World Chess Championship 2024: Ding Liren vs. Gukesh Dommaraju

In a thrilling encounter on Saturday, Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju faced a tense moment but managed to secure a surprisingly calm draw in the fifth game of his world championship match against Ding Liren. This result maintained the tie in the match, with both players sitting at 2½ points each out of a possible 5.

Choosing the French Defense (1 e4 e6) once more, Ding Liren set the stage for the game. Gukesh, known for his aggressive playstyle, opted for the more passive Exchange Variation (2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5), a move that raised eyebrows given he was playing with the white pieces.

Match Overview

The 2024 World Chess Championship is set to take place from November 23 to December 15 at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore. This highly anticipated event features defending champion Ding Liren squaring off against the promising young talent Gukesh Dommaraju in a best-of-14-games format, with a prize pool of $2.5 million (£1.98 million).

Ding Liren made history last year by becoming the first male world chess champion from China, defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in Kazakhstan. However, the 32-year-old has faced personal challenges, including episodes of depression, which have limited his classical game appearances to just 44 since his title win. As a result, he enters this title defense as the underdog.

On the other hand, Gukesh Dommaraju, now 18, stunned the chess community by winning the Candidates tournament in Toronto at age 17, making him the youngest ever challenger for the world title. He has the chance to set a record as the youngest world champion, currently held by Garry Kasparov.

Match Format and Rules

The championship will consist of 14 classical games, with points awarded as follows: one point for a win and half a point for a draw. The first player to reach 7½ points will be declared the champion. Should the score be tied after all 14 games, tiebreak games with faster time controls will ensue.

Games are scheduled to begin at 5 PM local time in Singapore, with rest days factored into the match schedule. Specific rules for tiebreak games are established to ensure a champion is determined. If a player accumulates 1½ points or more in the tiebreaks, they will claim the title. In the event of a tie after the rapid games, a mini-match of two blitz games will take place, featuring a time control of three minutes per side, with a two-second increment from move one. The player who scores 1½ points or more in this mini-match will be crowned champion. A drawing of lots will determine which player plays white in the mini-match.

If the blitz mini-match ends in a tie, a single blitz game will be played with the same time control. Should this game also conclude without a winner, another blitz game will be conducted with colors reversed, continuing until one player emerges victorious.

Players are prohibited from agreeing to a draw before black’s 40th move, except in cases of threefold repetition or stalemate.

Match Schedule

The championship schedule is as follows:

• Opening ceremony and technical meeting: Saturday, November 23
• Rest day: Sunday, November 24
• Game 1: Monday, November 25
• Game 2: Tuesday, November 26
• Game 3: Wednesday, November 27
• Rest day: Thursday, November 28
• Game 4: Friday, November 29
• Game 5: Saturday, November 30
• Game 6: Sunday, December 1
• Rest day: Monday, December 2
• Game 7: Tuesday, December 3
• Game 8: Wednesday, December 4
• Game 9: Thursday, December 5
• Rest day: Friday, December 6
• Game 10: Saturday, December 7
• Game 11: Sunday, December 8
• Game 12: Monday, December 9
• Rest day: Tuesday, December 10
• Game 13: Wednesday, December 11
• Game 14: Thursday, December 12
• Tiebreaks (if necessary): Friday, December 13
• Closing ceremony: Saturday, December 14

All games are set to start at 5 PM local time, translating to 2:30 PM in India, 9 AM in London, and 4 AM in New York.

In a recent match, the queens were exchanged early, leading to a simplified position by the 10th move. Both players strategically probed each other’s defenses, with one player launching an aggressive kingside attack, which was effectively countered by the other. A pivotal move in the middlegame nearly turned the tide, but a subsequent mistake allowed the opponent to gain a strong foothold. Ultimately, the game ended in a draw after three hours of intense play.

Despite the draw, it was noted that one player’s hasty decision-making may have cost them the chance to capitalize on their opponent’s missteps. The player expressed a desire to improve and seize future opportunities more effectively.

The championship has already seen its share of ups and downs, with unexpected wins and draws. As the competition unfolds, fans can anticipate more thrilling games leading up to the crowning of the new world champion. With both players fiercely vying for victory, the stakes have never been higher.