think. Maybe 30-40 people truly get it and only 1 has the right to claim he'd do better ;-)

[@kristianfagerstrom7011]

I believe that Ian didn't throw due to nervousness, but the opposite: he relaxed. The game looked won, and he allowed himself to go for a forcing line without fully calculating, since he often plays by intuition - and this time his intuition failed him.

[@jacobabrams8655]

You don’t become nearly 2800 off of intuition I hate to break it to you

[@sakuraaaa001]

@@jacobabrams8655 I mean, at this level intuition is equivalent to most master-level calculation.

[@johnkirk1772]

@@sakuraaaa001 I really like a book I read once.. it talks of the ‘sleeping mind’.. in it a teacher asks a student to calculate the path of a ball mathmatically.. the student writes the necessary equations and calculates, needs to know the force with which the ball is thrown and the angle at which is thrown and the weight of the ball.. then the teacher calls in a young kid from the hall and throws him the ball which the child catches without any trouble - he then asks how an uneducated child could solve the problem in a split second when it took the university student 15 minutes to solve the same problem - is the kid so much smarter? Our pattern recognition is a super computer in itself and the GMs have a recognition level that makes them take decisions in seconds that even masters cannot replicate in 30 minutes of calculation - there are situations though where pattern recognition can fail you while calculation is precise, there are situations where an hour of calculating cannot replicate a moment’s intuition - it’s the beauty of the game, to balance it is the art of chess on that level

[@kristianfagerstrom7011]

@@jacobabrams8655 Nobody said intuition is the only thing you need. Nepo, and a few other top players calculates to a point where they assess that it "looks good" or "should be something there" and decides to make the move. This saves time, and allows for sharper play. Some other top players don't go for moves if they can't see a complication to the end - takes more time, and leads to more drawn games - for better or worse. Since you don't seem to know this, I suggest you listen to some chess commentary.

[@dunzhen]

@Jacob Abrams Intuition is very important at all levels of Chess. Obviously you can't rely on intuition only, but who would make that argument?

[@Relatable_posting]

4:10:53 Ian's face turned red, I can see his nostril flaring. He was crying in the inside... I was so happy for Ding, but seeing a strong player like Ian in such a vulnerable position doesn't make me feel any good.

[@rgmoney14101994]

Ofc man, it could well cost him the title. Had it be me, u'd hv seen running nose n tears 😅😅😂

[@messivsronaldostudio4643]

he played fast to put presure time on Ding and he make blunder. He need change style and fix his weak now

[@Relatable_posting]

@@rgmoney14101994 same goes for me

[@Hanqy]

Even Ding couldn’t bear watching Ian at that moment.

[@pi6141]

It will never stop be funny to me how 2.7k elo GMs get trashed by triple digit elo viewers because they saw the funny black and white bar go crazy

[@PULP__]

True

[@pianissimo7121]

I am 1200 so basically a triple digit and i don't see any reason not to trash them for it. Tania trashed Ian and she is much lower rated to, so that is clearly not the issue. And if it was some complex blunder then we would understand but if all the commentators are saying he played shit, then i am not sure what the problem with echoing the statement is. If top chef forgot to actually use salt while cooking as a non-chef i can still laugh at him. I don't know how this is any different.

[@sinthetale8354]

@@pianissimo7121 the difference is in trashing someone, vs laughing it off and recognizing that everyone makes mistakes i think the reason why we latch onto the blunder so hard is because it makes us feel better about ourselves to know that the best players do it too. it's just important that we keep in mind that these are real people with emotions. that's important to remember in general, but especially in the chess community which is so often filled with toxicity from people who care too much about seeming smart

[@bigpoppa1234]

Triple digit? You're clearly over-estimating my power.

[@messivsronaldostudio4643]

turn off eval bar now. 😊

[@pakasokoste]

One of the last games had a 99 percent accuracy from both players. Now it's not even close. They are humans, not machines, the match is awesome.

[@samandmax42]

Damn, we got some real Dunning-Kruger effect going on in these comments. People are forgetting that a) position was incredibly complex b) even the commentators blundered many times w the help of the eval bar even! (I guess they didn't have the engine moves) 3) these 2 were blitzing out moves like crazy (well especially Ian), that's 100% their fault!

[@JJ-xt2dq]

Exactly, Fabi suggested bishop b8 himself before Ian played it for example.

[@messivsronaldostudio4643]

commentator has eval bar and the board, chess pieces to move but players make it in their head.

[@BigJohnM]

I am a huge fan of Dunning and Kruger effect. I completely agree. I saw some live comments about people saying "I could be a GM at this point" when the blunders were going on. Makes me laugh.

[@ronnieharrisson]

I'm really exited for top level classical tournaments after following these games! These two have proven that classical chess can be way more exiting than faster time controls.

[@francoperez2246]

They can easily replace Ding's camera with a picture and Nepo invented an entirely new language of signs. What a view.

[@calvinandakjozef]

A correct step back by Magnus making the world championship exciting

[@nihanahmed8996]

True but the quality of chess is degraded...

[@isaacblackburn2906]

Nonsense the quality is amazing. When you force your opponent into difficult positions and he makes mistakes that is to your credit, not merely a lapse on the opponent. As you can see when the position is stale everyone can play like stockfish. Only when its dynamic will you have to quick changes in evaluation.

[@mfonking1059]

​@@nihanahmed8996 I disagree, this championship has been fun and exciting all through

[@nihanahmed8996]

@Isaac You are talking nonsense here...Yes,we are humans and so can make errors...But you cann't make errors one after the another when theoretically these two are the potential best among humans...The number of errors in this match is ridiculous...And Ian's mental strength was come into question in the previous championship too...

[@nihanahmed8996]

@Mfon Read my reply again please...I didn’t say that it isn’t fun...Yes,watching this type of chess is fun to watch...But chess wise,they are making too many errors...

[@chriszhang1660]

3:25:07 Fabi: Ding looks excited Ding: 🗿

[@Quidoute]

Ding Chilling 🌶 🌶

[@AndreaCremoni]

3:35:24 Prophetic

[@robertpsotka3525]

Hats off to the commentary, realizing that white had a great position while the bar was at 50%. Fabi said a few moves before the end that black better be careful. Well done

[@ramintravel]

Game apart, what an amazing trio of commentaries. Tania infuses so much excitement to the air. Fabios analyses just beyond this world. Spectacular. One of the best screen-times ever for mer. Still trembling from excitement. Thank you all!

[@endstille-wars]

I thought it was great of Ding that he didn't let Nepo sit alone at the table with his demons.

[@svenleiser7799]

This Championship is from the quality maybe not the best. But it's telling stories. Remarkable stories. The moment, Ian realised here his mess will nobody forget in the future. We saw today an historic moment. And it's not the only one by far this battle.

[@prcbras]

I knew the chess Gods would level the score after what happened in game 7 when Ding was completely winning. Now it happeend to Ian. Go DING!

[@Phantom_Zone]

Ian choked at such a moment. Feels bad man. But Ding finally in the game baby.

[@johnkirk1772]

Can happen.. the problem is that this isn’t the first time Ian choked it and not even the first on the WC championship stage He is certainly brilliant at times but he is just not solid - what’s it been like 50+ years since anyone lost this many games and still became WC champion?

[@peterh.1521]

Ding fought back from a bad position, and I think Ian was tired and make a blunder.

[@artificercreator]

1:43:43 Puzzle set up, was so incredible to find! this match was juicy.

[@geert574]

The choke battle of the century

[@lyndsiedrapeau527]

He got dinged

[@skfovbk]

all I need is drama. there are so many beautiful matches in the history of chess, no need for more, especially now we have computer

[@timespaice]

Ian twisted his mind, he calculated the position like his queen was already on g5. Btw I like how DIng gave him a quick finish after his blunder and didn t go for a deep think or anything.

[@andreascarlsson7564]

4:21:46 She started the presskonferens with: - Hello everyone

[@KamalSamadzade]

Yes, that brilliant move 3:57:29

[@nanhertroll4036]

Jajajaja

[@night_inhale]

first time kinda moving through the entire live game... and.. it feels like the time controls are wrong for a match like this. I'm seeing them have to make some of the most interesting and important decisions of the match.. right when they're getting very low on their first time constraint. I think 3 hours for the first time control, and then, idk, invent whatever you want after that, would be better. When the game is really really interesting is when they should really have time to think.

[@messivsronaldostudio4643]

yes, 3 minute per move is not enough.

[@shubhamchowdhuri8800]

I really felt for Ian here 😢 here 3:59:00

[@Xull042]

Title should be "Pressure MOUNTS on Ian to end this match"

[@zen23ish]

Complete banger of a world championship chess match!

[@thrivikramreddy3666]

After these games....Now everyone must have understood... What MAGNUS must have undergone for 5 continuous title defends... Making them appear so easy... ❤❤

[@michaelscott5653]

Let's go Ding!!

[@umarsyahbanmuhammad742]

"Chess is mental torture." -Garry Kasparov

[@LutherBlissett94]

Absolutely incredible!

[@artificercreator]

I see, maybe after game 10 or so of a chess championship the stress levels grow exponentially or something making the human mind tired: Super GMs had to push themselves over these final parts and that must be super hard, maybe it is a special type of "artistic block" that happens just during the late stages of a WCC. Magnus probably got super saturated by it.

[@kristianfagerstrom7011]

In Ians case, I actually believe that he did the opposite: Relaxed. the game looked won, and he allowed himself to go for a forcing line without fully calculating, since he often plays by intuition - and this time his intuition failed him.

[@artificercreator]

@@kristianfagerstrom7011 oh, interesting.

[@DynamicAero]

4:36:29 it's the "outstanding move" or "maravillosa jugada" guy I'm pretty sure

[@swaggy3987]

Completely out of line for observing commentators (cough Tania at 3:59:00) to be saying arrogant things like "What is he thinking??" and "This is supposed to be a world championship match!! 🥴🥴🥴" ...... yes, it is, and it is a world championship match, and you're the one watching with an engine at your side, while Ding and Ian are actually playing it. They're rated 2700+. Show some f**cking respect.

[@polemopoleno7104]

I agree and also disagree. She does this for the entertainment factor, not for a lack of respect, I'd say she represents the viewer in this one.

[@swaggy3987]

@@polemopoleno7104 It's straight up arrogant and disrespectful and out of line. She (and all the others) are sitting comfortable with an engine which does all the calculation for them and they just reverse engineer the thinking, whereas Ding and Ian and any world championship contender (or chess player for that matter) pushes themselves to superhuman limits. I repeat. They're both 2700+. For someone like Tania to be all "Omg they should be better!!!!" as if she would last 2 minutes against them. It's DISRESPECTFUL. "Wow Ian blundered after playing for 8hrs straight for like 2 weeks in a row omg how insane!!" Yeah ok.

[@mr.coolrunnercr7042]

It is unbelievable hard for Ian. But in the end it is just a game.

[@dsodragon8152]

At the end when Ian looks up and shakes his head, he's trying to keep from crying.... I sometimes do the same thing..... Sad...

[@DanielSmith-ef3ow]

It actually looked like the computer analysis glitched out. I think that is called a zugzwang when they make it worse. I will look forward to some more chess or tiebreak.

[@rasmus5341]

The biggest disaster this match has had is the live comments 1500s write that pops up mid-game; "Even I could win that/This is a draw/Ding must make a move/What is Ian doing?" The brain degeneracy of these folks

[@jasonsdodd]

It's total BS to claim Ian is out of it. They say that every time he loses. Fact is Ian has never trailed in the match. Rather, I'd say Ian is in the drivers seat given that neither have won two in a row and that Ding has never beat Ian with the black pieces.

[@lamestudiosinc418]

Well anything can happen but it is worth thinking that Ian only has 2 games to seal the deal coming off a loss. It's by no means decided but in a match where nerves have meant so much it's not hard to see why people aren't optimistic about Ian's chances being on the bad side of nerves. Ian hasn't lost for sure, but to say he's in control of this situation is a bit strange. He was, but it's definitely escaped from out under him.

[@jasonsdodd]

@@lamestudiosinc418 In what other situation would you think the one who is always struggling to catch up has the advantage?

[@bullitthebelgian]

I think Nepo was better in his Eugene role in The Walking Dead

[@jb6879]

It takes all kinds. No reason to be dismissive of her.

[@isaacblackburn2906]

Like Tania the best, actually, since she goes back into a birds eye view which is needed to balance their focus on line calculations

[@Young-ep8ik]

@@isaacblackburn2906 Don't think anyone is criticizing her for that. But she does need to stop asking repetitive questions every game, especially reading body language and psychoanalysis, after the GMs have been telling her game after game do not overdo it.

[@HeyKevinYT]

3:57:33 rip Nepo

[@wot_noobclown5621]

4:07:26 me when I look at my bank account

[@BlizzyFoxTF]

3:30:00 Fabi's burn

[@MiguelFigueiredo-e6p]

This type of blunder is known as a Chicken Kyiv

[@dalekerr5091]

love your coverage

[@jvshuwa]

Except for the really annoying lady

[@nossenkanter]

After witnessing Ding's performance throughout this championship, Ian thought WCC stood for World Choking Championship and adjusted his style of play to match.

[@kristianfagerstrom7011]

Well, Ian showed the world what choking looks like in his last championship vs Magnus,so he surely knows how it's done.

[@wot_noobclown5621]

How much tea did Ian drink during the game?

[@nestorrivera3106]

In my chess class for people who Blitzout they were forced to seat over their hands to prevent them from ruining the game 😅😅😅

[@quill444]

Fabi and Tania are wrong about the _Budapest Opening_ as Black can ALWAYS get the pawn back, so it's not even properly called a _Gambit_ but a legitimate _Defense!_ - j q t -

[@hith2re]

1:46:15 lol the sound of realisations from all the GMs

[@jonathanruano4973]

I think the problem is that chess engines are hurting the chess game.

[@CrAzzyWak]

4:14:40 - You can hear Ian blowing air

[@BlizzyFoxTF]

3:57:24

[@nulhe]

As a spaniard I must say Leontxo's english level is a blunder itself. Leontxo, sé que ya nos pilla mayores, pero aparte de la nula pronunciación hay ciertos errores gramaticales que duele oírlos xD

[@scrumpymanjack]

Ian showing his true colours in this game. He always seems to save the lunacy for the WC finals. Wow. It's like groundhog day.

[@aeterna581]

i've laughed so hard. thank you ;)

[@arturmekarski2581]

And I thought I am the only one who does that!

[@saminyasarkhan2777]

Dude just probably needed to take a dump and hence went hasty cause he prolly couldn’t hold it anymore 😂

[@gamechaser782]

3:57:27 the bluundddeerrrrrrrr!!!!!

[@sebribo1873]

Dont agree with Robert: ian will only remember this game well at the end of his life if he should loose his 2nd WC match here.

[@akattom]

Magnus gifted the world chess championship title for this??

[@andrey_lifting9021]

He was afraid

[@kreepz9919]

"Matthew Becker ​Ding - If you want to earn the hearts of the whole chess world, acknowledge that you are beat and just have fun on the way out..." oof

[@iamgauravdaware]

Ding is worthy world champion

[@Chingbong1]

He eats rat bat cat dog, supports communism and you think thats world champion worthy?

[@Papelucky]

No. He is just your favourite

[@donii7092]

@@PapeluckyHe is a worthy chess champion

[@markangus3252]

You can't beat classical time controls. Can't get into watching blitz or bullet.

[@vivekpal368]

Guys ding won the championship😮🎉

[@surferp89]

Supporting ding. But feel really bad for nepo

[@olafschluter706]

Being the patzer that I am I did not need an engine to be shocked by Ian not playing 27. … Nf3 - but needing to see the main line with best defense by White to find that 37 … Ba3! wins ten moves later (not to mention to temporarily sacrifice the Ra8 with check for White in the process) to justify 27 … Nf3 reminds that even the best players are not computers and I am certainly not. I would have played Nf3 just for „looking good“ and from my experience that one needs to „cash in“ on a advantageous position at the right moment to not get into trouble. But it appears as a thing only a machine can see for sure. But it is really, really said to see Nepo killing himself on the spot by. 34…f5. That was the elephant in the room in the press conference: this is really a blunder. How did it happen?

[@charleswebsterbaer]

why not pawn takes pawn?

[@Ign1xx]

Ding chilling

[@modo203]

Humans are masochists for playing this game.

[@vinothv56]

c6 in game 9 of '21; g3 in game 11 of '21 and f5 in game 12 of '23. Come on Nepo. You are gifting the titles by such oversight blunders after putting the opponent in worry with brilliant blitz moves. Chess is cruel.

[@cuberious1419]

Ian resigns at 3:57:31

[@jvshuwa]

Yo what’s up Dimash

[@Wargasm54]

Nepo gonna try to take Ding into blitz and win. Nepo screwed the pooch today. He just threw the crown into the lake of despair. Tragic.

[@naturadventur7425]

No pink shirt tomorrow?

[@erichgerber251]

Am I the only thinking that the broadcast gains a lot when Fabi and Robert discuss situations alone? Sorry Tania 🙏

[@Philgob]

Nah she adds a lot to the story of the championship

[@communist_amoeba3923]

I agree

[@AndreaCremoni]

Tania and Fabi have different roles tho. Tania offers a general commentary, while Fabi is there to offer a technical commentary. They're both good (Fabi is shockingly good at his stuff tho, so I get your point)

[@s_0ma_047]

Trust me Tania is the one making them talk😂 if not for Tania there would two awkward chess nerds thinking of the game and not talking as much

[@Alaestr]

I agree with SOMA. She is there to keep the two guys talking and she does her job very well given you enjoy the technical commentators discussions the most ;) She prompts those discussions quite well.

[@justinherbert9146]

Where is Mike Klein? He must have flown home. I miss his questions!

[@Manu2k]

if game 13 is a draw, ding wins with white game 14

[@konachan01]

Magnus rofl seeing his two potential replacments for the throne.

[@Wargasm54]

Harsh. But true 😂

[@Magar0monk]

Ding destroyed this hater commentary take L

[@nossenkanter]

Oh no no no Ian outchoked the choker this isn't chess it's a circus 😂

[@Magar0monk]

@@nossenkanter only for engine player. Shameless comparing 4000 engine to human chess. Chess will die soon like this

[@nossenkanter]

@@Magar0monk That's nonsense. A 2700 rated player has a major lead, not only doesn't win, but somehow runs the clock out for no reason.

[@onlythetruthwillsetyoufree8872]

Ding just sits there not even taking his chances while Nepo beats Nepo. I don't think either of these players will or should be world champion for long. I miss Carlsen very badly!

[@castkeyboard]

So sad how both contenders are fighting for second place.

[@iluvatarchem]

Another meltdown. And people keep saying that this is a final worthy of a world championship. This is a joke and has been one from match one. If Magnus was there. these players would get absolutely 100% destroyed.

[@gj4769]

Ding won

[@meatloafneck]

rooting for ding but I hate that for ian

[@jozefserf2024]

Watching after work allows you to skip all the unnecessary crazy screaming squealing and shouting and squawking.

[@harryleiter6164]

Epic

[@wot_noobclown5621]

4:02:15 Ian dislocates his shoulder

[@gaminggale6943]

before this game i want ding to win ..but i want nepo to be the winner...

[@hoggar1452]

It is interesting to see the next world champion maybe somebody who did not even qualify for the candidates' tournament. That is if Karjakin was not robbed (what does somebody's political opinion have to do with chess or sport in general? ), Ding would have never made it. What is surprising nobody is talking about this issue. The chess world is in absolute shambles.

[@letcreate123]

I hate to be the one to break it to you, but endorsing a war is not simply a political opinion, it's completely inhumane. Also, Ding had to grind a bunch in the months leading up to the tournament in order to qualify for the replacement spot, so no, he didn't "not even qualify."

[@sergioortiz8219]

The chess world is not in absolute shambles just because you say it is. In fact, it's more popular than ever.

[@thanhquangnguyen1583]

Ding Had Learned A New Skill To Defeat Ian Nepo😂😂😂 And Its Called "Panda Eats Ice Cream😅😅😅

[@dfg12382]

This game is symbolic for the fact that the format is absolutely outdated. Even the best players in the world after so many hours are too fried to go for deep lines but bail out and try to play intuitively. That's the opposite of how these classic matches are meant to be played and gives good perspective on why Magnus chose to miss out.

[@pianissimo7121]

But that's on the players and not the format no? Didn't magnus and fabi play perfectly for all games and not show anything of what you said? You can call it prep but that is also just as tiring as playing.

[@polemopoleno7104]

@@pianissimo7121 True

[@Nick-H-77]

What happens if it reaches 7-7? Does Magnus retain or is there some kind of tiebreaker?

[@rikardandersson6652]

Tie break, rapid then blitz if needed

[@skfovbk]

they play fast chess. that would be interesting

[@kristianfagerstrom7011]

Nah, Magnus gave up the claim to the title when he decided not to defend it.

[@akattom]

Magnus got tired of kicking everyone's ass so he decided he wants to stay home, eat and drink something then wait for Nepo to choke again, on his HD monitor.

[@yidiandianpang]

Magnus is best regardless

[@marlonvanrooyen6640]

Any winner

[@negociadorz6163]

IF DING WINS THE WORLD CHINA WILL INVEST MILLIONS IN CHESS! $$$$❤

[@gametime2473]

Imagine being in Magnus' position and turning down the 800k-1.2m bucks for just a week of chess games. I can't even fathom that.

[@pizzaface817]

It’s actually a 3 week commitment. There are 7 rest days and 14 matches

[@alexponco4753]

its the same thing why so many high salary CEO decide to resign with big money and salary They get tired of it and stress is really big,no amount of money can help with that

[@gametime2473]

@@pizzaface817 Yeah, I don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that. A million for 3 weeks... 333k per week... not a bad salary though.

[@GoodOldFella970]

when nepo and carlsen played for WCC, both used months to prepare..

[@tkffin]

So pleased ding the dignified won. All the theatrical gamesmanship and arrogance from nepo is awful Ding seems a nice guy As much as I admire Magnus as the eating and gamesmanship from him annoys me Ding the king is really likeable

[@Tomatoffel]

You getting annoyed by magnus eating is so funny 😂

[@tkffin]

If I was playing him I couldn’t concentrate. I’d do something worse I love Ding holding his head that’s cool. Sitting there with exaggerated chewing and munching is not

[@Tomatoffel]

@@tkffin show me one game where he ate that wasn't online. Like you know that you don't have to watch him eat when it's an online game right?

[@pianissimo7121]

​@@Tomatoffel even in otb i didn't know eating is an issue unless the opponent complains.

[@Tomatoffel]

@@pianissimo7121 it ofc isn't. But it's even more stupid to complain about something like that when it's online and you can just turn off the opponents webcam feed. Like if this just happened online this guy is the most stupid idiot I have ever seen.