World Champion Ding Liren performed a flawless sport from begin to end to beat GM Gukesh Dommaraju and degree the scores within the 2024 FIDE World Championship at 6-6 with simply two video games to go. When Gukesh performed quick in a seemingly quiet opening, every thing appeared beneath management, however Ding performed with computer-like precision as he upped the strain consistently till the challenger’s place merely fell aside.
Recreation 13, after a relaxation day on Tuesday, begins Wednesday, December 11, at 4:00 a.m. ET / 10:00 CET / 2:30 p.m. IST / 5:00 p.m. native time in Singapore.
Match Rating
| Title | Ranking | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | Rating |
| Ding Liren | 2728 | 1 | ½ | 0 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 0 | 1 | . | . | 6 |
| Gukesh Dommaraju | 2783 | 0 | ½ | 1 | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | ½ | 1 | 0 | . | . | 6 |
The way to watch the 2024 FIDE World Championship
Grandmaster Recreation Evaluation, By GM Rafael Leitao
GM Rafael Leitao will analyze sport 12 of the match beneath.
Comeback King Ding On How To Get well From A Loss
GM Anish Giri expressed a standard thought throughout sport 12 when he remarked on how unrecognizable Ding was from the participant we might seen only a day earlier: “I simply do not perceive what’s going on with Ding… He is such a thriller to me. He appeared so damaged, fully, yesterday, and now he performs a completely unbelievable sport all through, simply all the way in which!”
He appeared so damaged, fully, yesterday, and now he performs a completely unbelievable sport all through, simply all the way in which!
—Anish Giri on Ding Liren in Recreation 12
It wasn’t the primary time Ding had hit again, since within the earlier world championship match in opposition to GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, he managed it a minimum of 3 times. What’s his secret? Properly, listed below are some ideas based mostly on his post-game press convention.
1. Perceive What Went Improper: It could have been straightforward for Ding to despair after shedding sport 11, however as an alternative, he managed to have a look at the sport objectively. “If I performed e6 as an alternative of g6 yesterday, I’m additionally taking part in an excellent sport,” he famous, and concluded, “I simply spent too little time on the vital moments and spoiled an excellent place.”
2. Get A Good Evening’s Sleep: Historically, chess gamers inform us it is unattainable to sleep effectively after shedding an enormous sport, however Ding managed. He commented, “Final night time I slept effectively, I slept earlier, and it gave me a whole lot of power.”
3. Change One thing (Something): Maybe taking his cue from Nepomniachtchi in an earlier world championship, Ding modified one thing nobody would have considered—his hair! “At first I modified my expertise somewhat bit, I did one thing with my hair,” he talked about within the press convention.
4. Drink Espresso: For many people ingesting espresso is an enormous a part of the world championship match expertise, however not for Ding… till now! He commented, “I took a cup of espresso earlier than the sport, which helped me really feel far more energetic,” whereas he additionally snacked within the gamers’ lounge to keep up his power ranges through the sport. How does he like his espresso (sure, the press conferences miss nothing!): “A small cup of espresso.”
5. Have The Assist Of Mates And Household: Ding was requested about assist from his second and mom and responded: “[GM Richard] Rapport despatched me a file named “Strike Again!” and it occurred! My mum gave me confidence, she mentioned I did it final time, I can do it once more!”
At present @rjrapport advised the entire story #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/VeKX6M1rQC
— Mike Klein (@ChessMike) December 9, 2024
6. A Fortunate Quantity Does not Damage: Should you wanted one thing dramatic to occur in a match, sport 12 was Ding’s second.
STAT OF THE DAY: #DingGukesh
Ding Liren each time taking part in “Spherical 12” in his final 5 OTB Classical Occasions: (All Decisive!)
2024: Tata Metal Masters: WON
2023: FIDE World Championship: WON
2023: Tata Metal Masters: LOST
2022: FIDE Candidates: LOST
2020-21: FIDE Candidates: WON
— Rakesh Kulkarni (@itherocky) December 9, 2024
Nevertheless, when requested on the press convention, he mentioned 17 was his favourite quantity. Why? “As a result of I’m the seventeenth world champion!”
Remembering that reality could have helped him through the sport.
A Quiet Opening Appears To Favor Gukesh
So Ding had accomplished every thing he may earlier than the sport, however as Giri retains noting in commentary, the issue with psychology and chess is that there is a board and positions in between the gamers. GM Peter Leko appropriately predicted Ding would go for 1.c4, however his reasoning was that Ding already had the data that Gukesh would reply 1…e5. As a substitute, nonetheless, the challenger went for 1…e6.
As Peter Leko guessed, Ding Liren goes for 1.c4 in Recreation 12, whereas our commentators assume 1…e6 suggests Gukesh is heading for rock strong protection! #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/Gq7FkXDYMc
— chess24 (@chess24com) December 9, 2024
When Gukesh performed 8…e5, having used solely three minutes on the clock and with a 20-minute lead over Ding, it felt as if his workforce had discovered a approach to neutralize the place of their dwelling preparation.
Ding famous, “I used to be caught without warning by my opponent within the opening and I’ve to search out some concepts to pose issues for my opponent,” whereas Gukesh described himself as “conscious of the place” and “fairly snug,” even when he did not recall all the main points.
Clouds would slowly collect over Black’s place, nonetheless, with the primary fully new transfer of the sport, 10…h6!?, being described by Ding as “too sluggish,” whereas our commentators famous that 10…Be6! was a tricky-to-find laptop suggestion.
Giri on Gukesh’s 10…h6: “He at all times chooses probably the most pure transfer when he does not keep in mind!” https://t.co/ZPkEwtpm7h
— chess24 (@chess24com) December 9, 2024
Ding started to discover a collection of delicate and highly effective quiet strikes, whereas in his recap, Giri recognized the issue as follows: “Black’s items have already discovered their greatest squares, and it’s laborious for Black to enhance the place, whereas White has loads of methods.”
Ding Takes Over
As early as transfer 14, our commentators had grow to be converts to the white place, with Leko already impressed: “I really feel that each transfer Ding has made connects with one another, it has deep soul… I really feel that Ding is taking part in right here brilliantly!”
Giri, in the meantime, after the robust 15.Nb5! appeared on the board, identified that being in an (nearly) must-win scenario can actually assist a participant with self-doubts, because it helped him in opposition to GM Magnus Carlsen.
Giri on Ding in a must-win place: “It might probably make a participant off-balance regain the stability… He would perhaps usually not assume he is higher, however now he thinks, I’ve to win, so he performs as if he is higher, & he’s higher, so all of it works out very effectively for him. He is chilling!” pic.twitter.com/Usw0CAkBgK
— chess24 (@chess24com) December 9, 2024
Ding himself would again up that concept later, noting how he’d prevented one line that would finish in a draw by three-fold repetition and saying of his basic method, “I’ve no approach to retreat—I’ve to push for the win!”
The second when Gukesh sensed he was in bother was after the computer-approved 17.Qd2!, with the challenger admitting, “I used to be actually undecided what to do.” Ding, in the meantime, had a transparent plan.
Giri: “To this point this sport jogs my memory of peak Ding, after I performed him, simply engine stuff all the way in which” https://t.co/eShguqxrOi
— chess24 (@chess24com) December 9, 2024
Gukesh mentioned his 17…Bg6?! reply “was only a mistake,” since he’d missed that after 18.d4, his unique intention 18…exd4? would run into 19.Bf4!. Within the coming strikes, Gukesh desperately tried to whip up counterplay whereas Ding rigorously maintained his benefit.
Ding Is Successful And Makes No Mistake
The second when Ding realized he was successful was additionally the second of best peril—after Gukesh performed 22…Bg5?!.
22…Bg5?! appears to make Gukesh’s place worse, however provided that Ding performs 23.Nf4! #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/ZMibZtwyHI
— chess24 (@chess24com) December 9, 2024
Ding confessed afterward that he’d almost stumbled, noting, “My first intention was to play h4, however it’s a really unhealthy transfer!”
After 24.h4? Black is immediately even barely higher, in keeping with the pc, however Ding mentioned he discovered the lesson of the day past’s loss and identified that it was right here that his additional power got here in helpful: “Right here I believe I did the final essential lengthy assume, as a result of if I play h4 I may additionally spoil this superb place.”
After spending 5 of his final 24 minutes, he discovered 23.Nf4!, and understood that his place was “a lot, a lot better.” That is the place the place Giri puzzled aloud how Ding may appear so damaged the day earlier than and play “a completely unbelievable sport.”
Giri nonetheless doubted that Ding would preserve his degree for the entire sport, however he did, with Ding himself summing up, “I simply put strain on my opponent the entire sport—I didn’t slip like final sport!”
I simply put strain on my opponent the entire sport—I didn’t slip like final sport!
—Ding Liren
The closest we got here to a slip was an uncommon oversight since Ding may merely have gained an alternate with 26.Na7!, hitting the trapped rook on c8.
26.Na7! is now a technique for Ding to gather!#DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/X7KVHp4Qll
— chess24 (@chess24com) December 9, 2024
That might basically be game-over, and although his 27.d6! was even stronger, in keeping with the pc, it raised some eyebrows.
I perceive he is nonetheless successful however not taking part in Na7 is insane imo #guk
— Lawrence Trent (@LawrenceTrentIM) December 9, 2024
Ding solved that minor thriller after the sport, smiling as he defined, “The reason being easy—I missed Na7!”
You may additionally say he “missed” a queen sacrifice in what adopted, however Ding had a completely overwhelming benefit—”I’ve two pawns and the compensation,” he mentioned—whereas he nonetheless bought to finish with a crushing rook sacrifice, a outstanding turnaround within the house of 24 hours.
“This was the most effective Ding that exists!” (Giri) Ding Liren finishes with a rook sacrifice to finish an excellent sport that ranges the World Championship rating at 6-6 with 2 video games to go! #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/82KnLpY9ou
— chess24 (@chess24com) December 9, 2024
“It’s perhaps the most effective sport I’ve performed in latest occasions,” mentioned Ding. And what a second to search out such kind!
Staff Ding are understandably glad! #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/XGsdr7LLHi
— chess24 (@chess24com) December 9, 2024
What Now For Ding And Gukesh?
The scores are degree at 6-6, and immediately, the ball is again in Gukesh’s courtroom to adapt to the brand new scenario. He remained level-headed, commenting:
Clearly, this sport is a little bit of a disappointment. Fortunately I’ve a relaxation day tomorrow to get better, however it’s good to know the rating remains to be tied and this sport is just not an enormous blow for my probabilities, it’s nonetheless evenly-matched. I’ll simply attempt to play good video games!
This sport is just not an enormous blow for my probabilities.
—Gukesh Dommaraju
With solely two video games remaining, the narrative of Ding being the extra established fast participant and favourite in tiebreaks will return, however earlier than that, we have classical video games on Wednesday and Thursday since, regardless of the pre-tournament fears, we now know all 14 video games might be performed.
Ding advised within the post-game press convention that he is come to phrases with shedding his title since he famous, “If I can’t win at present, additionally if I can’t win the final two video games, perhaps I’ll simply lose the title, which I additionally settle for.” As we have seen, nonetheless, he is not able to retire simply but…
Ding Liren learn some feedback on the web yesterday, together with, “You need to retire!” 😀#DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/tS9JgCSTCd
— chess24 (@chess24com) December 9, 2024
…or to surrender the match with out a battle!
Come again Wednesday for the penultimate sport, when Gukesh may have the white items for the final time within the match, at the least in a classical sport.
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The 2024 FIDE World Championship in Singapore decides the subsequent world champion. 18-year-old Indian Challenger Gukesh Dommaraju takes on Chinese language Defending Champion Ding Liren in a 14-game match, with the primary to 7.5 factors successful. The gamers have two hours for 40 strikes, then half-hour to the tip of the sport, with 30 seconds added every transfer from transfer 41 onwards. The prize fund is $2,500,000, with $200,000 for a win and the remaining cash cut up equally. If tied 7-7, a playoff will happen, beginning with 4 video games of 15+10 fast chess.
Earlier world championship protection:
