Library / Games / Ding Liren vs Carlsen, M.
Saint Louis Blitz 2019 · Saint Louis USA · 13 August 2019

Ding Liren vs M. Carlsen, Saint Louis Blitz 2019

Ding Liren 1–0 Carlsen, M.
Ding Liren vs Carlsen, M.
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Saint Louis Blitz 2019, 13 August 2019

The Ding Liren-Carlsen game at the 2019 Saint Louis Blitz (Round 4.4) was won by Ding Liren as White. The 2019 Saint Louis Blitz was the third section of the Saint Louis GCT stop, played at 3+2 time control over 18 rounds.

The blitz win was a sharp Sicilian. Ding Liren’s preparation produced a clear advantage by move 15; Carlsen’s defence at blitz speed couldn’t find the precise resources needed. The conversion took roughly 30 moves.

The 2019 Saint Louis Blitz was won by Carlsen with 13/18. Ding Liren finished fourth on 10/18, behind Aronian and Nakamura. The result confirmed Ding’s status as one of the top-five players in the world at the period, though he was still establishing his blitz credentials.

Ding Liren’s pandemic period (2020-2021) saw him win the 2020 Candidates Tournament (finishing second behind Nepomniachtchi) and the 2022 Candidates Tournament (also second behind Nepomniachtchi). When Carlsen declined to defend the title in 2022, Ding Liren — as the second-place finisher — was selected to play the 2023 match against Nepomniachtchi. He won the match in tiebreaks and became the 17th world chess champion.

Game record

This game between Ding Liren and Carlsen, M. was played at the Saint Louis Blitz 2019 in Saint Louis USA in 2019. Played in round 4.4. At the time of the game, the players were rated 2805 (White) and 2882 (Black). The game lasted 55 moves, ending with White winning. It is part of the modern AI-era of elite chess.

Opening context

The opening sequence runs 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7, after which the players entered the middlegame proper.

Match notes

This Saint Louis Blitz 2019 game sits in Carlsen era. Master-level chess of the period was published in tournament bulletins, magazine annotations, and — for the most-studied games — in published opening monographs by the participants and their successors. This game is preserved in the open historical record and can be replayed in full above.