Ian Nepomniachtchi v Ding Liren: World Chess Championship tiebreaks – live

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Only a few minutes left before today’s first game. Here’s a look at how Nepo and Ding matchup in the rapid and blitz formats.

The head-to-head comparison between Nepomniachtchi and Liren in rapid and blitz. Photograph: Fide

The format

Here’s a review of the format for the world championship match. So far it has consisted of 14 classical games with each player awarded one point for a win and a half-point for a draw. Both Nepomniachtchi and Ding finished with seven points apiece in a rollercoaster classical portion, which included no fewer than six decisive results.

The time control for those games was 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game plus an additional increment of 30 seconds per move starting on move 61.

The time control for today’s tiebreak games are as follows:

A four-game rapid playoff with a 25+10 time control. Ding will start with white in the first game after a drawing of lots following yesterday’s Game 14 press conference.

If still tied, the players will contest a two-game playoff with a 5+3 time control. A drawing of lots will decide which player starts with white.

If still tied, the players will contest another two-game playoff with a 5+3 time control. A drawing of lots will decide which player starts with white.

If still tied, the players will play 3+2 games until there is a winner. A drawing of lots will again decide who starts with white, with colors alternating after each game.

The complete official regulations can be found here.

Prelude

Hello and welcome to the tiebreaks of the World Chess Championship. There’s nothing to separate second-ranked Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and third-ranked Ding Liren of China after the scheduled 14 classical games of their €2m ($2.2m) world championship match at the St Regis Astana Hotel, so they’re selling matters with a series of games under shorter time controls.

Whoever prevails today will succeed Magnus Carlsen as the 17th world chess champion after the 32-year-old Norwegian decided against defending it for a fifth time, citing a lack of motivation. It marks only the second time in the 137-year history of world championship matchplay that a holder has opted not to defend his crown – after American grandmaster Bobby Fischer controversially forfeited the belt in 1975.

We are roughly 20 minutes from the ceremonial first move. More to come between now and then.

Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren are all square after the scheduled 14 classical games of their world title match. Photograph: Fide

Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime here’s a look back at yesterday’s Game 14.