ASTANA, April 9, Andrey Simonenko. Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi had an advantage in the first game of the match for the chess crown against the Chinese Ding Liren, but at some point he chose a non-optimal option, according to Arkady Dvorkovich, President of the International Chess Federation (FIDE).
The match for the title of world chess champion started in Astana on Sunday. The first game in which Nepomniachtchi played with White ended in a draw.
“In the first game, Ian had an advantage, I think he did not see a decisive advantage in any of the options, probably, the choice was not optimal. But Dean stubbornly kept the balance in his manner, although at some point it was clear that the position was unpleasant for him. Nevertheless, he showed his stubbornness,» Dvorkovich said.
Dvorkovich called the fact that the Chinese chess player started thinking about moves for a long time at the beginning of the game as a positive sign. «Ian obviously had a good opening preparation,» the agency's interlocutor stated.
The lost victory, according to the FIDE President, should not affect Nepomniachtchi's psychological state. «I think that Ian strengthened his psychological stability on the basis of the match in Dubai. The fight is all ahead,» concluded Dvorkovich.