Ding escapes, its 6.5-6.5, one game to go
For yet another time, World Champion Ding Liren (China) weaved an escape net, this time on the 13th and penultimate game of the FIDE World Chess Championship 2024, presented by Google, at the Equarius Hotel Sentosa, Singapore here today. The match score is tied 6.5 – 6.5, with just one final game to go. It was a dogged defence that saved the day for the Chinese Grandmaster from the hands of Challenger Gukesh Dommaraju (India).
The player who scores 7.5 points will win this 14 game match, picking up the better part of the US$2.5 million total prize fund. In case of a tie, the title would be decided by tie-breaks. Earlier, the 13th world championship game was inaugurated by FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich who played out the symbolic first move as Nf3. Adjusting the pieces, Challenger Gukesh Dommaraju put it back and played 1.e4 signifying his intention to go all out in the crucial game.
In a highly tense game, both players showed impeccable poise and went on to split the points after five and half hour struggle across the board. White’s 7.a3 on the French defence set Ding on his usual thinking mode. The middle-game saw Gukesh expanding his position slowly but steadily. In what could be termed as the biggest miss of the event, the Challenger played 31. Ne4 when 31. Rxe8 Qxe8 followed by 32. Ne4 might have caused havoc for black.
With every game it becomes more and more nerves, than the moves on the board. The player who will be able to hold his own, would go back home with the booty and the title. The stakes of one single game is huge in terms of money as well as pride. It has been an even match so far, with Ding and Gukesh securing two wins each, other than draws.
About penultimate and final classical games World Champion Ding Liren had this to say, “Firstly, I am very tired after a long game. Secondly, I am yet to decide what’s the strategy for the next game which is a Golden game”. On missing a promising continuation, the Challenger said, “When I played 31.Ne4 I missed his defense idea with 31…Rf8 and 32…Rc7.” GM Maurice Ashley, the master of ceremonies said, “Engine gives this as winning for White” during the post match press conference. Despite the miss, the challenger and the champion appear to be happy to start the final classical game on even footing.
“I don’t think you will see a short draw tomorrow” were Ding’s final words when he left for the day. The 14th game begins at 5 PM Singapore time on Thursday 12th December, 2024, with World Champion Ding Liren making the first move. The match presented by Google, will be broadcast LIVE with expert commentary on the FIDE YouTube Channel.
GM Gukesh Dommaraju (2783) – GM Ding Liren (2728) 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. a3 Be7 8. Be3 Nb6 9. Nf4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc4 11. Bxc4 dxc4 12. Nge2 b5 13. O-O O-O 14. Nc3 Rb8 15. Nh5 f5 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qf3 Qe8 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. Qe2 Qg6 20. f3 Rf8 21. Rad1 Ne7 22. Bf4 Rb6 23. Bc7 Rb7 24. Bd6 Re8 25. Bxe7 Rexe7 26. Qe5 a6 27. d5 exd5 28. Qxd5+ Qe6 29. Qc5 Re8 30. Rde1 Qf7 31. Ne4 Rf8 32. Nd6 Rc7 33. Qe5 Qf6 34. Qd5+ Kh8 35. Re5 Re7 36. Rfe1 Rxe5 37. Rxe5 h6 38. Qc5 Bd7 39. Ne4 Qf4 40. Re7 Bf5 41. Qd4 Rg8 42. h3 Qc1+ 43. Kf2 Bxe4 44. Rxe4 c3 45. bxc3 Qxa3 46. Kg3 Qb3 47. Re7 a5 48. Rb7 Qc4 49. Qe5 Qc6 50. Qxb5 Qxc3 51. Ra7 Qe1+ 52. Kh2 Qb4 53. Qxb4 axb4 54. Rb7 Ra8 55. Rxb4 Ra2 56. Kg3 Kh7 57. Rb5 Kg6 58. f4 Kf6 59. Kf3 Rc2 60. g3 Rc3+ 61. Kg4 Ra3 62. h4 Rc3 63. Rb6+ Kf7 64. f5 h5+ 65. Kf4 Rc4+ 66. Kf3 Rc3+ 67. Kf4 Rc4+ 68. Kf3 Rc3+ 1/2-1/2
Picture: FIDE (International Chess Federation)
