Chess With Sam Collins

Ding Liren vs Veselin Topalov

Wenzhou, 2018

Often tipped as a potential future world champion, China’s Ding Liren convincingly won a match against former world champion Veselin Topalov by 3–1 in Wenzhou, China.

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.g3 Bb4+ 5.Bd2 Bd6

This has recently become fashionable as an alternative to 5 . . . Be7.

6.Nc3 0–0 7.Bg5 c6 8.Bg2 h6 9.Bxf6 Qxf6 10.0–0 Qd8 11.c5!

A rare move (only tested ...