Nepomniachtchi and Liren draw in first game of World Chess Championship title match

Baku, April 10, AZERTAC

Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi and Chinese Ding Liren tied in the first game of the World Chess Crown match in Astana – 0.5-0.5, according to Athletistic.

Grandmasters agreed to a draw on the 49th move.

The second match will take place on Monday, April 10, with Ding Liren playing the white pieces.

Ian Nepomniachtchi is European champion (2010), Russian champion (2010, 2020), double winner of the World Team Championship (2013, 2019), double winner of the Candidates Tournament (2020, 2022).

Nepomniachtchi was supposed to play a match for the chess crown with reigning world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, but Carlsen refused to defend the title, so Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren, who took second place of the Candidates Tournament 2022, became the opponent of the Russian grandmaster.