Ivanchuk, V. – Ding Liren

2710 2016 · Checkmate — White wins

In 2016 Ivanchuk (2710) played the King’s Gambit against Ding Liren (2766), and for a long stretch Black held the better side of the argument. The first swing is 28...Rfe8: the evaluation moves from −0.2 to −2.5 and Black’s edge disappears. Two moves later 30...Rf5 makes it worse, from −2.6 to −6.7. White eases off once with 31.Be4, dropping from +6.7 to +3.7, but the run of queen checks never lets Black settle. After 43...Be7 (−4.9 to −15.0) it is over: mate on move 46. Accuracy: 87% White, 76% Black. The takeaway — one passive move in a holdable position can cost the whole thread.