Yesterday's first game ended in a draw at the St Regis Hotel, with FIDE Candidates Tournament runner-up Ding switching to the white pieces for the second.

Ding launched a surprise opening but could not press home an advantage in the middlegame, allowing Nepomniachtchi, playing under the FIDE flag because of the war in Ukraine, to start dominating the board.

The clock was also against Ding, and he was left with only three minutes to make 15 moves, with the first time control requiring the first 40 moves to be made within 120 minutes.

Ding was ultimately forced to resign after three-and-a-half hours of play, handing Candidates Tournament winner Nepomniachtchi a lead by 1.5 points to 0.5.

The Chinese grandmaster said that the game was a "disaster", and he admitted "I just didn't play well".

Tomorrow is set to be a rest day for the players, but Nepomniachtchi intends to continue with his preparations for the third game on Wednesday (April 12).

"I find it difficult to imagine an absolutely chess-free day," he said.

"Of course, I am planning to grab some more sleep, but generally, I am going to follow a standard routine, just relax and continue with my preparations."

The World Championship Match is played over 14 classical games in Kazakhstan's capital.

The reigning five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway opted not to defend his title this year.