World Chess Championship: Ding Defends Against Gukesh's Assault to Draw Game 13

Singapore, Dec 11 (NationPress) In his final classical game of this match with the white pieces, India's D Gukesh took an offensive stance, yet reigning champion Ding Liren of China showcased remarkable defensive skills, executing accurate moves during a thrilling time scramble, which led to a draw in the 13th and second-to-last game of the World Chess Championship 2024 match held here on Wednesday.

The players are now tied at 6.5-6.5, heading into the final game on Thursday where Ding will be playing with white pieces. Should this concluding game end in a draw, both competitors will engage in a tie-breaker consisting of shorter games to determine the ultimate champion. A victory for Ding would mean he retains his title as the 17th Classical World Champion, while a win for Gukesh would crown him as the 18th Champion and the youngest in history.

Ding once again faced the challenge head-on, dedicating substantial time to his calculations in the opening phase, as Gukesh pressured his opponent, aiming to gradually carve out an advantage. The 18-year-old Indian challenger gained the upper hand in the middle game, but Ding consistently provided precise responses to Gukesh's strategic inquiries, defending steadfastly to navigate to safety.

In response to Gukesh's King Pawn Opening, Ding opted for the French Defence, the same strategy he employed to secure victory in the opening game. However, Gukesh was well-prepared this time, complicating matters for Ding with some outstanding moves in the initial and middle game.

Once again, both competitors found themselves in a race against time. Initially, Ding faced time pressure, spending 17 minutes on his seventh move and 37 minutes on the subsequent one, attempting to counter Gukesh's bishop maneuver. At one point, the Chinese Grandmaster had to execute 12 moves in just over eight minutes to fulfill the first requirement of 40 moves within two hours, all while dealing with immense pressure from his adversary.

Gukesh too faced time constraints as he meticulously crafted his strategy, generating challenges for Ding with his clever moves. As the time scramble reached its climax, he had less than one minute for each remaining move.

Both players barely managed to reach the time control before swiftly retreating to their respective rest areas to calm their nerves.

As they exchanged minor pieces, the game simplified, with Gukesh's advantage neutralized by Ding's accurate play. Ding opted to sacrifice a pawn, leading to a rook endgame featuring 3 v 2 pawns for both players. Ultimately, they agreed to a draw following 68 moves in the five-hour contest.

Ding is set to compete in the 14th and final game with white pieces on Thursday, potentially gaining an advantage as he can implement a well-researched strategy to pressure Gukesh. The young challenger lacks experience in such pivotal matches and must proceed with caution. Nevertheless, many experts believe that Ding holds an advantage in the tie-break, given his superior rapid chess skills compared to Gukesh.