?British Chess Magazine 2025-01 January

Volume 145
JANUARY
CM 2025
£8.00
GUKESH’S
PATH TO THE
THRONE
A CHAMPIONSHIP DEFINED BY
TENSION, RESILIENCE AND TRIUMPH
- AN INSIDER'S LOOK INTO A HISTORIC WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP -
IMPRESSUM
Gukesh’s victory
brings the promise
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE
Founded 1881 of cultural change
www.britishchessmagazine.co.uk
that chess badly needs
Dear BCM readers,
Chairman Shaun Taulbut We hope you have had a fantastic start to 2025, and
Director Stephen Lowe
may we wish you a prosperous year ahead!
Editors
Milan Dinic and Shaun Taulbut This January, we wanted to open the year with a
special issue dedicated to a landmark event in the
Photo editor world of chess — one that heralds the promise
David Llada of a new era. The stunning victory of 18-year-old
Gukesh Dommaraju over Ding Liren in Singapore
Prepress Specialist has not only crowned Gukesh as the youngest World
Milica Mitic Chess Champion in history, but has also given the
chess world fresh hope and inspiration.
Photography
FIDE Official
Maria Emelianova, It has been often observed that chess is a mirror to life
Eng Chin An, Eric Rosen itself. The board reflects the choices we face daily and
our lived experiences: good or bad moves, moments
Advertising of hesitation, ambition or timorousness, greed, fear,
Stephen Lowe calculated risks, mistakes, and the occasional stroke of
Enquiries luck. It captures the reality of life and work. As the world
editor@britishchessmagazine.co.uk braces itself for the uncertainties that lie ahead, the chess
world too finds itself navigating turbulent times.
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Over the Christmas period we witnessed unsettling
Company Limited by Shares events at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship
Registered in England No 00334968 in New York. Magnus Carlsen, the world’s top-rated
player, drew controversy after he abandoned the Rapid
Postal correspondence: event midway through, protesting FIDE’s enforcement
Albany House, 14 Shute End of the dress code rules he himself had agreed to. His
Wokingham, Berkshire RG40 1BJ subsequent remarks — directed at arbiters, FIDE, and
the legendary Vishy Anand — were both offensive
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and unnecessary. Adding to the disarray, both Carlsen
12 monthly issues and Ian Nepomniachtchi undermined the rules and
UK: £64 | RoW: £96 expectations of the chess world in the finals of the
Blitz World Championship by requesting that the
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reason for not wanting to continue. While their chess
Cover photography: brilliance is undisputed, such behaviour raises serious
FIDE official - Eng Chin An questions about sportsmanship and respect for the
game and its sponsors, administrators and fans.
2 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

January 2025
In our February 2025 issue we will provide an in-depth analysis of events at the World
Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York, which I personally witnessed as Press Officer.
As we step into 2025, yet another storm gathers on the horizon. FIDE and the Freestyle
Chess OpCo — whose events are targeted at the world’s elite players — are locked in a
bitter conflict over the rights to the “World Championship” title. The situation threatens to
divide the chess community, much like the schism of the 1990s.
Amidst this turmoil, Gukesh’s triumph in Singapore shines all the brighter. Not only has he
made history as the youngest World Champion, but he also exemplifies the qualities of a
true champion: grace, humility, and a refined sense of composure. These attributes, coupled
with his precocious super-talent, make him an exceptional role model for the next generation.
Looking more broadly at the current wave of Indian chess players — Gukesh,
Praggnanandhaa, Erigaisi, Vidit, Sarin, Vaishali Rameshbabu, and Sachdev — it is
striking how consistently they carry themselves in a thoroughly respectful and professional
manner. Whether interacting with journalists, tournament staff, fellow players or fans, their
humility and adherence to the rules set them apart. Their command of English certainly
aids communication, but their cultural emphasis on respect and grace resonate viscerally
with audiences. From my own first-hand observations at several events, including in India,
I have often wondered and asked why these qualities are so prominent among Indian
players. The most common explanation offered is that they stem from the cultural values of
Indian society, with deep emphasis on respect and modesty. Additionally, the omnipresent
influence of Vishy Anand and the way he has positioned himself as a sporting role
model for the whole of India after becoming the first Indian World Champion, cannot be
overstated. Anand has set a gold standard, not only over the chessboard but also in his
personal conduct, and has inspired and thrilled an entire generation.
In a chess world rife with controversy the public attitude and behaviour of its icons
become as significant as the quality of the games themselves. If the chess community
wishes to attract new fans and sponsors it must address the combative, scandal-driven and
sometimes petty atmosphere that plagues major events.
Gukesh and the rising wave of Indian talent represent a potential turning point. They bring
the promise of a more inclusive, respectful and collaborative spirit in chess by discarding
the divisive, acrimonious and rather self-obsessed environment that has beleaguered the
sport for years.
With all this in mind, our first issue in 2025 is completely dedicated to the 2024 World
Championship Match in Singapore and Gukesh’s stunning victory. We include an
exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at Gukesh’s road to victory - our very own Aleksandar
Colovic, who served as the Fair Play Officer at the event standing just a few steps away
from the players every day, offers unparalleled insights into the psychological dynamics
that shaped the games in Singapore.
Drawing on his unique access and relationships with the players, Colovic not only analyses in
depth the games but also the mindset behind the moves and what they reveal about the competitors.
We hope you enjoy this issue of BCM, and share our cautious optimism for the coming year.
Milan Dinic, Editor
BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 3

01/145
GUKESH’S PATH TO THE THRONE: The World Chess Championship match,

held in Singapore from 25 November to
AN INSIDER'S PERSPECTIVE ON 12 December 2024, was expected to be a
THE MATCH THAT CROWNED THE one-sided affair. Gukesh, widely regarded
as the strong favourite, seemed to have the
NEW WORLD CHAMPION! title within his grasp before a single move
was made.
A CHAMPIONSHIP Yet, while Gukesh ultimately emerged
DEFINED BY victorious, the match unfolded in ways far
more complex and nuanced than anyone
TENSION,
could have predicted. Watching it unfold
in person, mere feet from the players each
day, revealed a gripping contest—not just
RESILIENCE between two chess titans, but between two
distinct characters, cultures, and approaches
AND TRIUMPH to the game.
At a World Championship match there are

AS THE FAIR PLAY only five people on the stage: the two players,
OFFICER AT THE MATCH, BCM’S the Chief and Deputy Chief Arbiters and the
Fair Play Officer. I am not an arbiter and I
ALEKSANDAR COLOVIC WITNESSED haven’t quite made it to be one of the players,
THE ACTION AND DRAMA UP CLOSE but I was privileged to be the Fair Play
Officer at the highest level possible. I can
By Aleksandar Colovic; www.alexcolovic.com immediately say that from my professional
viewpoint as a person responsible for fair
Photo: FIDE Official play, everything went smoothly and without
Maria Emelianova any issues. Both players were perfect
Eng Chin An gentlemen and cooperative when it came to
Eric Rosen the implementation of the fair play measures.

January 2025
Being on the stage, mere few meters away

Gukesh D – Ding Liren
from the players gives a unique perspective
on the events both on and off the board. WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (1)
Observing the players from close distance
every day I got to notice details that the 1.e4 e6 Ding expected Gukesh to be nervous
public couldn’t – from how and when they at the start of the match, so he decided to
shook their legs to their breathing patterns play something unusual, something he
and mannerisms. A few games into the hadn’t played in a long time. Gukesh, on
match I could already “read” the players the other hand, was somewhat surprised, as
and often could tell what they thought about he expected Ding to stick to his usual 1...
the position based on how they behaved. e5, although not overly so.
In this report, I will try to convey these
observations as part of the global analysis. 2.d4 d5 3.¤c3 ¤f6 4.e5 ¤fd7 5.f4 c5
6.¤ce2 It’s interesting to learn how teams
THE STORY BEFORE "read" the moves on the board not just for
chess-related information. After the match,
THE FIRST MOVE Ding said that upon seeing this move his team
concluded that Duda is likely to form part
As every World Championship match, this of Gukesh’s team. Duda has indeed played
one had a narrative that started even before this move on more than one occasion, and
the first move was made. keeping in mind the "Polish connection" of
Gajewski and Wojtaszek (already working
In the preview of the match, I wrote for Gukesh since the Candidates), Team
two things: there are no easy World Ding was spot on - Gukesh himself admitted
Championship matches and that if the that Duda was, in fact, part of his team!
defending champion Ding is to have a
chance, in view of his atrocious form 6...¤c6 7.c3 a5
before the match, he would need a miracle. XIIIIIIIIY
Both things happened because the miracle
made the match hard-fought and tense. 9r+lwqkvl-tr0
9+p+n+pzpp0
The miracle I was talking about was
something that would make Ding Liren 9-+n+p+-+0
feel his strength, regain his confidence 9zp-zppzP-+-0
and make him believe that he could fight. 9-+-zP-zP-+0
Luckily for him, and everybody else who
wanted an equal match, this happened in 9+-zP-+-+-0
the very first game. 9PzP-+N+PzP0
The interesting part that became known 9tR-vLQmKLsNR0
later is that Ding’s comments revealed that xiiiiiiiiy
he was, in fact, feeling confident even before Ding spent a lot of time on this move,
the start of the match. By choosing a riskier half an hour, as he couldn’t remember
opening in game one, the French Defence, his preparation. He was also looking for
instead of his more common 1…e5, Ding ways to take the game in a direction that
made a statement to Gukesh and the world would be less familiar for his opponent, but
that he was there for a fight. He wanted Gukesh was exceptionally well-prepared
to surprise his opponent when he would even in this relative sideline.
likely be more nervous, being Gukesh’s
first game in a World Championship match. 7...£b6; and 7...¥e7 are the more popular
Ding’s idea worked to perfection. choices.

01/145
8.¤f3 a4 Black grabs space on the queenside. 10...0–0 is the engine’s main choice, with
the idea of ...f6. 11.g5 White should stop the
9.¥e3 If White stops Black’s a-pawn with opening of the kingside after ...f6 as he’s
9.a3 then Black reverts to play in the centre underdeveloped. 11...b5 12.a3 ¤a5 Black
with 9...¥e7 followed by ...f6 at some point. has alternatives, like 12...b4 or 12...¥a6.
13.dxc5 ¤xc5 14.¤ed4 ¥d7 and the engine
9...¥e7 prefers Black somewhat, but the position is
XIIIIIIIIY quite complex with chances for both sides.
9r+lwqk+-tr0
11.¥g2 White continues with natural
9+p+nvlpzpp0 development.
9-+n+p+-+0
9+-zppzP-+-0 11.a3 f6 and Black starts undermining
the centre.
9p+-zP-zP-+0
9+-zP-vLN+-0 11...a3 Ding was spending masses of time
9PzP-+N+PzP0 and soon was almost one hour back on the
clock. He had a lot of moves and ideas to
9tR-+QmKL+R0 consider, but his time management was still
xiiiiiiiiy impractical. This turned out to be one of his
10.g4 A new move. "You don’t play g4 main issues in the whole match.
without preparation" - Gukesh. After the
match Gukesh said that this was Keymer’s 11...¤b6 12.¥f2 ¤c4 13.¦b1 a3 14.b3
idea, who worked on it in quite some depth. ¤b2 15.£c2 is quite unclear;
Keymer became part of Gukesh’s team
after the Candidates and contributed some 11...b5 with the idea of ...b4 and ¥a6 is
fresh ideas, such as 7.¦e1!? in game 7. It’s another typical option for Black.
important to observe how the highest level
of opening preparation works - the engine 12.b3 cxd4 13.b4 A necessary zwischenzug.
doesn’t approve of this move even at a
considerable depth (I let my engine run to 13.¤fxd4 ¥h4+ is unpleasant for White.
depth 46 on a decent hardware), giving Black
a small edge (–0.20), but what matters more 13...£c7 14.¤exd4 ¤b6 Gukesh felt that
is the character of the position and knowledge around here should be the critical moment.
of the direction of the game, and here Gukesh He thought he was better, but couldn’t
certainly was more confident than Ding. clearly see how.
10.£d2 was played by Duda. After 10...0–0 15.0–0

11.h4?! 1–0 (33) Duda,J (2743)-Caruana,F
XIIIIIIIIY
(2823) Chess.com INT 2020 11...f6! is a 9r+l+k+-tr0
very strong improvement, when White’s 9+pwq-vlpzpp0
position comes under pressure as he cannot
easily develop his kingside; 9-snn+p+-+0
9+-+pzP-+-0
10.dxc5 £a5!? (10...¤xc5 11.¤g3 the 9-zP-sN-zPP+0
engine’s choice.) …11.¤g3 ¥xc5! was
pointed out by Caruana.. 9zp-zP-vLN+-0
9P+-+-+LzP0
10...£a5 After this Gukesh was on his own.
The move is not among the top 4 engine 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
choices, but it’s a natural one. xiiiiiiiiy
January 2025
Natural, but perhaps not the best. "A mistake" - Gukesh. As he admitted, it was
based on a miscalculation, missing Black’s
Indeed, the only (!) way to an advantage 22...g5 in the note to White’s 22nd move.
(at least according to the engine) was not
one that was easy to see. White had to find 18.¥xd4 was better and safer. 18...h5 19.g5
15.¤b5! £d8 16.¥f1! which is very hard. g6 leads to an equal position.
The bishop is covering the c4–square and is
relocated to the move active d3–square. But 18...¤b2! Gukesh didn’t take this seriously
even here Black has 16...d4! 17.¤fxd4 ¤d5 and called it a tactical oversight, again
with some compensation for the pawn. missing the ...g5 idea later on.
15...¤c4 16.¥f2 ¥d7 17.£e2 Gukesh spent 19.£e3 ¦c8 20.¦ac1? Very natural, but
masses of time on this move and almost now Black takes over the initiative. This is
got equal with Ding on approximately 40 moment when things go wrong for White,
minutes to reach move 40. but Gukesh was still under the impression
that 22.£f4 was good for him.
17.¦e1 is what the engine wants to play, but
for a human it is unnatural to remove the 20.¥e1! was best, safely guarding the
rook from the f-file, as the f5–break is one pawn on c3. 20...h5 21.g5 (21.£h3 g5!?
of White’s main attacking ideas. 17...¤xd4 leads to wild complications, which Black
18.¤xd4 g6 19.f5 ¥g5 with unclear play.; can avoid with a more prudent move like
17.¤d2 challenges the knight on c4. 17...¤xd4 21...g6 or 21...h4.) 21...g6 the position is
(17...¤a7!? is an interesting alternative, aiming equal, but after ¦f3 and ¥f1 White doesn’t
for ...¤b5.) 18.¥xd4 ¤xd2 19.£xd2 h5! it’s risk losing.
important to defuse White’s attacking potential
on the kingside. 20.g5 g6 simply locking in the 20...£c4! Ding played very quickly this
kingside. (20...¥b5 activates the bishop but phase of the game, to put pressure not only
allows 21.f5! ¥xf1 22.¦xf1 exf5 23.¥xd5 on the board, but also on the clock (as he
with compensation for the exchange.) 21.£d3 said later).
stopping ...¥b5. 21...£c6 and with ...0–0 and
...£b5 to come, Black doesn’t really have 21.f5
problems.; 17.f5 looks tempting, but after XIIIIIIIIY
17...0–0! it turns out White’s centre is too
shaky and his pieces are not well-placed to 9-+r+k+-tr0
support the premature advance. 9+p+lvlpzpp0
17...¤xd4 18.¤xd4?! 9-+-+p+-+0
XIIIIIIIIY 9+-+pzPP+-0
9r+-+k+-tr0 9-zPqsN-+P+0
9+pwqlvlpzpp0 9zp-zP-wQ-+-0
9-+-+p+-+0 9Psn-+-vLLzP0
9+-+pzP-+-0 9+-tR-+RmK-0
9-zPnsN-zPP+0 xiiiiiiiiy
21...£d3! Black seeks exchange of queens,
9zp-zP-+-+-0 which would extinguish White’s attacking
9P+-+QvLLzP0 potential.
9tR-+-+RmK-0 21...£xa2? 22.¦a1 is good for White as he
xiiiiiiiiy regains the pawn after ¦a3.

01/145
22.£e1 Hard to criticise, as Gukesh was counterplay against the king.) 28...£xe5
disappointed that his intended line didn’t (or 28...£d3) 29.¤xa3 0–0 Black is up
work and was still hoping for some attack. in material and has the better position,
meaning that he should be easily winning.
22.£f4 was what Gukesh was planning all
along. He thought this was very good for 28.¤e2! £xe5 29.¤xf4 £xf4
him, but he missed 22...g5! 23.fxg6 £xg6! XIIIIIIIIY
a line he pointed out, after which White’s
position collapses as Black threatens ...¤d3; 9-+-+k+-tr0
9+p+l+-zpp0
22.g5 was the only way to somehow stay in
the game. Black is still better, but White can 9-+-+p+-+0
defend. 22...g6! this is the simplest, fixing the 9+-+p+-+-0
kingside. (or 22...£xe3 23.¥xe3 0–0 when 9-zP-+-wqPzP0
White has quite a few weaknesses to defend
in the endgame.) 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.¥h3 0–0 9zp-+-+-+-0
25.¥xe6+ ¥xe6 26.¤xe6 ¦f3 27.£xd3 9Psn-+-vLL+0
¤xd3 and after the forced 28.¥c5 ¦xf1+
29.¦xf1 ¤xc5 30.¤xc5 ¥xg5 Black has 9+Q+-+RmK-0
the better light piece and more targets to xiiiiiiiiy
attack, but White still keeps some chances. 30.£c2? Gukesh spent almost all his time
on this move, 6 minutes and 30 seconds,
22...¥g5! At this stage Ding was casting but still couldn’t find the best chance.
more frequent glances at his opponent. I
could notice during the match that this was 30.¥c5! was the move he wanted to make,
a sign of confidence and knowledge that his but was practically hypnotised by the failure
position was good. of the line after 31.£xh7, which was his
initial intention. 30...£xg4 31.¦f3! Gukesh
23.¦c2 ¦c4 Threatening ...¦xd4. This is a admitted he didn’t see this. The idea is to free
more forcing solution, but Black will still the f1–square for the queen. Black’s problem
need to take care of his king. is his king, an issue he ignored earlier in the
game, that now became the main source
23...0–0! was like a final nail in the coffin. Black of White’s compensation. (31.£xh7 was
tucks away his king and it’s only a matter of Gukesh’s idea, but then noticed the refutation
time before he starts collecting material. 31...£d4+! initially Ding missed the queen
sacrifice and thought he was losing, but
24.h4 ¥f4 25.£b1 Defending the rook, then saw his own 32.¢h1 £xh4+! and
but now the pawn on c3 falls. Black wins.; 31.£c2!? is another worthy try
for White. 31...¤c4 32.£f2 ¢d8 Black is
25...¦xc3 26.¦xc3 £xc3 27.fxe6 fxe6? better with 3 pawns up, but it’s a mess after
Played after some thought, this lets White 33.¥b6+ ¤xb6 34.£xb6+ ¢e8 35.£d6
back into the game. It’s not an obvious £d4+ 36.¦f2 g5! the engine’s way! 37.hxg5
chance that White got, though. It’s curious ¢d8) 31...¤c4 (31...b6 32.£xh7! now this
that Ding first thought he was losing as he works as after 32...£d4+ 33.¥xd4 ¦xh7
missed 31...£d4 in the line below. 34.¦xa3 White got some material back and
with the pair bishops he has excellent drawing
27...¥xe6! was winning. 28.¤b5 (28.¤e2 chances.) 32.£f1 ¢d8 33.£f2 and White has
£xe5 29.¤xf4 £xf4 30.¥c5 is not even counterchances as Black’s king is insecure.
nearly similar to the analogous continuation
in the game as after 30...£xg4 Black will 30...£c4 After this move there are no more
play ...f6 and ...¢f7 and White doesn’t have chances.

January 2025
31.£d2 0–0 Castling on move 31, a rare 42...¢h7?? 43.£xe4+! dxe4 44.¥xa2 is
occurrence. Ding must have been relieved a draw.; 42...¢h8 43.£xe4 £f2+! and
to finally get his king to safety. Black wins.
0–1
32.¥d4 ¤d3 33.£e3 33.¦xf8+ ¢xf8
34.£e3 £c1+ exchanges queens.
A NEW BEGINNING AND
33...¦xf1+ 34.¥xf1 e5! 35.¥xe5 £xg4+
36.¥g2 ¥f5 37.¥g3 ¥e4 38.¢h2 h6
A STRANGE ENDING
White is paralysed, so Black improves the A tremendous start for the defending
position of his king by making a luft. Champion, who outplayed his opponent
in a complex middlegame, and a complete
39.¥h3 39.¥f1 £d1 surprise for everybody who expected a
“massacre”. Gukesh acknowledged that he
39...£d1 40.¥d6 £c2+ 41.¢g3 £xa2 was too nervous and that this was a bad
When taking Ding checked all moves game for him, but Anand’s encouragement
except the move played! and strong support from one of his team
members helped him regain composure.
42.¥e6+ ¢h8! He said he was lucky to
have this move. Ding spent the whole game The second game already gave ample
sitting at the board and got up for the first information on what we could expect in
time after the time control. He said this was the match.
new to him, unlike staying in the rest room in
the first game against Nepomniachtchi, where Ding Liren – Gukesh D
he thought he wasn’t concentrating so well.
WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (2)
At the final press conference, Gukesh
shared a story about what happened after 1.e4 Even though he has played it in recent
this game. He was going back to his room this, this isn’t Ding’s main first move.
and in the lift, he met Vishy Anand. Anand However, he had a concrete idea against
told him: "I had 11 games, you have 13." Gukesh’s expected defence.
This was a reference to Anand’s loss of 1...e5 2.¤f3 ¤c6 Gukesh sticks to his
the first game in the match with Topalov in usual ways.
2010 and this encouraged Gukesh because
he realised that the match was long and he 3.¥c4 Ding goes for the Italian, narrowing
would get his chances. down his opponent’s choices.

01/145
3...¥c5 4.d3 ¤f6 The starting position of This new move was part of Ding’s
the Giuoco Piano. preparation. It is an ambitious move that
fixes Black’s queenside structure and
5.¤c3!? After 1.e4, the second surprise. passes the choice to Black regarding which
While this symmetrical variation got some bishop(s) to exchange or whether to keep
attention in the past few years, it’s never been the tension. It also gives Black the option to
considered as very threatening. Nevertheless, go after the pawn b4.
Ding’s choice hints at his opening strategy
with the white pieces, one that he will pursue 9.¥xc5 dxc5 10.¤d2 £d6 was problem-
for the whole match. In every game with free for Black in 1–0 (59) Abdusattorov,N
the white pieces Ding was striving for total (2731)-Caruana,F (2764) Stavanger 2023;
control of the position, choosing safe lines
and minimising the risk of a loss. He did 9.¥xe6 fxe6 10.d4 exd4 11.¤xd4 £d7
not mind draws and seemed to want to keep was also fine for Black in ½–½ (47)
the match going for as long as possible. This Praggnanandhaa,R (2684)-Giri,A (2764)
game is a good illustration of that strategy. Wijk aan Zee 2023; 9.¤d5 ¥xe3 10.fxe3 0–0
11.a5 ¥xd5 12.exd5 ¤e7 was fine for Black
5...a6 Black has a choice here, as 5...d6 and with the knight going to g6, as in the game
5...h6 are also possible. Praggnanandhaa,R (2690)-Lazavik,D (2541)
PRO League Prelim rapid 2023 (3.2) 1–0.
6.a4 d6 7.0–0 h6 Gukesh spent some time
on this move. It is the most commonly- 9...¥xc4 Gukesh chooses to change the
played move, but castling and 7...¥e6 are pawn structure in the centre.
worthy alternatives.
9...0–0 was also possible. Now it’s White’s turn
7...¥g4 looks tempting, as Black threatens to decide what to do with the possible structural
...¤d4, but White has 8.h3 ¥h5 9.¤d5 changes. 10.¥xc5 (10.¥xe6 fxe6 11.¥xc5
which eliminates the knight on f6, thus dxc5 is an alternative, now with the peculiar
making the g4 push possible, without fear maneuver 12.¤a2!? with ¤c1–b3 coming, to
of a piece sacrifice on that square. target the c5–pawn, or 12.¤b1, with ¤bd2–
b3 an alternative route.) 10...dxc5 11.h3 £d6
8.¥e3 ¥e6 Another moment where Black 12.¦e1 is the engine’s preference, going for the
could decide differently. Castling and taking on same structure on the queenside as in the game,
e3 are alternatives. With the game move Gukesh but here Black is not forced to exchange the
gives White the choice to determine the possible bishops, keeping the d-file closed.
exchanges and the resulting pawn structure.
10.dxc4 0–0 Gukesh was quite happy with
9.a5!? his choice, though this does give White
XIIIIIIIIY some pull.
9r+-wqk+-tr0
10...¥xe3 11.fxe3 0–0 12.£e1 is a type of
9+pzp-+pzp-0 structure that gives White easy play: his
9p+nzplsn-zp0 knights have access to the d5 and f5–squares
9zP-vl-zp-+-0 while at the same time White can use the
f-file to create threats on the kingside. The
9-+L+P+-+0 engine is unimpressed with 0.00, but this is
9+-sNPvLN+-0 definitely a pleasant position for a human
behind the white pieces;
9-zPP+-zPPzP0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 10...¥b4 is principled, going after the
xiiiiiiiiy stray pawn on a5, but definitely very risky,

January 2025
especially in view of it being part of Ding’s 14...¤d4 Planting the knight on b4 was an
preparation. Now in order to survive Black alternative, but Gukesh usually chooses the
needs to find several only moves: 11.¤d5 more concrete and direct approach.
¤xe4 the first one. (11...¥xa5? 12.¤h4 g6
13.£f3 gives White tremendous initiative.) 15.¤e1 15.¤xe5?! ¦fe8 leads nowhere
12.£d3 ¤c5 the second one. (12...¤f6? for White.
13.£b3 ¥xa5 14.£xb7 ¢d7 15.£b3 is just
winning for White.) 13.£f5 ¤e6 and the third 15...¦d6 16.¢f1 Ding thought he may be
one. 14.£g4 with excellent compensation for a bit worse, with a passive position and a
White, though Black can certainly defend. strong knight on d4. A surprising revelation,
when everybody else thought that White is a
11.¥xc5 dxc5 12.b3 Ding was still playing bit better with a no-risk position. This issue
fast and he remembered that this was still with evaluation plagued both players in the
his preparation. He also remembered that match and we shall see more examples of
the evaluation was +0.2. this in the games to come. Another tendency
here is Ding’s rather pessimistic view of his
12...£xd1 13.¦fxd1 ¦ad8 positions, a characteristic that became more
XIIIIIIIIY prominent as the match progressed.
9-+-tr-trk+0 16...g6 17.¦d1 According to Ding, admission
9+pzp-+pzp-0 of defeat. The engine disagrees, claiming
that White is still a bit better. White wants to
9p+n+-sn-zp0 play ¤d3, but that runs into ...¤xb3, so he
9zP-zp-zp-+-0 should either defend the knight on d3, or the
9-+P+P+-+0 pawn on b3 first. With the game move Ding
takes control of the d3–square.
9+PsN-+N+-0
9-+P+-zPPzP0 17.¦cb1!? with this move White defends
the pawn on b3, even though ¤d3 still
9tR-+R+-mK-0 isn’t possible in view of ...¤xc2. 17...h5
xiiiiiiiiy (17...¦fd8 18.f3 ¢g7 19.¤d5 and here we
14.¦dc1 The first move on which Ding spent see the favourable for White difference in the
some time, 9 minutes. After the game he pawn structure on the queenside. After 19...
said he likely forgot his preparation at some c6 20.¤c3 White can play ¤a4 and ¤d3
point, so perhaps this is the moment he had (after preparation) to target the pawn on c5.)
in mind. The impression one gets from the 18.f3 h4 19.b4!? this is another idea made
remainder of the game is that Ding’s team possible by the move ¦cb1. White opens
didn’t analyse the endgame in great detail the b-file and after its opening he targets the
and only concluded that it was slightly better backward pawn on b7. 19...cxb4 20.¦xb4
for White, without a precise understanding of Black should come up with some clever
the manoeuvres White needed to implement defence to avoid the worst: 20...b6 21.axb6
to maintain the pressure. This left Ding to a5! a nice defence. 22.¦xa5 going for an
figure out these during the game, but as we extremely sharp endgame after 22...¤c6
shall see, he didn’t quite manage. 23.c5! ¦e6 24.¤d5 ¤xb4 25.¤xc7! ¤c6
26.¦b5 ¦e7 and with three pawns for the
14.¤e1!? is the engine’s choice, with some rook the engine says the game should end in
peculiar knight jumps after 14...¦xd1 a repetition after 27.¤d5 ¦e6 28.¤c7.
15.¦xd1 ¤xa5 16.¤d3 ¤d7 17.¤d5 ¤c6
18.¤xc7 ¤d4 19.¤c1 and with c3 to come 17...¦fd8 18.f3 ¢g7 19.¢f2 Both sides
White has the more pleasant endgame in improve their positions, but it is still White
view of the absolute control of the d5–square. who has more potential - his idea is to make

01/145
¤d3 work or to land with his knight on d5, 20...¤c6 21.¤c3 21.¦xd6 cxd6 22.¤c3
while Black doesn’t have active ideas. ¤g8 23.¤d5 f5 gives Black counterplay.
19.¤d5 is too hasty, after 19...¤xd5 21...¤d4 Gukesh didn’t see a reason why
20.cxd5 f5 Black has counterplay. he shouldn’t repeat. He was content to
stabilise the match situation by drawing.
19...h5 20.¤e2
22.¤e2 ¤c6 23.¤c3 ¤d4
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-+-+0 ½–½
9+pzp-+pmk-0
9p+-tr-snp+0 THE COST OF LETTING
9zP-zp-zp-+p0 GUKESH OFF THE HOOK
9-+PsnP+-+0
9+P+-+P+-0 Ding may have wanted to consolidate his
lead by drawing the second game, but the
9-+P+NmKPzP0 manner in which he failed to maximise his
9tR-+RsN-+-0 chances went against the match dynamics.
He had the Challenger on the back foot
xiiiiiiiiy after beating him with the black pieces, but
Ding decides to end the game with a repetition. instead of pressing on, he allowed Gukesh
A strange decision that he will repeat later to regain confidence with a relatively
in the match, too - a hasty willingness to easy draw. It is well known that letting
draw the game as soon as possible even an opponent off the hook will most likely
in safe and risk-free positions. This gave come back to bite you—and this happened
away a certain lack of confidence when it very quickly for Ding.
came to keeping the tension, something that
Gukesh had an excess of. White could (and Avoiding a fight in a match never ends
should) have continued the game, especially well. Ding consistently avoided a fight
after winning the first game: match strategy with the white pieces as long as he wasn’t
dictates that when having the psychological trailing, and this failure to put pressure on
advantage one must try to press, not let the his opponent proved costly. Gukesh, on the
opponent off the hook easily. The next game other hand, was looking for a fight even
immediately confirmed the truth of this old in unfavourable circumstances and this
rule and Ding was punished swiftly. courage eventually paid off.
20.h4 was a natural move that White could The easy draw gave Gukesh the respite he
have played without much thinking. White needed. He regained composure and was
has many ideas in this position: ¤a4, ¦ab1, ready to fight with the white pieces.
doubling on the d-file, preparing ¤d3. A
sample line is 20...¤h7 21.¤d5 this can lead Gukesh D – Ding Liren
to very sharp play after (21.¦ab1 is another
way. 21...¤f8 22.¤d5 ¤fe6 23.c3 (23.g3 c6 WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (3)
24.¤e3 f5is unclear) 23...¤c6 24.¦a1 ¤e7
25.g3 c6 26.¤e3 ¦d2+ 27.¢f1 with the 1.d4 A change of the first serve after the
idea of ¤1c2 and ¢e1 to chase away the setback in the French Defence.
rook from d2.) 21...f5 22.exf5 gxf5 23.¤d3
c6 24.¤xc5! cxd5 25.¤xb7 ¤xc2 26.¦ac1 1...¤f6 2.¤f3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.cxd5 This early
¤b4 27.¤xd8 ¦xd8 28.cxd5 ¤f6 which is exchange is dictated by modern opening
balanced, but still sharp. developments.

January 2025
4.¤c3 would be the usual move, but here

"the Berlin against 1.d4" 4...c5 5.cxd5
cxd4! seems to solve all Black’s problems
and makes it extremely hard for White to
come up with ideas against it. This line was
Nepomniachtchi’s planned main defence in
his match with Carlsen.
4...exd5 5.¤c3 c6 6.£c2 Stopping ...¥f5

and already stepping out from mainstream
theory, which starts after 6.¥g5 or 6.¥f4,
the latter move becoming more popular lately.
6...g6 The principled choice, preparing the

development of the light-squared bishop to f5.
11...¤e4 was an attempt to exchange the
7.h3 Ding admitted that after this move he knight on c3 and secure the escape of the
had "no knowledge" of the line. The idea bishop. After 12.¥g2 (12.¦c1?! ¥xb3
behind the move is to be able to play g4 and and White only lost a pawn.) 12...¥b4 (or
harass the black bishop on f5. Gukesh said 12...¤d7) 13.0–0 ¥xb3÷ (13...¤d7 is calmer)
that his team didn’t like the whole idea, but 14.¤xe4 dxe4 15.¤d2 ¥xd2 16.¥xd2 ¥d5
his intuition told him to go for it. when White has compensation for the pawn
but Black is by no means worse;
7...¥f5 8.£b3 £b6 9.g4 £xb3 Ding
was already spending a lot of time in 11...¥xb3? is bad in view of 12.¤d2 ¥c4
the opening, but in spite of being caught 13.¤xc4 dxc4 14.e3 and White regains the
in preparation, he still went along the pawn with a big advantage since 14...b5?
most principled line. It was a courageous 15.¤xb5 cxb5 16.¥g2 wins for White.
decision that showed Ding didn’t shy away
from a fight when forced—he only avoided 12.¦g1 White must keep the pawn on g4 in
it when it was up to him to impose it. order to be able to play with the idea to trap
the bishop on c2.
9...¥e6 would have been more prudent,
keeping the pieces safe. After 10.¥g2 h5 12...hxg4 13.hxg4 ¤bd7! The best move,
11.g5 ¤fd7 the middlegame was complex but after it Ding had more than one hour
and it had everything to play for in the less on the clock!
game Kramnik,V (2753)-Nepomniachtchi,I
(2771) Amsterdam Levitov Rapid 2023 13...¤e4 was considered by Ding. 14.¤xe4
(18) 0–1. ¥xe4 (14...dxe4 15.¤d2 ¥b4? 16.¦g3! wins
for White as the bishop on c2 has no way out.)
10.axb3 ¥c2 The most principled move, 15.¤d2 ¤a6 is the line he gave at the press
targeting the weak pawn on b3. On the conference after the game, but after 16.¥e5
other hand, the bishop can end up trapped ¦h6 17.¤xe4 dxe4 18.e3 White is better;
as it is short of squares.
13...¥xb3? was played by Erigaisi, but
10...¥e6 was again possible and perhaps it’s just bad. 14.¤d2 ¥c4 15.¤xc4 dxc4
more practical. The endgame is complex 16.e3 ¥b4 17.¥xc4 with a clear advantage
with chances for both sides. for White in the game ½–½ Kramnik,V
(2753)-Erigaisi,A (2681) Duesseldorf 2023.
11.¥f4 h5 Black fights for access to the
f5–square. 14.¤d2 ¦g8!

01/145
XIIIIIIIIY the h-file. 17...¤g7 18.¥xd7+ ¢xd7

19.¥e5 ¦h5 with a balanced position.
9r+-+kvlr+0
9zpp+n+p+-0 17...¤g7 18.¥g3
9-+p+-snp+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+p+-+-0 9r+-+kvl-tr0
9-+-zP-vLP+0 9zpp+n+psn-0
9+PsN-+-+-0 9-+p+-+p+0
9-zPlsNPzP-+0 9+-+p+-zP-0
9tR-+-mKLtR-0 9-+-zP-+-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+PsN-+PvL-0
Another good move by Black. Ding was 9-zPlsNP+-+0
spending a lot of time, but he was also
playing good moves! The idea is to push 9tR-+-mKLtR-0
...g5 and allow the bishop to retreat along xiiiiiiiiy
the b1–h7 diagonal. 18...¦h5? The decisive moment in the game.
The moment Ding was out of trouble and in
15.g5?! A very important moment. During fact taking over the initiative, he errs badly.
the game Gukesh thought this was correct As mentioned above, both players thought
as he is getting f3 and e4 in, something he White was better, while Ding thought he was
thought it would give him an advantage. in trouble, so he sought ways to counterattack
Ding was of a similar opinion. However, White’s centre by violent means. Unfortunately
it turns out that both players seriously for him, he overlooked White’s very strong
misjudged the position, a rare occurrence 23rd move. The objective truth about the
at this level! position is that Black is better. White’s centre
after f3 and e4 is harmless, while the doubled
15.¦c1 g5 16.¥e3 ¥e4! stopping ¤f3 is pawns on the b-file and White’s lack of
the simplest solution. 17.¤dxe4 ¤xe4 and coordination are the decisive factors.
the endgame is balanced.
18...¥f5 appears simple, just getting the bishop
15...¤h5! 16.¥h2 ¦h8 Activating the rook out of the danger zone, but there are some
on the open file. lines to be calculated after 19.e4 ¥e6 20.exd5
cxd5 (20...¥xd5 is safer, after 21.¤xd5 cxd5
16...¥f5 was perfectly fine, but in all these 22.¦a5 ¤b6 23.¥e5 ¦h7 when after ...¤e6
lines where White gets f3 and e4 the players Black starts targeting White’s weaknesses
thought that White was better, while in fact on g5 and d4.) 21.¤b5 ¦c8! (21...¢e7
it is Black who gets the upper hand! 17.f3 22.¥d6+ ¢d8 23.¥c7+ ¢e7 24.¥d6+ is a
¥e6 18.e4 a6 covering the b5–square and perpetual check.) 22.¤xa7 (or 22.¦xa7 ¤f5
removing the pawn from the attacked a7– 23.¥f4 ¥g7 and Black has the initiative as
square. 19.exd5 cxd5 20.¤b5 ¦c8 and it his pieces are much better coordinated than
turns out that White’s activity fizzles out White’s.) 22...¦a8 23.¦a4 ¤b6 24.¤b5 ¤xa4
while his pawn weaknesses remain. 25.¤c7+ ¢d8 26.¤xa8 ¤xb2 and White’s
pawn weaknesses haven’t gone anywhere;
17.f3 Gukesh consistently follows up with
his idea to build a pawn centre with e4. 18...¥e7! Ding considered this (which is the
strongest move), but didn’t like it after 19.¦c1
17.¥h3 the engine’s suggestion, but looks (19.e4 ¥xg5 20.exd5 ¤f5 21.¥f2 ¥f4 is good
insane to put two undefended bishops on for Black, who has the better-placed pieces.)

January 2025
19...¥f5 20.e4 ¥e6 21.exd5 ¥xd5 (21...cxd5! 21...¤xd4 21...¥g7!? 22.¦xc2 ¤xd4
is very strong, giving Black an advantage.) 23.¦c1 ¦xg5 24.¥f2 ¦xg1 25.¥xg1 ¦d8
22.¤xd5 cxd5 23.¦c7 ¤e6 (23...a6! is strong, and Black keeps some drawing chances.
Ding missed the ...a6 move both here and in
the next line. 24.¦xb7 ¤f5! 25.¥f2 ¢d8 and 22.¥f2! 22.¤e2?! was considered by
suddenly the rook on b7 is trapped.) 24.¦xb7 Gukesh, but he correctly saw 22...¤xb3!
a6! the key move for Black, which he missed. 23.¦xc2 ¤xd2 (23...¥b4! is stronger and
The pawns on d4 and g5 are hanging and solves Black’s problems. 24.¤c3 ¤d4
White is on the defensive here. 25.¦c1 ¦xg5 with three pawns for the
piece and not risking losing anymore.)
19.e4! From this moment onwards, Gukesh 24.¦xd2 ¥b4 (or 24...¦xg5) 25.¤c3
plays with great precision. The position ¦xg5 a line shown by Gukesh at press
is one that requires a lot of calculation, conference, where Black has reasonable
and it being his main strength, Gukesh drawing chances.
demonstrates his exceptional tactical skills.
22...¥g7?!
19.¦c1?! ¥f5 20.e4 dxe4 (20...¥e6! is XIIIIIIIIY
stronger.) 21.fxe4 ¥h3 was Ding’s idea
behind 18...¦h5, when the rook is protected 9r+-+k+-+0
on the h-file, so White cannot pin the bishop 9zpp+n+pvl-0
with ¦h1.
9-+p+-+p+0
19...dxe4?! Ding was already in time 9+-+-+-zPr0
trouble, with 23 minutes to reach move 40. 9-+-snP+-+0
19...¤e6 was better, but very complicated. It’s 9+PsN-+-+-0
better to leave the pawns on d5 and f3 because 9-zPlsN-vL-+0
often Black has the idea of ...¤xf3, taking
a pawn there. 20.¦c1 ¤xd4 21.¥f2 ¥c5 9+-tR-mKLtR-0
22.¦g2! not an easy move. (22.¥xd4?! ¥xd4 xiiiiiiiiy
23.¦g2 ¥xc3 24.bxc3 ¥xb3 25.¤xb3 dxe4 Ding continues along the planned line.
26.fxe4 ¦h4 and Black will win the pawn on
e4 after ...¤c5 with a likely draw.) 22...¤xf3+ 22...¥c5 was stronger. 23.¤a4 0–0–0 (or
here we see the idea of leaving the pawn on 23...¤xb3!? 24.¦xc2 ¥xf2+ 25.¢xf2 ¤d4
e4 and f3. (22...¥d3!? is another tactical idea 26.¦c1 ¤e5 27.¤c5 0–0–0 28.¢e3 when
for Black, with the following complicated line White is playing for a win, but Black has
being the best for both sides: 23.¥xd3 ¦h1+ some chances.) 24.¤xc5 ¤xc5 25.¥xd4
24.¥f1 ¤e5 25.¥xd4 ¤d3+ 26.¢d1 ¥xd4 ¦xd4 26.¦xc2 ¤xe4 27.¤xe4 ¦xe4+
27.¦b1! ¤f4 28.¦g4 ¥e3 29.exd5 0–0–0 it’s 28.¦e2 ¦f4 gives Black drawing chances
a mess, but White has good winning chances thanks to the vulnerability of the g5–pawn.
after 30.¢c2!) 23.¤xf3 ¥xe4 24.¤xe4 dxe4
25.¥xc5 exf3 26.¦g3 ¤xc5 27.¦xc5 0–0–0 23.¤e2! The move Ding missed and the
28.¦xf3 f5 29.¦g3 ¦d4 and Black keeps only one for White that keeps the advantage.
drawing chances as it’s likely that Black will
win the pawn on g5, when the two doubled 23.¥xd4? ¥xd4 24.¦g2 ¥xb3 25.¤xb3
pawns on the b-file will make it hard for White ¥e3 26.¦a1 ¥xg5 is safe for Black.
to make any progress.
23...¤xb3 24.¦xc2 ¤xd2 25.¢xd2!
20.fxe4 ¤e6 21.¦c1! 21.¥f2? ¤f4! Gukesh is impeccable. The positions
22.¥e3 ¤d3+ 23.¥xd3 ¥xd3 and Black reached a critical point where a lot
managed to save the bishop. depended on Black’s further plan of action.

01/145
25.¦xd2? is much worse. 25...¤e5! 26.¦g3 29.¤f3 was more forcing. 29...¤xf3
¦xg5! and Black should save the game after 30.¢xf3! (30.¥xf3 ¦xf2+ 31.¢xf2 ¥d4+
27.¦xg5 ¤f3+ 28.¢d1 ¤xg5 29.¥g2 ¤e6 32.¢g2 ¥xg1 33.¢xg1 ¢e7 and it will be
hard for White to win.) 30...¦d3+ 31.¢f4
25...¤e5? Starting with this move Ding ¥f8 32.¦e2 ¥e7 33.e5 with excellent
starts to play passively. Black needs to be winning chances, though a lot of play
accurate to create counterplay before White remains.
coordinates, but by sitting still Ding only
gives Gukesh the time to consolidate. 29...¦d7 Ding had only 8 minutes to reach
move 40 after making this move.
25...a5! with the idea of ...a4–a3 was a much
better idea, to reduce the number of pawns 30.¦cc1 ¢e7 30...¦h5 31.¥e3 ¤g4
on the board and give Black two connected 32.¤f3 ¤xe3 33.¢xe3 with ¦h1 to come.
passed pawns. A sample line is 26.¤f4
¦h2 27.¥g2 a4 28.¥g3 ¦h8 29.¤d3 ¦h5 31.¦cd1 ¢e8 Ding spent 5 of his remaining
30.¥f4 ¥d4 31.¦a1 ¤f8 with ...¤e6 next 6 minutes on this move. He was calculating
Black has constructive ideas - to target the following more active options, but
the pawn on g5 and to push ...a3, making eventually decided to remain passive.
White’s task very hard.
31...¤g4 32.¤f3 the only move. 32...¦xd1
26.¤d4 ¦d8 26...a5 again this was more 33.¥c5+! ¢e8 34.¢xd1 and White keeps
constructive, though a tempo down compared control, with a winning position.; 31...
to the previous move. Now after 27.¥e2 ¦h2 c5!? was the most interesting option, but
28.¥g3 ¦h3 29.¤f3 White has considerably it required deep calculation. 32.¤f3 ¦xd1
better chances than in the line above. 33.¥xc5+ ¢e8 34.¤xh2 (or 34.¢xd1
¦xg2! 35.¦xg2 ¤xf3 36.¢e2 ¤d4+
27.¢e2 ¦h2 28.¥g2 28.¤f3 was an 37.¥xd4 ¥xd4 38.¢d3 ¥c5 39.e5 ¥e7
alternative. After 28...¤xf3 29.¢xf3 ¥e5 40.¢e4 and White should win.) 34...¦d3
30.¦g2 should be winning for White. 35.b4 ¦b3 and Black’s active rook gives
him some practical chances.
28...a6
XIIIIIIIIY 32.¥g3 ¦h5 33.¤f3 ¤xf3 34.¢xf3 ¥d4
34...¦xd1 35.¦xd1 ¦xg5? 36.¥h4 and the
9-+-trk+-+0 rook cannot move in view of mate on d8.;
9+p+-+pvl-0 34...¦xg5 at least would have eliminated
the pawn on g5. Still, after 35.¦xd7 ¢xd7
9p+p+-+p+0 36.¦d1+ ¢e6 37.¥h3+ f5 38.¦e1 ¢f7
9+-+-sn-zP-0 39.exf5 gxf5 40.¢f4 White should win as
9-+-sNP+-+0 the pawn on f5 falls.
9+-+-+-+-0 35.¦h1 ¦xg5 35...¦xh1 36.¦xh1 ¥c3
9-zPR+KvLLtr0 37.¥f4 and White will gradually win.
9+-+-+-tR-0 36.¥h3 f5 37.¥f4 ¦h5 Ding couldn’t
xiiiiiiiiy complete this move as his time ran out.
Removing the pawn from the vulnerable square.
37...¦h5 38.¥xf5! was Gukesh’s intention,
28...¤g4 29.¤f3 and the pawn on a7 hangs. winning on the spot.
29.b3! An unpleasant move to meet in time 1–0

trouble, giving Black the choice.

January 2025
A very important game for Gukesh to regain

his composure and confidence. The game
already showed certain tendencies that would
continue in the match – Gukesh was usually
the better prepared player, Ding would
spend masses of time in the beginning, but
the level of his play would be relatively high
throughout the game, including the phases
where he would speed up to avoid time
trouble. Often, he would outplay Gukesh in
these complex middlegames (like in game
one and also in game three, in spite of both
players not being aware of it). Curiously,
both players struggled with evaluation,
seriously misjudging positions—something
one wouldn’t expect from the best players or even outperform Gukesh in several games,
in the world. creating winning chances. This time, he
wasn’t trailing in the match, so there was no
The reasons for these misjudgements pressing need to demand too much from his
are hard to pinpoint. One part is Ding’s white games. However, failing to capitalise on
pessimism when evaluating positions, the white pieces, especially in a match, rarely
another one is both players’ over-reliance leads to a good outcome. In fact, I can only
on calculation, when a missed move can recall one match where the player wasted his
drastically alter the evaluation. To these white pieces and still won the match: in 1994
factors I would also add the complexity and Kramnik beat Yudasin in their Candidates
concreteness of modern chess, when the match by winning two games with the black
engines tell us the correct evaluation, but pieces and drawing quickly his white games.
it is one that can often depend on hyper-
precise play, thus skewering the human The fourth game showed that Ding was
understanding of the position. content with the equal score and continued
to play overly cautiously with the white
PLAYING IT SAFE: pieces. His desire to keep things under
DING MINIMISES RISK control and minimise the risk of losing was
perhaps fueled by his no less hidden hope
that he may get more winning chances with
After the third game, there was a rest day. the black pieces, just like in game one.
The question for the fourth game was
whether Ding would use his white pieces Ding Liren – Gukesh D
to press for more or settle for a minuscule
plus, as he did in game two. In his match WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (4)
with Nepomniachtchi, Ding was highly
effective with the white pieces, winning 1.¤f3 d5 2.e3 ¤f6 3.b3 Ding commented
three games and opting for an open fight. that sometimes he plays the opening like
This was because he trailed for most of that having the black pieces, only with an extra
match, so he could not afford to waste his tempo. Here White plays a Queen’s Indian
white games, particularly as he struggled Defence with an extra tempo.
with the black pieces.
3...¥f5 4.¥e2 h6 Gukesh wants to preserve
In Singapore, things were different. While his light-squared bishop.
he was often surprised in the openings of his
black games, Ding managed to play on par 4...e6 5.¤h4 would win White the bishop pair.

01/145
5.¥a3!? 12...¥h7
XIIIIIIIIY XIIIIIIIIY
9rsn-wqkvl-tr0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9zppzp-zppzp-0 9zpp+n+pzpl0
9-+-+-sn-zp0 9-+p+-sn-zp0
9+-+p+l+-0 9+-+p+-+-0
9-+-+-+-+0 9-zP-sN-+-+0
9vLP+-zPN+-0 9+-sN-zP-+-0
9P+PzPLzPPzP0 9P+-zPLzPPzP0
9tRN+QmK-+R0 9tR-+Q+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy xiiiiiiiiy
An interesting idea aimed at slowing 13.£b3 "You cannot win a game against
down Black’s development by forcing him a strong player in classical chess simply
to either lose the right to castle, or put a by making straight-forward logical moves
knight on f8, which he would then have to without venom." - Kramnik. Ding plays
move again in order to castle. exactly like that in this game, making
solid and natural moves, but ones that his
5...¤bd7 6.0–0 White can also start with opponent can easily deal with. However, it
6.c4, but it’s likely that both moves would has to be said that the position is such that
just lead to the same position. it doesn’t really allow for much creativity.
6...e6 7.¥xf8 ¤xf8 8.c4 ¤8d7 Black 13.d3 with the idea of £d2,¦fd1,¦ac1
doesn’t mind the asymmetry that can arise was suggested by Kramnik. Black has the
after cxd5 exd5. strong retort 13...a5! 14.a3 £e7 targeting
the pawn on b4. 15.¦b1 axb4 16.axb4 ¦a7
8...c6 can be played if Black wants to and after the doubling of the rooks on the
recapture on d5 with the c-pawn, thus keeping a-file Black has little to worry about.
a symmetrical pawn structure. 9.d4 the engine
always wants to expand in the centre, but it’s 13...¤e5 Kramnik called this a strange
possible Team Ding explored other avenues move, while Gukesh explained that his
revolving around the placement of a knight on idea was to play ...b6 and ...c5 and f4 by
that square. (9.¤d4 ¥g6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.¤c3 White is weakening, "it felt like a good
¤8d7 12.£c1 0–0 13.£a3 £b6 and Black is move" - Gukesh. For the more classically
perfectly fine.) 9...¤8d7 10.£c1 0–0 11.£b2 minded, a natural move like 13...¦e8 or
and White wants to expand on the queenside 13...£e7 would feel more like a good
with b4 in an otherwise equal position. move, but Gukesh just calculated that his
move works.
9.¤c3 0–0 Black has a second chance to
play ...c6, but it seems Gukesh didn’t mind 13...¦e8 14.¦fc1 (14.a4 a5! 15.bxa5 ¤c5
the upcoming structural change. gives Black excellent play.) 14...a5 15.a3
¤e5 with balanced play.
10.cxd5 10.d4 a5 was played in 0–1 (30) So,W
(2778)-Giri,A (2777) chess24.com INT 2021. 14.a4 Ding continues with the queenside
advance.
10...exd5 11.b4 c6 12.¤d4 White
centralises the knight and will try to use its 14.f4 would be the critical move to
position to advance on the queenside. check. In spite of Gukesh’s evaluation as

January 2025
"weakening" it is still possible to play it. XIIIIIIIIY

After 14...¤g6 this was Gukesh’s idea,
intending ...¤e7 to cover the c6–square and 9-+rwq-trk+0
then ...b6 and ...c5. (14...¤ed7 15.f5!? is 9zp-+-+pzpl0
pretty sharp - the bishop on h7 is locked
in, but Black gets access to the e5 and e4–
9-zpp+-sn-zp0
squares on the e-file.) 15.¥d3 ¤e7 16.f5 9zP-+psn-+-0
playing to bury the bishop on h7. 16... 9-zP-sN-+-+0
b6 17.¤de2 with very double-edged and
unorthodox play ahead. 9+QsN-zP-+-0
9-+-zPLzPPzP0
14...¦c8 Intending ...b6 and ...c5.
9tR-+-+RmK-0
15.a5 Ding continues methodically, but xiiiiiiiiy
here and on the next move White could 15...b5 would have avoided ¥a6 ideas,
have played for a more complicated game. but looks odd. After 16.¦ad1 White has
the plan of d3,¤a2–c1–b3 to target the
15.f4 ¤c4! (15...¤ed7 16.a5 is a better weakened c5–square.
version for White than in the game.)
16.¥xc4 dxc4 17.£xc4 a5! with good 16.¤f3 Avoiding ...c5 and ...d4. With
compensation for the pawn as White’s this move Ding shows his intention to
structure is rather immobile and the pawn go for exchanges and draw. He had two
on d2 is exposed. The idea behind Black’s possibilities to continue the game.
last move is 18.bxa5 c5 to win the exchange
after 19.¤f3 ¥d3 20.£b3 ¥xf1 21.¦xf1 16.¥a6 was one of them. 16...¦c7 17.f4
£xa5 but the position remains objectively ¤g6 (17...¤c4 leads to more complicated
balanced after 22.¦b1; and forcing play after 18.¥xc4 dxc4
19.£xc4 ¤e4 (19...c5?! 20.¤cb5 ¦d7
15.¦fd1!? is a prophylactic move, defending 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.£xc5 and Black doesn’t
the pawn on d2 in advance and removing have full compensation for the material
the rook from the f1–square, so an exchange deficit.) 20.¤xe4 ¥xe4 21.axb6 axb6
on d3 after ...¥xd3 wouldn’t hit it. 15...b6 22.¦f2 c5 23.bxc5 bxc5 Black has certain
this is part of Black’s plan, but it weakens compensation for the pawn, as White’s
the c6–square, something White can try to structure is difficult to get moving.) 18.¥e2
take advantage of with 16.f4! ¤d3 (16...¤g6 avoiding the entrapment of the bishop
17.b5 targets the c6–square. 17...¤e7 18.bxc6 after ...b5. 18...¤e7 19.¤f3 stepping away
¤xc6 19.¤cb5 is somewhat more pleasant from the attack after ...c5, with an unclear
for White thanks to the eternal knight on position;
d4.) 17.¥xd3 (17.¤cb5!? a curious tactic.
17...¤xf4 18.exf4 cxb5 19.¥xb5 with an 16.axb6 axb6 17.f4 was the second possibility.
unbalanced position.) 17...¥xd3 18.b5 c5 Now Black is forced to jump forward
19.¤c6 £d7 is unclear, as both sides have 17...¤c4 (here 17...¤g6?! 18.b5! c5 19.¤c6
strong pieces: the knight on c6 and the gives White an advantage - Black was not
bishop on d3. Now after 20.¤xd5!? ¥e4 in time to cover the c6–square by ...¤e7.)
21.¤de7+ ¢h8 Black threatens ...£g4, 18.¦fd1 (or 18.¦a2 c5 19.¤f3 with a tense
which is surprisingly difficult to defend position on the queenside; 18.¥xc4?! dxc4
against, so White must play 22.d3 ¥xg2! 19.£xc4 c5 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.¤f3 ¥d3 wins
23.¢xg2 £g4+ 24.¢f2 £h4+ 25.¢g1 the exchange for Black.) 18...c5 19.bxc5 bxc5
£g4+ with a perpetual check. 20.¤db5 and Black’s central pawns and the
knight on c4 are loose, though the engine
15...b6 confidently states that the game should end

01/145
in a repetition after 20...¤a5 21.£a3 ¤c4 33...¦e5 34.exf5 ¦xf5 35.£e4 £d5
22.£b3 ¤a5; 16.f4 ¤c4! was what Ding saw 36.£xd5 ¦xd5 The endgame is drawn,
and decided to play it safe. but no draw offers were allowed before
move 40, so the players kept playing for
16...¤xf3+ 17.¥xf3 d4 Now exchanges a bit longer.
ensue and the position dries up.
37.¢f3 ¢g6 38.¢e4 ¦d4+ 39.¢e3 ¦d5
18.¤e2 dxe3 19.dxe3 ¥e4 Gukesh also 40.¢e4 ¦d4+ 41.¢e3 ¦d5 42.¢e4 ¦d4+
doesn’t mind simplifications.
½–½
19...¤e4 20.¥xe4 ¥xe4 21.axb6 axb6
22.¦fd1 £e7 23.h3 is similarly drawish.
The knight is not inferior to the bishop, as A calm game for both sides, confirming
the field of play is relatively narrow. Ding’s safety-first strategy with the
white pieces.
20.¦fd1 £e7 21.¥xe4 21.¤g3!? is
the engine’s suggestion, not minding
the doubling on the pawns. I’m sure the
DING LETS GUKESH
players weren’t considering this seriously. OFF THE HOOK AGAIN
21...¥xf3 22.gxf3 now the black knight The next game almost justified Ding’s strategy
doesn’t have access to the e4–square. of playing safely with White and waiting for
22...¦fd8 23.¦xd8+ ¦xd8 24.¦c1 ¦c8 chances with Black—if not for his impatient
25.¢g2 c5 and it should still end in a draw. willingness to end the game prematurely.
21...¤xe4 22.axb6 axb6 23.¤c3 Gukesh D - Ding Liren
Exchanging more pieces.
WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (5),
23...¦fd8 24.¤xe4 £xe4 25.h3 c5
26.¦xd8+ ¦xd8 27.bxc5 bxc5 28.¦c1 £e5 1.e4 Gukesh comes back to his main weapon
29.£c2 ¦d5 30.g3 f5 A curious moment. in the match, though as his second Gajewski
Black wants to play on domination, but it’s confirmed, they weren’t really certain
also a bit weakening. Gukesh said that he whether the French Defence in game one
wanted "to press a little" though here this isn’t was just a one-off surprise or a weapon for
really possible. However, this move shows his the whole match. So by repeating 1.e4 they
inner resolve to try to play and seek chances wanted to see what Ding’s intentions were.
for as long as it was theoretically possible,
demonstrating his general strategy to play 1...e6 Ding sticks to the French.
until the end in every game.
2.d4 d5 3.exd5 The Exchange Variation
30...£d6; or 30...g6 would have been more is not as harmless as it is often presumed,
"natural." especially when White has concrete ideas
in mind. It’s worth noting that Garry
31.¢g2 31.¦b1 would have been a try to Kasparov was the one who started playing
activate the rook along the seventh rank. it on elite level in 1991, introducing new
31...¢h7 32.¦b7 £d6 33.£b2 hoping ideas that are still valid today.
that Black would blunder a mate on g7...
33...£e5 34.£xe5 ¦xe5 35.¦c7 with an 3...exd5 4.¤f3 ¤f6 5.¥d3 c5!? A more
equal rook endgame. dynamic option and a practical choice
by Ding, who didn’t want to suffer (even
31...¢h7 32.£c4 £d6 33.e4 Ding is a little bit) in the symmetrical lines after
consistent in seeking exchanges. 5...¤f6.

January 2025
6.c3 White wants to keep the bishop on the

active diagonal.
6.0–0 was played by Kasparov in 1991.

After 6...c4 7.¦e1+ (7.¥e2 ¤c6 8.b3
cxb3 9.axb3 ¥d6 10.c4 0–0 11.¤c3 h6
was one of the first games that showed
the potential of the black position in
this structure. Black had a good game in
Nepomniachtchi,I (2758)-Abasov,N (2632)
Candidates Tournament 2024) 7...¥e7
8.¥f1 ¤c6 (8...0–0 9.¥g5 Kasparov,G
(2770)-Kortschnoj,V (2610) Tilburg 1991
(2) 1–0 9...¤c6 is similar after White plays
b3.) 9.b3 cxb3 10.axb3 0–0 with similar play
as in the game Nepomniachtchi-Abasov. 14.¤h4 g6 15.g3 with the idea of ¤g2–e3
was Gukesh’s preparation and what the
6...c4 7.¥c2 ¥d6 8.£e2+ 8.0–0 0–0 9.h3 engine wants to play. 15...b5 16.¤g2 a5
¤c6 was played in the game Nakamura- 17.¤d2 ¥b7 leads to a balanced endgame
Abasov from the Candidates tournament in with mutual chances.
Toronto and Black had a good game here, too.
14...h6! After a long think, Ding was
8...£e7 9.£xe7+ ¢xe7 Gukesh couldn’t already considering the position after
remember the details after this point but White’s 17.g4 a few moves later.
managed to navigate accurately until move 14.
14...b5 15.¦e1+ ¢f8 16.¤e5 is what Ding
10.0–0 ¦e8 11.¦e1+ 11.¤h4 ¢f8 12.¤f5 considered. It’s a possible way to play, after
¥xf5 13.¥xf5 ¤c6 Black’s smooth 16...¤b6 the endgame is quite complex,
development and clear plan of queenside though it’s understandable that Ding didn’t
expansion compensate for White’s pair want to allow a strong white knight on e5.
of bishops.
15.¥h4 ¤h5 Black goes after White’s
11...¢f8 12.¦xe8+ ¢xe8 13.¥g5 ¤bd7 dark-squared bishop. The idea is to play
XIIIIIIIIY ...g5 and exchange it for a knight.
9r+l+k+-+0 16.¦e1+ 16.¤f1 is an alternative. 16...g5
9zpp+n+pzpp0 17.¥g3 ¤xg3 18.hxg3 (18.¤xg3 the knight
targets the weakened squares f5 and h5, so
9-+-vl-sn-+0 Black should eliminate it. 18...¥xg3 19.hxg3
9+-+p+-vL-0 ¤f6 with an equal endgame that should end
9-+pzP-+-+0 in a draw.) 18...¤f6 19.¤e3 b5 White is very
compact and targets both the d5–pawn and the
9+-zP-+N+-0 f5–square, while Black has the pair of bishops
9PzPL+-zPPzP0 and a clear plan of queenside advance.
9tRN+-+-mK-0 16...¢f8 17.g4 Sharp, but also allowing Black
xiiiiiiiiy counterchances. Curiously enough, Gukesh
14.¤bd2 This surprised Ding somewhat, plays g4 for a third white game in a row.
which hints that he still remembered his
own preparation by this point and expected 17.¤f1 is more solid. After 17...g5 18.¥g3
the best move 14.¤h4. ¤xg3 19.¤xg3 (19.hxg3 ¤f6 with ...¥e6

01/145
next was indicated by Gukesh as good for 23.¦xd3 ¤xb2 24.¦xd5 ¥xg4 25.¦b5 ¤d1!
Black.) 19...¤f6 was what Ding considered. a line shown by Ding at the press conference,
(19...¥xg3 20.hxg3 ¤f6 has in fact been played a beautiful demonstration of the depth of his
before in the game ½–½ (34) Damjanovic,V calculation. Black is a bit better here thanks
(2364)-Kramer,J (2503) Petrovac MNE 2024); to White’s scattered pawns, though a draw is
17.¤e5?! ¤xe5 18.dxe5 ¥c5 with the idea of the likely result after (25...¤a4 26.¦b4 as he
...g5 and ...b5 gives Black an advantage. pointed out, is equal after 26...¥d7) 26.¦xb7
¤xc3 27.a3.
17...¤f4 18.¥g3 ¤b6 Ding defends the
pawn on d5 and opens the diagonal for the 19...hxg5 19...¤h3+? is bad in view of
bishop on c8, attacking the pawn on g4. 20.¢g2 ¥xg3 21.gxh6! gxh6 22.hxg3 ¤g5
23.¤e5 and Black’s position is in ruins.
18...¤h3+ 19.¢g2 ¤f4+ can lead to
a repetition; 20.¤xg5 ¥d7 Too straight-forward, too
healthy, according to Kramnik. "If you want
18...g5 19.h4 and "maybe not so good" - to win a slightly better position against a
Ding. However after 19...¤f6 20.hxg5 hxg5 strong opponent, you must try to create
21.¤xg5 ¥xg4 the position is quite sharp some confusion for him, introduce some
and unclear, but Black is by no means worse.; unexpected ideas." - Kramnik. Objectively
After 18...¤f6 19.¤e5 g5 20.¥xf4 gxf4 though, the position is equal and Ding’s
21.h3 Ding wasn’t sure whether his pawn on chance will only come later.
f4 was weak and how much. The engine gives
0.00 after a move like 21...a5 or 21...b5. 21.¤gf3 ¦e8 22.¤e5 22.¦xe8+ ¢xe8 Black
wants to play ...f6, with a better endgame
19.g5 thanks to the better pawn structure, so White
XIIIIIIIIY must play 23.¤e5 ¥xe5 24.dxe5 ¤e6 25.f4
g6 with a dynamically balanced endgame.
9r+l+-mk-+0
9zpp+-+pzp-0 22...¥xe5
9-sn-vl-+-zp0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-+p+-zP-0 9-+-+rmk-+0
9-+pzP-sn-+0 9zpp+l+pzp-0
9+-zP-+NvL-0 9-sn-+-+-+0
9PzPLsN-zP-zP0 9+-+pvl-+-0
9+-+-tR-mK-0 9-+pzP-sn-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-zP-+-vL-0
A move that surprised Ding. 9PzPLsN-zP-zP0
He was expecting 19.¤e5 ¥xe5 20.dxe5 9+-+-tR-mK-0
(After 20.¦xe5 ¤d3 21.¥xd3 cxd3 22.f3 xiiiiiiiiy
¤c4 23.¤xc4 dxc4 24.¢f2 b6 Black is better 23.dxe5? Played a-tempo.
thanks to the monster pawn on d3, though with
the opposite-coloured bishops the game should 23.¦xe5 was necessary. 23...¦xe5 24.dxe5
end in a draw.) 20...¤d3 (20...¤h3+?! wins a ¤e2+ is critical, as after (24...¥a4!? is a
pawn after 21.¢g2 ¥xg4 but after 22.f3 ¥e6 more subtle attempt. 25.¥f5 (25.¥xa4 is
23.f4 White has good compensation - the knight also sufficient for equality, but it requires
on h3 is out of play.) 21.¥xd3 cxd3 22.¦e3 some calculation after 25...¤e2+ 26.¢f1
¤c4 (22...¥xg4 23.¦xd3 is just a draw.) ¤xg3+ 27.fxg3 ¤xa4 as the pawn on b2

January 2025
hangs. Still, after 28.¢e2 ¤xb2 29.¢e3 ¥c6 30.¦b2 (30.¦xa7? d2 winning, is the
¤d1+ 30.¢d4 ¢e7 31.¤f3 White’s activity line Ding showed at the press conference.)
easily compensates for the pawn.) 25...¤e6 30...¢e7 and the king is activated via e6 and
(25...¤e2+ 26.¢f1 ¤c1 27.¥b1 ¥d1 f5. White needs to defend against the pawn on
28.¢e1 ¥e2 is a curious position with the d3, but also his numerous pawn weaknesses.)
white king stalemated by the two black 26...f6 (or 26...¦e6 activating the rook along
pieces deep into enemy territory. It’s still the sixth rank.) 27.f4 White cannot take on
equal, though.) 26.f4 ¥c6 with a complex f6 in view of ...¦e2. 27...b5 and Black has
middlegame.) 25.¢f1 ¤c1 White faces excellent winning chances: White’s rook is
serious issues on the queenside. However, passive and Black’s king is en route to f5,
after 26.¥f4! (26.a3 is natural, but after after which the rook can also be activated as
26...¤a4 27.¥xa4 ¥xa4 with ...¤d3 next, Black can open the f-file by capturing ...fxe5.
it’s hard for White to defend the pawn on
b2.) 26...¤xa2 27.¥e3 White obtains good 26.¤xc4 dxc4 27.¦e4
compensation for the pawn, having activated XIIIIIIIIY
his dark-squared bishop.
9-+-+rmk-+0
23...¤d3! Gukesh admitted to blundering 9zpp+l+pzp-0
this move. Specifically, he miscalculated
the line after 25.b3, as shown below. 9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+-zP-+-0
24.¥xd3 cxd3 25.f3 Gukesh wants to 9-+p+R+-+0
centralise the king with ¢f2–e3. Now comes
the key moment in the whole game. Black 9+-zPp+PvL-0
has a definite advantage, but the presence 9PzP-+-+-zP0
of the opposite-coloured bishops means that
White has good drawing chances. For Black 9+-+-+-mK-0
to have any winning chances, he must create xiiiiiiiiy
more complex problems for White., he must 27...¥c6 This move practically concedes a
find a way to pose more complex problems. draw. In Ding’s defence, he simply didn’t
see a way to improve his position, as shown
25.b3?! ¦c8 is what Gukesh underestimated/ in the comments.
blundered. The point is that if White defends
the pawn on c3 with 26.¦c1 then after 26... Gukesh was correctly worried about
d4 27.c4 ¤d5 he is in serious danger as the 27...¥e6! 28.¦d4 ¦c8 and Ding said he
knight lands on c3. didn’t see the idea of ...¦c8–c5 and attack
on the pawns on the queenside plus the
25...¤c4 Natural, but too straight-forward. king coming to g8–h7–g6–f5, in "some kind
As Kramnik said, also similar to the comment of Berlin pawn structure." He said he didn’t
above, when you get chances, you must try realise he had a big advantage. Here again we
to pose more practical problems to your can notice Ding’s pessimistic evaluation even
opponent, you cannot win a game by playing in situations where he is completely safe and
safe and solid moves even with an advantage. has an obvious advantage.
Ding’s move is too direct. While the engine
approves, a more promising approach was 28.¦d4 28.¦xc4?? d2.
available from a human perspective.
28...¥xf3 29.¢f2 ¥c6 Played too quickly
25...¤a4!? makes White’s task much more to force a draw.
difficult. 26.¦b1 this passive defence is a better
try, though it’s not an easy choice. (26.¢f2 29...¥h5 was the way to continue, with after
¤xb2 27.¦b1 ¤c4 28.¤xc4 dxc4 29.¦xb7 30.¢e3 b5 Ding thought White’s rook activity is

01/145
DING’S
RELUCTANCE TO FIGHT
FUELS GUKESH’S
RESURGENCE
This hastiness, coupled with his pessimistic
evaluation of the position, was on clear
display in the next game as well.
Ding Liren – Gukesh D

a good compensation for the pawn. Gukesh was 1.d4 ¤f6 2.¥f4 Ding said he won a nice
of similar opinion. Either way, it was obligatory game with the London System in the
for Black to continue the game and put pressure previous match in game 6, so he wanted to
on his opponent. Match strategy dictates that repeat the feat.
every, even most miniscule, advantage must be
used to exert pressure, to impose psychological 2.¤f3 d5 3.¥f4 c5 4.e3 ¤c6 5.¤bd2
domination on the opponent. In this situation cxd4 6.exd4 led to the reversed Carlsbad
this was worth double, as it would have been structure and a dominant win in the game
done witn the black pieces, a rare occurrence Ding Liren (2788)-Nepomniachtchi,I
in matches as usually White controls the game, (2795) WCh 2023 Astana KAZ (6.1) 1–0.
so getting a chance with the black pieces is
considered a great success, which should then 2...d5 3.e3 e6 Gukesh chooses a different set-up.
be squeezed to the maximum.
4.¤f3 c5 5.c3 ¥d6 A direct approach,
30.¦xc4 ¦d8 31.¦d4 ¦xd4 32.cxd4 ¥d5 immediately seeking the exchange of the
The position is a dead draw now. London bishop.
33.b3 ¢e7 34.¢e3 ¢e6 35.¢xd3 g6 6.¥b5+ ¤c6 7.¥xc6+ bxc6 8.¥xd6 £xd6
36.¢c3 a6 37.¢d3 ¢f5 38.¢e3 ¢e6 9.£a4 Ding chooses a forcing variation.
39.¢d3 ¢f5 40.¢e3 ¢e6
9...0–0 10.£a3 Ding improves on Carlsen’s
½–½ approach in their previous encounter.
10.0–0 cxd4 11.cxd4 c5 12.¦c1 c4 13.b3

By squandering his advantage so easily, ¥d7 14.£a5 cxb3 15.axb3 ¦fb8 was
Ding missed a vital opportunity to seize fine for Black in ½–½ (37) Carlsen,M
the psychological initiative in the match—a (2859)-Ding,L (2811) Wijk aan Zee
momentum he had already lost after game 2023
three. It would have been very unpleasant for
Gukesh to defend for many hours a position 10...¤e4 11.¤fd2 e5 Gukesh remembered
that offers no hope for any counterplay with his preparation well until move 16.
passive defence until the end of the game
the only prospect. Ding’s overeagerness to 11...cxd4?! 12.¤xe4 £xa3 13.¤xa3
agree to a draw and end the fight was one dxe4 14.cxd4 was excellent for White in
of his key psychological weaknesses in the 1–0 (46) Aronian,L (2781)-So,W (2770)
match—and ultimately, it cost him the title. chess24.com INT 2021.

January 2025
12.¤xe4 dxe4 13.£xc5 £g6 14.¤d2 14.g3? 21.£xc6 21.£c5 was mentioned by Ding
¥a6 exposes White’s light-square weaknesses. in the press conference, but Black is OK
14...£xg2 14...exd4?! 15.£xd4 ¦e8 16.0– after 21...¦bd8.
0–0 is better for White as in the game 1–0
(60) Abasov,N (2677)-Svane,R (2641) 21...£xe5 22.£d5 White controls the
Lublin 2023. d-file and he can advance with the c-pawn
without weakening his king, which will be
15.0–0–0 £xf2 16.dxe5 16.¦de1?! ½–½ tucked away on b1 or even a1, so he has an
(21) Aronian,L (2775)-Dominguez Perez,L advantage here.
(2754) Saint Louis 2022 16...exd4! 17.¤xe4
£h4 18.£xd4 ¥f5 is great for Black as the 22...£e7
bishop has a lot of scope in an open position. XIIIIIIIIY
16...¦b8 17.¤c4 Gukesh wasn’t aware of 9-tr-+-trk+0
this move. 9zp-+-wqpzpp0
17...¥e6 17...£f3 is the engine’s suggestion. 9-+-+-+-+0
After 18.¦he1 (or 18.¦df1 £e2 19.¦e1 £f3 9+-+Q+-+-0
20.¦hf1 £g2 with a repetition.) 18...£f2 9-+-+p+-+0
19.¦h1 is a possible repetition.
9+-zP-zP-+-0
18.¦d2 £f3 19.¦e1 ¥xc4 Otherwise the 9PzP-tR-+-zP0
knight would land on d6.
9+-mK-tR-+-0
20.£xc4 Ding was practically playing xiiiiiiiiy
a-tempo up to this moment. 22...£xd5 23.¦xd5 f5 24.b4 in the double-
rook endgame White’s pawns can advance
20...£f5 more easily.
XIIIIIIIIY 23.£d6 Inviting a repetition was a strange
9-tr-+-trk+0 decision, but it can be understood in light
9zp-+-+pzpp0 of the earlier explanations. Ding was too
pessimistic about his position and didn’t
9-+p+-+-+0 think he should play on.
9+-+-zPq+-0
9-+Q+p+-+0 23.¦ed1 was natural, controlling the d-file.
23...g6 (23...h6 24.c4 is a safe try for White -
9+-zP-zP-+-0 he controls the centre and can push his passed
9PzP-tR-+-zP0 c-pawn.) 24.b3 (24.£d7! is stronger. After
24...£c5 25.£d4 £e7 26.c4 White advances
9+-mK-tR-+-0 with the c-pawn.) 24...¦fd8 (24...¦fc8! 25.c4
xiiiiiiiiy £b4 gives Black counterplay.) 25.£a5 ¦dc8
This was the moment Ding began to think. 26.c4! Ding saw up to here, but missed this
Despite having nearly an hour’s advantage move that gives White an advantage. (He only
on the clock, he used most of it on his next saw 26.¢b2 ¦c5 but even here after 27.£a4
two moves. White is better.)
20...¦bd8 is what he probably recalled, as it’s 23...£g5 23...£xd6 24.¦xd6 f5 25.b4

the engine’s top choice. After 21.¦d6 ¦de8! White’s pawns have fewer obstacles.
22.¦xc6 ¦xe5 the position has similar motifs
to the ones we shall see in the game. 24.£d5 £e7 25.£d6 £g5 26.£d5

01/145
XIIIIIIIIY 29...£xg3! 30.hxg3 ¦e5 was a nice way

for Black to activate the rook and target
9-tr-+-trk+0 the pawn on g3. After 31.b4 ¦g5 32.¦g1
9zp-+-+pzpp0 h5 in view of the threat ...h4 Black has
sufficient counterplay.
9-+-+-+-+0
9+-+Q+-wq-0 30.£f4 £a5 30...£f3 31.£g5.
9-+-+p+-+0 31.a3 31.¢b1 was a reasonable
9+-zP-zP-+-0 alternative, getting the king off the c-file
9PzP-tR-+-zP0 and preparing c4.
9+-mK-tR-+-0 31...£b5 32.¦d4 £e2 33.¦1d2 The rook
xiiiiiiiiy defends both h2 and b2 along the second
26...£h4?! Objectively, this was a poor rank. Ding also mentioned 32.¦f1 at the
decision as it worsened Black’s position. press conference.
However, it highlights a key difference in
mentality: even in a favourable position, 33...£f3
Ding avoids fighting, while Gukesh XIIIIIIIIY
continues to fight even in inferior ones.
Ding was surprised by this decision, 9-+-+rtrk+0
believing the black queen was misplaced 9zp-+-+p+p0
on the kingside and belonged on the
queenside. However, Gukesh felt he wasn’t 9-+-+-+p+0
risking much, as he believed he would 9+-+-+-+-0
always have counterplay along the open 9-+-tRpwQ-+0
files on the queenside. He said he wasn’t
"playing for a win" but wanted to "make 9zP-zP-zPq+-0
a few more moves and see what happens." 9-zP-tR-+-zP0
To my mind, this difference in the approach
towards the fight in the match made all the 9+-mK-+-+-0
difference in the end. xiiiiiiiiy
33...£e1+ 34.¢c2 ¦b8 35.£xe4 ¦fe8
27.¦ed1 Ding was practically forced to 36.£f4 £xe3 37.£xe3 ¦xe3 38.c4 and it’s
play this move to control the d-file! clear that White is much better prepared for
the advance of his pawns.
27...g6 28.£e5 Ding adopts a prophylactic
approach, bringing his queen to the kingside 34.¢c2? Giving up all hope to play for
to guard against a potential pawn advance.. more, for the second time in the game. This
He brings the queen to the kingside to defend decision is difficult to explain, as Ding
against a possible pawn advance there. identified the correct move, analysed the
variations, yet still chose to force a draw.
28.c4 looked natural and is quite strong. He spent 11 minutes on this decision.
28...£h3 29.£d4 ¦bd8 30.£xe4 ¦de8
31.£d4 £xe3 (31...¦xe3 32.£xa7 wins 34.£g5! keeping the queens on board was
a pawn for White.) 32.£xe3 ¦xe3 33.c5 essential. 34...£h1+ (34...¢g7 35.¦d7 h6
when White’s pawns are definitely the 36.£c5 a line demonstrated by Ding, where
more dangerous ones. White is almost winning.; 34...a5 35.¢b1!
with the idea of ¢a2 and c4 and White is in
28...¦be8 29.£g3 £h5?! White has better control and can push the c-pawn.) 35.¢c2
chances with the queens on board. ¦b8 36.¦b4 was mentioned by Ding and it

January 2025
40.¦d5 h4 41.¦xf5 ¦d7+ 42.¢c2 ¢g7

43.¦g2+ ¢h8 44.¦e2 ¢g7 45.¦g2+ ¢h8
46.¦e2 ¢g7
½–½
Ding missed yet another opportunity to

exert significant pressure on his opponent.
He had real winning chances but again his
pessimism and eagerness to end the game
prevailed. Therefore, it wasn’t a surprise
that the momentum shifted in Gukesh’s
favour and in the next two games it was his
turn to get winning chances.
is indeed very good for White, who keeps
excellent winning chances;
CALCULATION VS
34.¦f2? £xf4 35.¦xf4 f5 was pointed out INTUITION AND THE
by Ding, the rook on f4 is misplaced, which
makes the endgame equal. PREVALENCE OF
RESILIENCE
34...£xf4 35.exf4 f5 Black doesn’t have
problems now. Gukesh D - Ding Liren
36.h4 Stopping ...g5. WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (7)
36...e3 Gukesh chooses a very concrete 1.¤f3 Gukesh postpones the attempt to
way. refute the French Defence, opting for a
less forcing approach with two objectives:
36...¢g7 with the idea ...¢h6–h5 was an springing an early surprise and forcing
alternative. It was Gukesh’s initial instinct, but Ding into time trouble.
he missed 38...e3. 37.¦d7+ worried Gukesh.
37...¢h6 (37...¦f7 38.¦xf7+ ¢xf7 39.¦d7+ 1...d5 2.g3 g6 This move-order is considered
¦e7? 40.¦xe7+ ¢xe7 41.b4 he correctly as the most unpleasant one for White after
noted that the pawn endgame is lost.) 38.¦g2! 1.¤f3. It was first introduced in modern
keeps the balance for White. (38.¦xa7? e3! practice by Anand in the first game of his
Gukesh missed this, after which Black is match against Carlsen in 2013. Black’s idea
almost winning after ...¦e4 next.) after ...¥g7 is to take the centre with ...e5,
thus severely limiting White’s choices.
37.¦e2 ¦e7 38.¢d3 ¦fe8 39.h5 Ding Ding had previously employed this system
wants to get rid of the potentially weak on many occasions.
h-pawn.
3.d4 With this move White tranposes to the
39.c4 ¢g7 with the idea ...h6–h5 gives fianchetto line of the Grunfeld Defence,
Black counterplay. known for its solidity.
39...gxh5 Another concrete solution. 3.c4 is another way to challenge the centre,
though after 3...dxc4 4.£a4+ ¤c6 5.¥g2
39...¢g7 40.c4 ¢h6 41.hxg6 hxg6 42.c5 is ¥g7 6.¤c3 e5 7.£xc4 ¤ge7 and Black
balanced, too. was doing alright in: ½–½ (51) Carlsen,M

01/145
(2870)-Anand,V (2775) Chennai m/3 2013; 9.¤bd2 c5 This gives White a serious
Allowing Black to take over the centre after initiative, although Black’s position should
3.¥g2 ¥g7 4.0–0 e5 5.d3 ¤e7 also gives not be underestimated—a mistake Ding
Black a good game. indeed made.
3...¥g7 4.c4 c6 5.¥g2 ¤f6 6.0–0 0–0 9...b5 again was critical. When asked about
The standard position of this line of the this Ding said that maybe that was the way
fianchetto Grunfeld. to play. 10.h3 ¥c8 (or 10...¥e6 11.a4 a5
with an unclear position, as in most of these
7.¦e1!? lines where White sacrifices the pawn on
XIIIIIIIIY c4.; 10...¥xf3?! 11.¤xf3 e6 12.b3 gives
9rsnlwq-trk+0 White good compensation as Black is
sensitive on the light squares.) 11.a4 (11.
9zpp+-zppvlp0 b3? White cannot play this in view of 11...
9-+p+-snp+0 c3 12.¤b1 b4 13.a3 c5! is the line Ding
9+-+p+-+-0 gave at the press conference.) 11...a5 with a
complex middlegame ahead.
9-+PzP-+-+0
9+-+-+NzP-0 10.d5 10.e5 was another tempting option,
but Black is fine after 10...¤fd7 11.h3
9PzP-+PzPLzP0 ¥xf3 12.¤xf3 ¤c6 (or 12...cxd4 13.£xd4
9tRNvLQtR-mK-0 £c7) 13.e6!? fxe6 14.¤g5 ¤xd4 15.¤xe6
xiiiiiiiiy ¤xe6 16.£d5 ¦f7 17.£xe6 ¤b6 and the
The novelty of the whole match! It is a very pawn presence on the queenside, plus the
rare move, but what makes it great is that strong bishop on g7, if not counting the two
nowadays it’s incredibly hard to come up extra pawns, mean that White’s initiative
with fresh ideas this early in the game. The should suffice for not more than equality.
idea of the move is that it prepares the e4–
advance in case Black takes the pawn on c4. 10...e6 11.h3 Ding overlooked this
Ding saw the move when returning from the "simple idea".
toilet and said he was "totally shocked" when
he saw it. After the match Gukesh revealed 11.¤xc4 exd5 12.exd5 ¤bd7 (12...£xd5
that this idea belonged to Vincent Keymer. looks too risky as it opens the long diagonal.
After 13.£xd5 ¤xd5 14.¤g5 ¤b4 15.¥xb7
7...dxc4 A brave decision taken after a long ¤c2 16.¥xa8 ¤xe1 the position is a mess,
thought. Ding knew that this pawn sacrifice though objectively Black should survive.)
was prepared and still went for it, even though 13.h3 ¥xf3 14.¥xf3 transposes to the game.
there were calmer alternatives at his disposal,
like 7...¥e6 or 7...¥g4, for example. 11...¥xf3 12.¥xf3 Ding thought he was
already worse here. He added later that he
8.e4 ¥g4 Ding decided not to cling onto should have been more confident of his
the pawn on c4. position. This lack of confidence in his
positions, stemming from his still fragile
Only 17 days after this game was played, self-confidence, was Ding’s major problem
and eight after the match finished, Keymer’s in the whole match.
idea was tested again. This time Black had
time to analyse the consequences and went 12...exd5 13.exd5 ¤bd7 13...¤xd5? 14.¤xc4
for the critical move 8...b5 9.a4 a5 10.axb5 ¥d4 15.¥h6 wins material for White.
cxb5 11.¤c3 ¥b7 with unclear play in the
game: 1–0 (45) Carlsen,M (2831)-Vachier 14.¤xc4 b5 Objectively Black has enough
Lagrave,M (2731) Oslo NOR 2024. play in this position, which is a type of a

January 2025
Grunfeld position that can occur from the ¤e6! 22.¥e3 £a6 gives Black counterplay
Russian System against this defence, often in a tense position.) 21...¦e8 22.£d2 h5 and
tested in the Karpov-Kasparov matches. Black just sits tight and it appears that White
doesn’t have much. It’s hard to play like this,
15.¤a3!? An ambitious choice. The knight just sitting and not seeking counterplay, so this
is not so well placed, but White manages to would have made it more difficult for Black at
get it back in the game. Objectively, though, least from a human perspective.
White doesn’t have an advantage, though
both players misevaluated the position as a 20...£a6
significantly better for White. Another case XIIIIIIIIY
of a positional misjudgement in this match!
9-+-trrsnk+0
15.¤e5 ¤xe5 16.¦xe5 ¤e8 with ...¤d6 9zp-+-+pvlp0
is fine for Black.; 15.¤e3 ¤e5 16.¥g2 c4
and with the knight landing on d3 Black 9q+-+-snp+0
has enough counterplay. 9+p+P+-+-0
15...£b6 16.¥f4 ¦fe8 16...¦ae8!? 17.£d2
9-zPp+-+-+0
c4 18.d6 ¤c5 is standard play for Black in 9+-+-vLLzPP0
the Grunfeld, giving him good counterplay. 9P+NwQ-zP-+0
17.£d2 ¦ad8 18.¤c2 ¤f8 Kramnik called 9tR-+-tR-mK-0
this a very strange move in this type of xiiiiiiiiy
position. Objectively it’s not a bad move, Ding thought his position was hopeless,
as it introduces ...¤e6 ideas. while in fact he’s not even worse! In the press
conference, when he saw the evaluation bar
Still 18...¦xe1+ 19.¦xe1 ¤e8 with ...¤d6 in the middle, he said "maybe not so bad" and
was more Grunfeld-esque. Black is fine added "difficult to understand." He added that
after the knight comes to d6. he felt that he needed to start some immediate
action, otherwise his position was just bad.
19.b4! White wants to remove the c5–pawn He said he "totally misevaluated."
in order to gain access to the d4–square for
his pieces. 20...£b8 21.¥d4 is what he didn’t like.
Objectively Black is fine, after 21...¤8d7
19...c4 Played with a sigh, but the move is 22.£c3 h5 "just wait" as Ding said in the
favoured by the engines. press conference. The engine almost comes
to 0.00 here.
19...cxb4 was possible, though very risky.
20.¤xb4 ¤e4 21.¥xe4 ¥xa1 22.¤c6 ¦c8 21.¥d4 ¦xe1+ 21...¤8d7! with the idea of
Ding saw this and even though he didn’t see ...¤b6 was an alternative. 22.£c3 ¦xe1+
a win for White, he wasn’t sure he could play 23.¦xe1 £xa2 now this works much better
it, so he went for 19...c4. 23.¥e3 £b7 24.¥f3 than in the game. 24.¦a1 £b3 25.¦xa7
¥f6 25.¦c1 White has excellent compensation ¤xd5! and Black solves all his problems
for the exchange, but Black can fight. after 26.¥xd5 £xc3 27.¥xc3 ¥xc3.
20.¥e3 Played quickly by Gukesh. It’s 22.¦xe1 £xa2 Ding goes for a forced line,
natural that White wants to place the bishop partly to alleviate his time-trouble worries
on d4, but this is not the most precise. - by this point he had approximately one
minute per move to reach move 40.
20.¦ad1 is preferred by the engine, keeping a
small advantage. 20...¦xe1+ 21.£xe1 (21.¦xe1 23.¦a1

01/145
XIIIIIIIIY
9-+-tr-snk+0 27...£b1 28.¦a5 £b3 29.¦xb5 £d3
30.£f4?! Objectively not the best.
9zp-+-+pvlp0
9-+-+-snp+0 30.¥e3! was strong. After 30...£xd2 31.¥xd2
¤e8 32.¥e3 ¤d6 33.¦a5 ¤c8 34.¥g4 f5
9+p+P+-+-0 35.¥e2 Black cannot defend both weaknesses
9-zPpvL-+-+0 on a7 and c4 and White should win. 35...¤b6
9+-+-+LzPP0 36.¦a6 and White wins material.
9q+NwQ-zP-+0 30...£xc2 Played quickly again.
9tR-+-+-mK-0
30...g5!? was an interesting intermediate move,
xiiiiiiiiy to free the g6–square for the passive knight on
23...£b3? Played a-tempo and missing an
important zwischenzug. f8. After 31.£xg5 h6 32.£c1 (32.£f4 ¤g6
is the idea behind ...g5 - to free the g6–square
23...c3! was critical, freeing the c4–square for the knight. 33.£c1 c3 34.¦b8+ ¢h7
for the queen. Black is fine now after and now White needs to find the only move
24.¥xc3 (24.£xc3 ¤xd5! is the trick that to keep an advantage: 35.¥xf6! in order to
solves Black’s problems. 25.¥xd5 ¥xd4 preserve the pawn on d5. But after 35...¥xf6
26.¥xf7+ £xf7 27.¤xd4 £c4 with an equal 36.¤e3 ¥d4 the situation is unclear - both
endgame after the exchange of queens.) sides have passed pawns while White’s extra
24...£c4 25.¥xf6 (25.¦xa7 ¤xd5 is also pawn isn’t really felt. The engine gives White
equal.) 25...¥xf6 26.¦xa7 ¥c3 27.£g5 ¦d7 an advantage, but in practice Black should have
28.¦xd7 ¤xd7 29.£d8+ ¤f8 30.£e7 ¢g7 drawing chances.) 32...c3 33.¦c5 ¤xd5! Black
and after ...¥f6 Black should hold. Not an manages to eliminate the dangerous passed
easy line, admittedly, especially with the little pawn. 34.¥xg7 ¢xg7 35.£e1! the only move
time Ding had left. to keep an advantage. 35...£xc2 36.¥xd5
¤g6 37.¦xc3 £b2 38.¥b3 White has a big
24.¦a3 £b1+ 25.¢g2 Ding knew his advantage, but Black is compact and can defend
position was bad as he lacked coordination. for a long time since White’s extra pawn is on
the kingside and advancing the pawns there
25...¦d7 Played quickly. would lead to weakening of the white king.
25...¤6d7 was a better try, but things are 31.¥xf6 £f5

bleak for Black. 26.¦xa7 ¥xd4 27.¤xd4
XIIIIIIIIY
¦e8 28.¤xb5 £d3 29.£c1! (29.£xd3 cxd3 9-+-+-snk+0
30.¦a3 ¦b8 31.¤c7 ¦xb4 32.¦xd3 ¤c5 9zp-+r+pvlp0
perhaps here Black can hope to save the game
as the knights can operate well on the narrow 9-+-+-vLp+0
battlefield since the d-pawn is close to the 9+R+P+q+-0
kingside.) 29...¦b8 30.¦a3 c3 31.¤xc3 ¦xb4 9-zPp+-wQ-+0
32.¤e4 and with queens on board White has
better winning chances as he can use the queen 9+-+-+LzPP0
to create threats against the black king. 9-+-+-zPK+0
26.¦a5! After some thought Gukesh found 9+-+-+-+-0
the best move. xiiiiiiiiy
32.£xf5? Gukesh thought this to be winning,
26...£b3 27.¦a3 Repeating moves to get but he misevaluated the endgame. This moment
closer to move 40 as by here Gukesh had exemplifies a key limitation of Gukesh’s style:
spent most of his time advantage. his over-reliance on calculation. He calculated

January 2025
the lines after the exchanges, saw that he was 40...¤c8! "Maybe this is a way to go," Ding
winning a pawn and thought he was winning. said at the press conference. He rejected
A more classically-oriented player would see it "due to passive approach." For a player
that in that line Black can establish blockade relying more on understanding and less
on the dark squares and that the pawn matters on calculation, this would be an automatic
little and would steer clear of that decision. move, placing the knight on d6 without a
worry in the world, while the calculators
32.¥g5 was better, keeping the bishop pair, need to see it concretely with moves that this
with a technically winning position. approach works. But humans cannot calculate
everything, so sometimes playing by feeling
32...gxf5 33.¥xg7 Continuing along the is preferable. Ding starting moving the pieces:
planned path. 41.¦h4 ¢g7 42.¦c4 ¤d6 43.¦c5 ¦b7
44.¥e2 ¦d7 is a line he gave at the press
33.¥g5 again this was better, keeping the conference. Black should draw fairly easily
pair of bishops. 33...h6 34.¥e3 ¤g6 with as his position is practically a fortress.
the ideas of ...c3 and ...¤e5 and Black has
defensive chances. 41.¦h4! ¤xd5 Black finally eliminated
the d-pawn that was giving him so much
33...¢xg7 Black should draw now. trouble, but now White obtains an even
more dangerous passed pawn on the h-file.
34.¦c5 ¤g6 35.¦xc4 ¤e5 36.¦d4 ¤c6
37.¦f4 37.¦d2!? was a more dangerous 41...¦d6 42.¦a4! ¤c8 43.¦c4 ¦d8 44.¦c7
attempt. After 37...¤xb4 38.d6 the idea is to and White manages to penetrate. After
transfer the bishop to b5 by ¥e2–b5, but Gukesh 44...¤d6 45.¦xa7 White should win.
didn’t consider it. 38...¦d8 is the only move for
Black. The lines are complicated now: 39.¥d1! 42.¦xh6 ¤c3 43.¦c6 ¤e4 44.¢e1?
is more subtle. (39.¥e2 ¤c6 40.¥b5 ¤e5 XIIIIIIIIY
41.d7 a6! is the saving resource. 42.¥a4 ¢f8 9-+-+-+-+0
43.f4 (43.¦d5 ¤c4 44.¦xf5 ¤b6 and Black
draws, thanks to the double attack on the bishop
9zp-+r+p+-0
and the pawn on d7, made possible by the move 9-+R+-+-+0
41...a6.) 43...¤c4 44.¦e2 ¤d6 45.¦e5 ¤b5! 9+P+-mkp+-0
the saving resource - thanks again to the pawn
on a6 Black can play this move and eliminate
9-+-+n+-+0
the pawn on d7.) 39...¤a6! (39...¤c6? 40.¥a4 9+-+-+LzPP0
¤e5 41.d7 wins for White as now Black 9-+-+-zP-+0
doesn’t have the ...a6 idea at his disposal, like
in the line after 39.¥e2. 41...¢f8 42.f4! ¤c4 9+-+-mK-+-0
(42...¤g6 43.¦e2) 43.¦e2 ¤d6 44.¦e5 and xiiiiiiiiy
Black doesn’t have the ...¤b5 idea.) 40.¥c2 Ding said when he saw this move he almost
¢f6 41.d7 ¤c7 42.¥a4 ¢e7 and Black should gave up, because he didn’t see how to create
save the draw. counterplay. He thought this was a very
strong move. In fact, this move complicates
37...¤e7 38.b5 Gukesh thought this to matters for White. Carlsen called it "an
be winning. absolute eyesore" and "not a great move."
38...¢f6 39.¦d4 h6 40.¢f1¢e5?? Ding 44.h4! is better and probably more natural for
spent 3 minutes on this move, playing it with many players. 44...¦d5 45.¦c7! ¢f6 46.¥e2
7 seconds left, but it’s a losing mistake! This defends the pawn on b5 while the pawn on
also shows Ding’s deficiency in relying too a7 still hangs.; 44.¥xe4 even this surprising
much on calculation. exchange is winning. 44...fxe4 (44...¢xe4

01/145
45.¦c5) 45.¦c5+ ¢e6 (45...¢d4 46.¦f5) 48.¦xb6 ¦c5 49.¦b2 would require a lot
46.g4! stopping ...f5 and then the white king of effort and precision.
can come to g3 and f4 with the h-pawn also
advancing.; 44.¢e2 ¦d5 45.¦c7 ¦xb5 46...f4! Ding finds all the best moves now
46.¥xe4! the only move to win! 46...¢xe4 to save a game that was hopeless for him
(46...fxe4 47.¦xf7 and the two connected for a long time.
passed pawns should win for White.) 47.¦xa7
(47.¦xf7 is also good. 47...a5 48.¦e7+ ¢d4 47.gxf4+ ¢xf4 48.¥c2 48.¦c4 ¦h3 Ding
49.h4 and White should win.) 47...f6 48.¦e7+ said he was lucky he had this move. 49.f3
¢d5 49.¢f3 and White wins because Black’s ¦h1+ is what Gukesh missed. 50.¢e2
king is cut off along the e-file. ¦h2+ 51.¢f1 (51.¢e1 ¦h1+ with a
perpetual check.) 51...¦h1+ 52.¢g2 ¦xd1
44...f6! After a long thought Ding comes up 53.¦xe4+ ¢f5 is a drawn rook endgame.
with the best practical chance. He was proud
of himself that he didn’t give up and kept 48...¦d5 49.¦c4 f5 50.¦b4 ¢f3 51.¥d1+
on looking for chances, finally coming up ¢g2 51...¢f4?? 52.f3 loses a piece.
with this move. Gukesh thought that it was
already tricky to convert here. Carlsen called 52.¦b3 ¦e5 53.f4 53.¦e3 ¦xb5 (53...¤xf2!?
this move "a fantastic practical decision." The 54.¦xe5 ¤d3+ also leads to a draw.) 54.¥f3+
idea of the move is to avoid a double attack ¢g1 55.¥xe4 fxe4 56.¦xe4 ¢g2 Black’s
on the pawns on the seventh rank after ¦c7. active king guarantees against problems.
44...¦d5 45.¥e2 ¦d4 46.h4! is the 53...¦e7 54.¦e3 ¦h7 55.h5 ¤f6 56.¦e5
winning move. (46.¦c4 was a line given by ¤xh5 57.¦xf5 White managed to keep the
Ding, but then he continued with 46...¦xc4 extra pawn, but the reduced material and
47.¥xc4 f4! and realised this was a draw Black’s activity guarantee a draw.
with the words "hard to believe." 48.gxf4+
¢xf4 49.¥xf7 ¤g5 with a draw.) 57...¤g3 58.¦f8 ¦b7 59.¥a4 59.f5 ¦xb5
(59...¦e7+ 60.¢d2 ¤e4+ 61.¢c2 ¦e5
45.h4 The engine gives an extremely 62.f6 ¤td6 63.f7 ¢f2 is another way.) 60.f6
complicated and difficult line after 45.¦a6 ¦e5+ 61.¢d2 ¢f2 62.f7 ¤e4+ 63.¢d3
¦d5 46.¥e2 ¦c5 47.¦a1 f4 48.g4 ¦c3 49.h4 ¤g5 64.¥b3 ¦e3+ 65.¢c2 ¦f3 and White
¦h3 50.¦xa7 f3 51.¦a3! a series of hard cannot move the rook from f8.
moves for White, with the rook going forward
and backwards with great effect. 51...¦h1+ 59...¢f3 60.f5 ¢f4 61.f6 ¤e4 62.¥c2
52.¥f1 ¦xh4 53.¦xf3 ¦xg4 54.¦e3! the ¤d6 63.¦d8 ¢e5 64.¥b3 ¤f7 65.¦d5+
only move to win. 54...f5 55.¦e2 (55.f3 ¦g3 ¢xf6 The game continued until the total
56.¢e2 ¢f4 57.b6 ¦g6 58.¦b3 ¤c5 59.b7 exhaustion of material.
also wins.) 55...¢f4 56.b6 ¦g8 57.b7 ¦b8
58.¦b2 ¤c5 59.¦b4+ ¢g5 60.¦b5 and after 66.¢d2 ¦b6 67.¥c4 ¦d6 68.¢c3 ¦xd5
¥g2 White will bring the king in; 69.¥xd5 ¤d6 70.¢b4 ¤xb5 71.¢xb5 a6+
72.¢xa6
Or 45.¦c8 ¦d5 46.¥e2 f4 47.g4 ¤d6 ½–½
48.¦c6 f3 49.¥xf3 ¦xb5 50.¢f1 and
White should win.
A great game for Gukesh for most of it, but
45...¦d3 46.¥d1? Played confidently, but he paid the price for his over-reliance on
after Black’s next the game is drawn. calculation, showing a limitation of his style.
Ding, on the other hand, could find comfort in
46.¢e2! was better, though winning the fact that he defended very resourcefully and
the position after 46...¦d5 47.b6! axb6 didn’t give up when everything seemed lost.

January 2025
A GAME OF CONTRASTS 4.¤f3 d6 5.g3 The other plan is to play in

the centre with 5.d4.
The draw was a psychological victory for
Ding, but he still wasn’t over his pessimism 5...c6 6.¤xe7 ¤xe7!? Already an
when evaluating his position. This also was introduction to the relatively novel idea. It
on display in the next game. seems more natural to take with the queen
and develop the knight to f6, but Gukesh
Ding Liren – Gukesh D has another set-up in mind.
WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (8) 7.¥g2 f6
1.c4 Ding tries a fourth different first move, after
XIIIIIIIIY
1.e4, 1.¤f3 and 1.d4. The English Opening is a 9rsnlwqk+-tr0
regular choice in Ding’s repertoire, so it could 9zpp+-sn-zpp0
not have come as a surprise to Gukesh.
9-+pzp-zp-+0
1...e5 2.¤c3 ¥b4 A somewhat surprising 9+-+-zp-+-0
choice. This line was popularised by Anand 9-+P+-+-+0
around a decade ago, though it has never
been considered as solid as the main 9+-+-+NzP-0
lines. It’s worth noting that Anand had a 9PzP-zPPzPLzP0
consultative role on Team Gukesh.
9tR-vLQmK-+R0
3.¤d5 The main response. xiiiiiiiiy
Here it is: Black places his pawns on
3...¥e7 The moves 3...¥c5 and 3...a5 are dark squares after exchanging the dark-
the main alternatives. squared bishop. Ding was surprised by

01/145
Gukesh’s opening and admitted to feeling white pawns on c5 and f5 that limit both their
’uncomfortable out of the opening’—another own and the opponent’s pieces!; 14...f5?!
instance of his recurring pessimism. Gukesh weakens the dark squares. After 15.¤c2 ¤a6
thanked his team for this idea, though there 16.¤d4 Black experiences difficulties with
were predecessors and the idea isn’t new. the bishop on e6 and the pawn on f5.) 15.¤c2
exd3 16.£xd3 dxc4 17.bxc4 ¤a6 with an
7...0–0 8.0–0 f6 is the same idea as in atypical position that is objectively balanced.
our game. 9.d3 ¥e6 10.b4 £d7 11.a4
¥h3Aryan,C (2634)-Theodorou,N (2619) 14.¦xf4 dxc4 15.bxc4 ¤g6 16.¦e4
FIDE Grand Swiss 2023. XIIIIIIIIY
8.0–0 8.b4 ¥e6 9.d3 (or 9.£c2) 9...d5 9rsn-wqr+k+0
10.£c2 to take space on the queenside was 9+p+-+-zpp0
Ding’s suggestion after the game.
9-+p+lzpn+0
8...¥e6 9.b3 9.£c2 d5 10.d3 ½–½ (49) 9zp-+-+-+-0
Sinsuat,D (2360)-Nikolaev,D (2362) 9-+P+R+-+0
ICCF 2023.
9vL-+-+-zP-0
9...d5 10.¥a3 0–0 10...dxc4? is bad: Black 9P+-zPP+LzP0
wins a pawn but allows the position to be
opened after 11.bxc4 ¥xc4 12.d4! exd4 9+-tRQsN-mK-0
13.¤xd4 0–0 14.¦b1 b6 15.£d2 and with xiiiiiiiiy
¦fd1 next White has a winning initiative. The rook has been and will be a special piece
in Ding Liren’s reign as Champion. It is the
11.¦c1 Ding leaves the d3–square available piece that made him a World Champion, who
for a knight. doesn’t remember the self-pinning move
...¦g6 in the last tie-break game against
11...a5 12.¤e1 Ding adopts an ambitious Nepomniachtchi and here Ding again uses
approach, aiming to undermine Black’s the rook in an original way. But the rook is
centre in true hypermodern style from the yet to play its decisive role in this match...
flanks. The pawn on c4 already is doing its
job, next will be the f-pawn. 16...¤a6 Black develops the last light piece
and threatens ...¤b4.
12...¦e8 Removing the rook from the
sensitive a3–f8 diagonal. 16...f5 17.¦e3 f4 18.¦b3 would have been
quite a journey for the h1–rook! After 18...
13.f4!? A sharp decision, especially as fxg3 19.hxg3 £c7 20.d4 the position is
there were alternatives. very sharp.
13.d4 e4 (13...dxc4 14.bxc4 £xd4 15.£xd4 17.¤c2 White covers the b4–square and
exd4 16.¤f3 and White will regain the pawn.) also plans ¤d4.
14.f3 exf3 15.¥xf3 a4 with unclear play with
chances for both sides.; 13.¤d3 with the idea 17.£b3 was another way to cover b4, but
of ¤c5. 13...¤a6 14.¤c5 ¤xc5 15.¥xc5 the queen on b3 is on the same diagonal as
£d7 with a balanced position: Black’s strong the bishop on e6. 17...£c7 (for now Black
centre compensates for the bishop pair. cannot take advantage of that fact as 17...
b5? 18.¦xe6! ¦xe6 19.cxb5 wins for White.)
13...exf4 13...e4!? was another possibility. 18.¤d3 ¥f5 19.¦xe8+ ¦xe8 20.¤f2 and
14.d3 ¤f5 (14...exd3 15.£xd3 ¤a6 16.f5 White will try to move his central pawns,
¥f7 17.c5 leads to a curious position with though that’s not very easy. It’s important

January 2025
that the pawn on e2 isn’t hanging in view 23.cxb5?! By this point, Ding had only 16
of 20...¦xe2? 21.£f3 £e5 22.¢f1 ¦xd2 minutes to reach move 40.
23.¦e1 and Black loses material.
23.£d2 was better, though no joy after
17...£c7 18.¤d4 ¥f7 19.d3 Ding 23...£b6+ 24.¢f1 b4 25.¥b2 ¤c7 when
managed to activate his knight and gain Black has freely expanded on the queenside.
some central space.
23...£b6+ 24.¢f1 cxb5 25.¥b2 A good
19.¦xe8+ ¦xe8 20.¤f5 threatens ¤d6. practical try, even if objectively a losing
20...¥e6 21.¤d6 ¦d8 22.c5 b6 23.d4 bxc5 move. Curiously, Ding admitted his
24.dxc5 ¤e5 is very unclear as Black can decision was based on a miscalculation, as
play around the knight on d6. he missed that Black could cover the attack
on the queen by placing a knight on c5.
19...¤e5 20.¤f3 A curious moment. Ding This is a strange admission, but it gives us
was building up his position, but instead a glimpse that even these players can miss
of continuing to do so, here he reverts to simple things.
simplification. It seems like he couldn’t
stand the tension and wanted to release it 25.£d2 b4 26.¥b2 a4 is preferred by the
by exchanges. engine, but it looks tremendous for Black.
20.£d2 ¥g6 21.¦f4 ¤b4 22.¤f5 would 25...¥xa2 26.¥d4

have remained quite tense, but White is XIIIIIIIIY
fighting for some space and squares.
9-+-+r+k+0
20...¤d7 Gukesh, on the contrary, relishes 9+-+n+-zpp0
the complexity.
9nwq-+-zp-+0
20...¥g6!? 21.¦f4 ¤b4 (or 21...¦ad8 22.£b3 9zpp+-+-+-0
which is equally complex.) 22.¥xb4 axb4 9-+-vL-+-+0
poses some problems to White. After 23.c5
¦xa2 24.¦xb4 £e7 25.¤xe5 £xe5 26.¥f3 9+-+P+NzP-0
White is on the defensive, being pinned down 9l+-+P+LzP0
to the defence of the pawn on e2.
9+R+Q+K+-0
21.¦xe8+ ¦xe8 22.¦b1? Quickly played, xiiiiiiiiy
but rather poor, a "blunder" (Carlsen). 26...¤ac5? When deciding on this move
Black’s idea is to push ...b5 and this move Gukesh missed 28.£e1. When two knights
does nothing to stop it. defend each other they are vulnerable, since
an attack on one weakens the other, too. Here
22.¥b2 was a nice way to deal with the this idea could have helped Gukesh find the
push ...b5. 22...£d6 (White’s idea is seen correct move - by putting the d7–knight to c5
after 22...b5? 23.cxb5 £b6+ 24.¥d4! and he would have kept the other knight safe on
Black must recapture with a queen, thus a6, where it cannot be attacked.
wrecking his structure. 24...£xb5 25.¤d2
with a clear advantage for White.) 23.£d2 26...¤dc5! was correct, as the knight is
with a pleasant position for White, whose removed from the d7–square where it can be
pieces finally obtained some harmony. attacked by ¥h3. The move looked "weird"
to Gukesh, so he wasn’t considering it.
22...b5! Gukesh thought he was much 27.¦c1 ¥f7 (27...¥d5 28.£c2 ¦c8 should
better, "close to winning" as he said at the also win as White cannot squeeze anything
press conference. from the pin.) 28.£c2 ¦c8 29.¥h3 ¦c7

01/145
and Black can unpin with ...£d6 and XIIIIIIIIY

advance with the connected pawns.; Ding
only considered 26...£c6? 27.¦a1 ¤b4 9-+-+-+k+0
28.£d2 "with great compensation." And 9+-trn+-zpp0
indeed, White isn’t worse as he will regain
the pawn on a5 once the bishop leaves a2. 9-wq-+lzp-+0
9zppsn-+-+-0
27.¦c1 White is back in the game now. 9-+-+-+-+0
27...¥b3? Gukesh still thought he was 9+-+PvL-zP-0
winning. 9-+-+PwQLzP0
27...b4 was better. After 28.£c2 b3 29.£b2 9+-tR-sNK+-0
¤a4 30.¥xb6 ¤xb2 31.¥d4 ¤a4 32.¤d2 xiiiiiiiiy
b2 33.¦c7 ¤e5 34.¦b7 the position is a The idea is to have the first rank covered in
mess, but it’s objectively around equal. order to play d4–d5 and not allow ...¦xc1
with check. 31...¥f7 (31...£d6 32.d4 ¤b3
28.£e1! Now Black needs to be careful 33.¥f4 wins material.; 31...a4 32.d4 ¤b3
as White threatens £f2. Gukesh missed 33.d5 and White wins material as the capture
this move. on c1 is not with check, giving White the
time to take the queen on b6.) 32.¥f4! ¦a7
28.£d2? b4 Gukesh correctly thought this (32...¦c8 33.d4) 33.¥h3 ¥e6 34.¥xe6+
was winning for him. £xe6 35.¥e3 Ding smiled when he saw
this line at the press conference, followed
28...¥e6? A losing mistake. Curiously by "finally winning a piece."
enough, Ding said that during the game he
never realised he was winning at some point. 31...¥f7 31...b4 was mentioned by Ding,
but after 32.¥f4! suggested by Gukesh,
28...a4 29.£b4 £e6 30.¥xc5 £xe2+ White wins after 32...¦a7 33.¤xe6 ¤xe6
31.¢g1 ¤xc5 32.£xc5 £xd3 and Black 34.¦c8+ ¢f7 35.¥e3.
shouldn’t lose as the pawns are too strong.;
28...b4 29.£f2 a4 (29...¦c8? 30.¥h3! 32.¤c6 ¦xc6 33.¥xc6 £xc6 34.¥xc5
exposes the problems of the knight on Gukesh thought all his advantage was gone,
d7 and the rook on c8.) 30.¥xc5 ¤xc5 but didn’t think the position was bad for
31.£xc5 £xc5 32.¦xc5 a3 33.¤d2 ¥e6 him. Another serious misjudgment! When
and the pawns should save Black from a looking at the position during the press
loss.; 28...¤xd3? 29.£c3! wins for White. conference he said it was obvious (that
White is almost winning) but said that
29.£f2 ¦c8 30.¥e3! Played a-tempo by during the game it wasn’t.
Ding, White threatens d4.
34...h6 Black is solid and has two connected
30...¦c7 30...£a6 31.¥xc5 a4 32.¥a3 passed pawns. This gives him excellent
¦xc1+ 33.¥xc1 a3 34.£d4 b4 35.¤d2! practical chances even though objectively
and White should win, though there is a White should win.
fight ahead.
35.¢e1 Sensible, the king is heading for
31.¤d4 Natural, heading for c6, but not d2.
the best.
35.¥e3 £e6 36.¥d4 a4 37.£f3 is the
31.¤e1! was best, after which White should engine’s way of playing, but this is too hard
win, but it’s an impossible move. and concrete for humans.

January 2025
35...b4 36.£d4?! A strange change of Practically offering a draw by repetition.

heart after the previous move. Ding’s pessimism on full display - he
didn’t believe he can win, or even that he
36.¢d2! was the only way - White was better!
continues with the idea started on the
previous move, improving the position of 41.¥d4 was still advantageous for
the king, while the queen can come to d4 White. 41...¤c6 42.¥b6 with the idea
later. The king also defends the rook on of £c5 and White has excellent winning
c1, so there is a threat of ¥xb4. 36...¤e5 chances, though the complexity in the
(36...£d5 37.£d4 comes with a tempo.) position remains.
37.¥xb4! is the difference with the game.
37...¤c4+ 38.dxc4 axb4 39.£d4 and 41...£a2+ Gukesh’s optimism and
White is winning. willingness to play until the end was on
full display. Gukesh said that it was part
36...¤e5! 37.¢d2 The tactical justification of his match strategy to play until the very
of Black’s last move is seen after 37.£d8+ end in every game, to try to exhaust Ding.
¢h7 38.£xa5? ¤xd3+! and suddenly Objectively, Black doesn’t risk much by
the tables are turned! 39.exd3 £h1+ continuing. Gukesh thought that with his
40.¢d2 (40.¢f2 £xc1 41.¥xb4 £h1 b-pawn and White’s weak king, he would
and Black is better, though it should be a have counterchances, but he also called this
draw.) 40...£xh2+ 41.¢e1 ¥h5! and after a "misjudgement of the position."
42.¥f2 £h1+ 43.¢d2 £f3! 44.£xb4
£xf2+ 45.¢c3 £xg3 White should suffer 41...£g2 would have been a threefold
to make a draw. repetition.
37...£g2 38.£f2 £d5 39.£d4 Both 42.¦c2 £e6 43.£d8+ 43.£d6!? would
players repeat to reach move 40. have forced Black to find the only way to
draw: 43...£h3! 44.£f8+ ¢h7 45.¥d4
39...£g2 40.£f2 40.£f4!? with the idea ¤f3+! again the only move. 46.exf3 £g2+
of ¥d4. 40...¥h5 41.£f2 £d5 42.¥d4 47.¢c1 £f1+ 48.¢b2 £xd3! with a draw
threatening to exchange the knight on e5. after 49.£xf7 £xd4+ 50.¢b3 £d3+ and
42...¤c6 43.¥b2 and the game goes on. a perpetual check. Not an easy line at all!
The engine gives this as winning for White,
but in practice Black has good chances 43...¢h7 44.£xa5 b3 45.¦c1 £d5
thanks to the passed pawns. 46.£b4 £g2 47.£e4+ It’s safest to
exchange queens.
40...£d5 41.£d4
XIIIIIIIIY 47.¢e3!? is an attempt to play for more.
47...¥g6 (47...£xh2 48.£h4! forcing
9-+-+-+k+0 exchange of queens. 48...£g2 49.£e4+
9+-+-+lzp-0 only this time without spoiling the pawn
structure.) 48.£xb3 £xh2 49.£d5 £xg3+
9-+-+-zp-zp0 50.¢d2 £f4+ 51.¥e3 £b4+ 52.¦c3
9zp-vLqsn-+-0 £b2+ 53.¦c2 £b4+ 54.¢d1 £g4 and
9-zp-wQ-+-+0 Black should draw.
9+-+P+-zP-0 47...£xe4 48.dxe4 b2 49.¦b1 ¥a2
9-+-mKP+-zP0 50.¦xb2 ¤c4+ 51.¢c3 ¤xb2
9+-tR-+-+-0 ½–½
xiiiiiiiiy
01/145
An uneven game where both sides had their 0–1 (117) Giri,A (2746)-Niemann,H (2711)
chances. The more disappointed player Utrecht 2024;
was Gukesh, who had a winning position
as a result of his good play, but then he 10...¥a6 Ding didn’t calculate this seriously,
started missing things and even landed but at the press conference said that it is "a
lost. He was saved by Ding’s pessimism, playable move" after checking quickly 11.b3
who never believed he could play for a win (11.¤e5 ¦c8; 11.¤bd2?! dxc4 doesn’t give
and consequently passed by the winning White enough for the pawn.) 11...¦c8 and
continuations. In this game we again saw we have a transposition to the lines that
Ding’s eagerness to end the game as soon usually occur after the move-order 10.b3.
as possible and Gukesh’s willingness to
fight until the end. 11.¤bd2 £c7 As usual, Ding was spending
quite some time in the opening, but he came
TWO QUIET TRUCES up with the best plan. Most likely he was
recalling his preparation. Gukesh’s second
TO BUILD THE TENSION Gajewski confirmed that this was the best
BEFORE THE STORM plan for Black in this position.
The next two games were the calm before 12.¦ac1 ¦fd8 A new move. It’s clear both
the storm. Neither player could create rooks should come to d8 and c8, only a
any chances and both games ended in matter of decision which one should go
uneventful draws. first. Ding spent almost eight minutes on
this move.
Gukesh D - Ding Liren
12...¦ac8 13.b3 L’Ami, E (2644) -
WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (9) Fedorchuk, S (2611) Bundesliga 1819
2018 (6.4) 1–0 13...¦fd8 leads to a typical
1.d4 Gukesh returns to 1.d4, the move that Catalan position where both sides are ready
brought him victory in the third game. for central play.
1...¤f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 The Catalan is a 13.b4

popular choice, played by both players with XIIIIIIIIY
both colours. For the first time in the match
there was theoretical duel, one that showed 9r+-tr-+k+0
both players’ thorough preparation. 9zplwqnvlpzpp0
3...¥b4+ 4.¥d2 ¥e7 This line, the so- 9-zpp+psn-+0
called Closed System, is Ding’s favourite 9+-+p+-+-0
way of playing against the Catalan. 9-zPPzP-+-+0
5.¥g2 d5 6.¤f3 0–0 7.0–0 c6 8.£c2 ¤bd7 9+-vL-+NzP-0
9.¦d1 b6 10.¥c3 A rare move compared 9P+QsNPzPLzP0
to the main lines 10.¥f4 and 10.b3, but
employed already by strong players. 9+-tRR+-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
10...¥b7 Ding spent almost 19 minutes on 13...c5! Ding pondered this decision for 18
this move. He remembered the Giri game, minutes. It was necessary to calculate the
but forgot what he had checked here. complications after the exchanges in the
centre. He said it was necessary to play
10...¤e4 11.¥e1 ¥b7 12.¤bd2 f5 led to ...c5 as otherwise White pushes c5 and "the
a Stonewall pawn formation in the game: structure is very dangerous for Black."

January 2025
14.bxc5 bxc5 15.£b2 This came as a which he missed when calculating 15...¤b6.
surprise for Ding. (he looked at 19...¤d5?! 20.¤e5! and White
has an advantage.; 19...¥f8? 20.¤e5 and
15.dxc5 £xc5 as mentioned by Ding, when White wins.; and 19...¢f8? 20.¤e5! when
Black is OK after (or 15...¤xc5 16.¥xf6 White wins again.) 20.dxc5 ¦ab8 21.£c6
gxf6 17.cxd5 ¥xd5 18.¤e1 ¥xg2 19.¤xg2 ¦bc8 22.£e4 ¥xc5 with easy equality.
¦ac8 when White cannot reasonably hope to
exploit the weakening of the black structure 18.¥xb6 18.¥xf3? ¤xc4 19.¥xc7 ¤xb2
on the kingside.) 16.¥d4 £a3 17.cxd5 ¤xd5. 20.¦d2 ¤a4 21.¥xa8 ¦xa8 wins two
pieces for a rook.
15...¤b6 Other moves were also
possible, but all of them would likely 18...axb6 19.¥xf3 ¦a6?!
lead to mass simplifications after the XIIIIIIIIY
exchanges in the centre.
9-+-tr-+k+0
15...¦ab8 16.£a1 is what Ding didn’t like 9+-wq-vlpzpp0
because his queen didn’t have good squares,
but after 16...£b6 17.dxc5 (17.¦b1 £a6 and 9rzp-+psn-+0
the queen is quite good on a6.) 17...¥xc5 9+-zp-+-+-0
18.¥d4 ¦dc8 Black has no problems; 9-+NzP-+-+0
15...¦ac8 16.dxc5 ¤xc5 17.cxd5 ¥xd5 is 9+-+-+LzP-0
also fine for Black; 9PwQ-+PzP-zP0
15...£b6 16.¤b3 was what Ding was 9+-tRR+-mK-0
worried about and he calculated (16.£a1 xiiiiiiiiy
£a6 Ding correctly thought he was OK Played after five minutes of thought, but
here.) 16...dxc4 17.¥a5 £b5 18.¥xd8 not the most exact move.
¦xd8 19.dxc5 ¥xc5 and he wasn’t sure if
it was working for him or not. 20.a4 £b4 19...¦a7! it was important to have the
is what he also saw. (20...£b6! is better, queen protected, but this was impossible to
with some advantage for Black in a messy see. The justification is seen after 20.¤e5
position after 21.a5 £b5 22.£c2 ¥xf2+ ¤d5 is equal as here after 21.e4 ¤b4 White
23.¢xf2 cxb3 24.£c4 £xa5) 21.¤e5! the cannot take the knight as the queen on c7
only move not to lose! 21...¥d5! 22.¥xd5 is protected. This wasn’t the case after the
exd5 23.¤c6 £b6 24.¤xd8 cxb3 with game continuation.
a mess, but after 25.e4! £xd8 26.£xb3
White is better coordinated, though Black 20.£b5?! Gukesh thought for almost 13
should be fine after 26...£e8 27.exd5 £e2. minutes here, but still missed his best chance.
He thought it was working concretely, but he
16.¥a5 dxc4 Ding spent 15 minutes on this missed the game continuation. This was the
move, already making the decision what to only moment in the game when Gukesh could
play on the next one. have obtained at least something more tangible.
17.¤xc4 ¥xf3?! Played immediately, 20.¤e5!? intending to land a knight on

as the decision was already made while c6 kept some initiative for White. Gukesh
calculating the previous move, but Ding mentioned this option, thinking it’s a very
missed an important detail. small edge. 20...¥f8 (20...¤d5?! 21.e4
¤b4? 22.£xb4 shows the difference
17...¤xc4! 18.¦xc4 £xa5 19.£xb7 and here between 19...¦a6 and 19...¦a7.) 21.h4
Ding missed the important move 19...¤d7! ¤d5 22.¢g2 and White can improve his

01/145
position with constant ideas to capture on

c5 while Black’s pieces lack harmony;
20.e3!? was also considered by Gukesh. Here

Black has the engine’s suggestion of 20...
cxd4 (20...h6 21.£b3 cxd4 22.exd4 ¤d5 is
the more human way of playing.) 21.¤a5
¥a3! 22.£xa3 £b8 23.¦xd4 ¦xd4 24.£c3!
¦xa5 25.£xd4 h6 which is somewhat better
for White, but Black is extremely solid.
20...¦xa2! Ding correctly calculated the

following sequence.
21.¤xb6 £a7! This is the idea, followed

by ...¦b8, that Gukesh missed when
thinking over 20.£b5. The one moment where White could obtain
a small edge was missed by Gukesh and the
22.£b1 ¦b8! "Very precise" according game was uneventful afterwards.
to Gukesh.
The next game was similar. Ding tried the
23.dxc5 ¦a6 The threat of ...¥xc5 followed London System again, like in the sixth
by the capture of the knight on b6 cannot be game, but this time he obtained nothing.
stopped, leading to a drawn position.
Ding Liren – Gukesh D
24.£b5 ¥xc5 25.£xc5 £xb6 26.£xb6
¦axb6 27.¦c6 ¦xc6 28.¥xc6 g5 29.¢g2 WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (10)
¦b2 As draw offers were prohibited before
move 40, the players continued playing 1.d4 ¤f6 2.¤f3 d5 3.¥f4 e6 4.e3 c5
despite the balanced position. 5.¥e2 Deviating from 5.c3, which was
played in game six.
30.¢f1 ¢g7 31.h3 h5 32.¦a1 ¦c2 33.¥b5
¦c5 34.¥d3 ¤d7 Threatening ...¤e5. 5...¥d6 The moves 5...£b6 and 5...¤c6
are the main moves, but Gukesh sticks
35.f4 Somewhat weakening, but possible. to the universal recipe of playing ...¥d6
against pretty much anything.
35...gxf4 36.gxf4 ¦c3 37.¢f2 ¤c5 38.¢e3
¤xd3 39.exd3 ¦c2 40.¢f3 40.¦g1+ ¢h6 6.dxc5 White wins a tempo by forcing the
defending the pawn on h5 and threatening bishop to move again.
...¦h2, but it’s still a dead draw.
6...¥xc5 7.c4 Playing c4 in one go was
40...¦d2 41.¦a3 ¢g6 42.¦b3 f6 43.¦a3 supposed to be the reason why 5...¥d6
¢f5 44.¦a5+ e5 45.fxe5 ¦xd3+ 46.¢e2 wasn’t recommended in this move-order,
¦xh3 47.exf6+ ¢xf6 Black won a pawn, but Gukesh shows that the idea is harmless.
but that’s all he could boast of.
7...0–0 8.0–0 ¤c6 9.¤c3 Now we have
48.¢f2 h4 49.¢g2 ¦g3+ 50.¢h2 ¢g6 landed in a position that can arise from the
51.¦b5 ¦g5 52.¦xg5+ ¢xg5 53.¢h3 ¢f6 Queen’s Gambit Declined, the line with
54.¢xh4 5.¥f4, i.e. 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.¤c3 ¤f6
½–½ 4.¤f3 ¥e7 5.¥f4 0–0 6.e3 c5 7.dxc5 ¥xc5
8.¥e2 ¤c6 9.0–0.

January 2025
9...dxc4 A simple solution, maintaining 11...¥e7 11...£xd1 is a good alternative.

the symmetry. 12.¦fxd1 h6 13.¤e4 ¥b6 14.¥h4
g5 15.¥g3 ¤xg3 16.hxg3 ¦d8 is fine
9...a6 10.¦c1 d4?! 11.exd4 ¤xd4 was for Black.
played by Ding’s second Rapport, and
here in the game: ½–½ (89) Rapport,R 12.¤e4 ¤f6 13.¤xf6+ 13.£b1 keeping
(2735)-Shankland,S (2731) Saint Louis 2019 the queens doesn’t change much. After
White could have improved with 12.h3!? 13...¤xe4 14.¥xe7 £xe7 15.£xe4
when Black is short of constructive moves ¥d7 Black finishes development and
because of his loose pieces in the centre. has no problems.
10.¥xc4 13...¥xf6 14.£xd8 ¦xd8 15.¥xf6 gxf6

XIIIIIIIIY 16.¦fd1 It’s clear that the game is heading
towards a draw.
9r+lwq-trk+0
9zpp+-+pzpp0 16...¥d7 17.¦ac1 ¥e8 18.¦xd8 ¦xd8
19.¢f1 ¢g7 20.a3 f5 21.¢e1 ¢f6 22.¥e2
9-+n+psn-+0 ¤e7 23.g3 ¦c8 24.¦xc8 ¤xc8 25.¤d2
9+-vl-+-+-0 ¤d6 26.¤c4
9-+L+-vL-+0 XIIIIIIIIY
9+-sN-zPN+-0 9-+-+l+-+0
9PzP-+-zPPzP0 9zpp+-+p+p0
9tR-+Q+RmK-0 9-+-snpmk-+0
xiiiiiiiiy 9+-+-+p+-0
10...¤h5! A precise move, equalising 9-+N+-+-+0
without problems.
9zP-+-zP-zP-0
10...£xd1 11.¦fxd1 b6 Rapport,R 9-zP-+LzP-zP0
(2700)-Aronian,L (2797) Gibraltar Masters
playoff 16th rapid 2018 2.¤b5 gives White 9+-+-mK-+-0
some initiative in the endgame; xiiiiiiiiy
In the absence of draw offers the players
10...a6 11.£e2 b5 12.¦fd1 £b6 13.¥d3 are forced to find ways to chop off some
¥b7 is also fine for Black, as in the game wood or seek a threefold repetition. Here
Razuvaev,Y (2520)-Geller,E (2575) URS- they opt for the former method.
ch50 Final 1983.
26...¤xc4 27.¥xc4 ¥c6 28.f4 b6 29.¢d2
11.¥g5 11.¤e4 ¤xf4 (11...¥e7 12.¥d6 ¢e7 30.¢c3 ¢d6 31.b4 f6 32.¢d4 h6
gives White some pressure.) 12.¤xc5 (12. 33.¥b3 ¥b7 34.¥c4 ¥c6 35.¥b3 Now
exf4 ¥e7 is fine for Black.) 12...£e7! the latter method ends the game.
13.exf4 £xc5 14.£e2 ¤d4 15.¤xd4 £xd4
16.g3 b6 is just equal; 35...¥b7 36.¥c4 ¥c6
11.£e2 ¤xf4 12.exf4 £c7 13.g3 b6 and ½–½

Black will finish the development of the
queenside.; 11.£xd8 ¦xd8 12.¥c7 ¦d7
13.¥e5 ¤f6 was equal in Portisch,L Ding tried a line that has been employed by
(2590)-Vaganian,R (2585) Reggio Emilia his second, Rapport, but Gukesh was well-
Top15 33rd 1991. prepared and didn’t allow any chances.

01/145
MENTAL PREPARATION
AND TACTICAL PRECISION:
GUKESH SEIZES
HIS CHANCE
The general impression was that Ding wasn’t
very well prepared, especially with the white
pieces, since his ideas seemed to offer too
little when facing more serious problems,
except for game six perhaps. Ding’s seconds
were Richard Rapport and Ni Hua, both of
them were with him in Singapore. After the
match Ding said that Shamsiddin Vokhidov After 2...e6 3.g3 ¤f6 4.¥g2 ¥e7 5.d4 Gukesh
was also part of his team. Compared to could have transposed to the Catalan, but having
Gukesh’s team of the already mentioned avoided Ding’s preferred line with ...¥b4+.
Gajewski, Wojtaszek, Duda and Keymer, he
also had Harikrishna and his preparation was 3.b4 c5 4.e3 ¤f6 Ding spent almost 40
indeed superb. minutes on this move. He remembered
his game against Adhiban, but couldn’t
However, one of the people who helped remember what to do against the other moves.
Gukesh tremendously was not a chess
player. That person was Paddy Upton, a 5.a3 XIIIIIIIIY
South-African mental coach and a best- 9rsnlwqkvl-tr0
selling author, who famously helped the
Indian cricket team win the 2011 World 9zpp+-zppzpp0
Cup. Gukesh revealed that after the 9-+-+-sn-+0
Candidates in Toronto he started working
with Paddy as he realised that the mental 9+-zp-+-+-0
strength would be of utmost importance in 9-zPPzp-+-+0
the match. That was a very mature decision 9zP-+-zPN+-0
by the 18-year-old and the final four games
of the match only confirmed the correctness 9-+-zP-zPPzP0
of his decision. 9tRNvLQmKL+R0
Gukesh D - Ding Liren xiiiiiiiiy
A rare move that came as a surprise to Ding,
WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (11) who had to think again. Gukesh credited his
team for the idea. Apart from 5.b5 the usual
1.¤f3 Gukesh returns to the strategy of moves are 5.¥b2 and 5.exd4.
less direct opening play as the theoretical
battle in the Catalan brought nothing. 5.b5 ¤bd7 6.exd4 cxd4 7.¤xd4 ¤c5Adhiban,
B (2660)-Ding, L (2799) Goldmoney Asian
1...d5 2.c4 d4 The most ambitious move Prelim rapid 2021 (2.8).
for Black, but one that also requires a more
concrete knowledge of the lines. When asked, 5...¥g4 Ding spent 22 minutes on this
Ding said that perhaps he should have played decision. It’s a new move.
2...e6, but he thought he knew "something"
after 2...d4, though he added that he didn’t 5...¤c6 was played in online and
know what his opponent played. correspondence games;

January 2025
5...a5; 5...e5!? Ding mentioned that his may 11...¤c5 12.¥g2

also be playable 6.¤xe5 ¥d6 7.exd4 cxd4
8.¤f3 0–0 gives Black good compensation. XIIIIIIIIY
9r+-+kvl-tr0
6.exd4 cxd4 7.h3 ¥xf3 8.£xf3 £c7
XIIIIIIIIY 9+pwq-zppzpp0
9rsn-+kvl-tr0 9-+-+-sn-+0
9zppwq-zppzpp0 9zpPsn-+-+-0
9-+-+-sn-+0 9-+Pzp-+-+0
9+-+-+-+-0 9zP-+P+QzPP0
9-zPPzp-+-+0 9-+-+-zPL+0
9zP-+-+Q+P0 9tRNvL-mK-+R0
9-+-zP-zPP+0 xiiiiiiiiy
12...¤fd7 An ambitious move - Black wants
9tRNvL-mKL+R0 to play ...¤e5 and target the pawn on d3.
xiiiiiiiiy Ding again showed that once he was forced
8...¤c6 9.d3! was what Gukesh was into a fight, he wasn’t going to back down
looking at in his morning preparation and and would choose the most ambitious moves.
he confused the lines. Carlsen called it a "highly controversial"
choice, in view of the simple, safe and
9.d3? Gukesh spent 5 minutes here, but this straight-forward 12...e5, where Black can
is a mistake. He simply missed the moment to play automatic moves that stabilise his
pause and delve more deeply to understand the central grip and ensure against any trouble.
difference between 8...¤c6 amd 8...£c7 and
ended up mixing the lines, playing the same 12...e5 13.0–0 ¥d6 14.a4 0–0 15.¤d2 ¦ae8
move that was intended against the former, is quite good for Black, who can cement
which turned out to be wrong against the latter. his grip on the c5–square with ...¤fd7 and
...b6 and then can concentrate on a possible
9.c5! was necessary, preventing Black from central break after ...f5 and ...e4.
establishing a blockade on that square as in
the game. After 9...¤c6 10.¥b5 a5 11.0–0 13.0–0 ¤e5 14.£f4 Gukesh was "kicking"
axb4 12.¥b2 e5 13.axb4 ¦xa1 14.¥xa1 himself for messing up at this point, but it
¥e7 15.£b3 0–0 leads to a complex was already too late.
position where White’s bishop pair isn’t
felt as the bishop on a1 is severely limited. 14...¦d8 15.¦d1?!
9...a5! 10.b5 ¤bd7! This is the difference

XIIIIIIIIY
- the knight can come to d7 and to c5 now, 9-+-trkvl-tr0
establishing a wonderful blockade on the 9+pwq-zppzpp0
dark squares. Black is very comfortable
now, the engine even gives it preference, 9-+-+-+-+0
and it showed immediately, as Gukesh 9zpPsn-sn-+-0
spent a full hour (!) on his next move. 9-+Pzp-wQ-+0
11.g3 Gukesh was under the assumption that he 9zP-+P+-zPP0
was slightly better, but he couldn’t prove that 9-+-+-zPL+0
with the lines he was looking at. Eventually he
came up with the only reasonable development 9tRNvLR+-mK-0
of the light-squared bishop on the long diagonal. xiiiiiiiiy
01/145
Ding correctly said that this was a critical

moment and called his next move "a
horrible move." Gukesh thought he was in
trouble and just wanted to make moves not
to lose on the spot. In fact, this is one of the
critical moments of the whole match.
15.¤d2 is the engine’s move, sacrificing

the pawn on d3, which Black shouldn’t
take immediately. 15...e6! (15...¤cxd3?!
16.£e4 ¤c5 17.b6! £b8 18.£e2 gives
White compensation for the pawn as Black
is underdeveloped.) 16.¦b1 ¤cxd3 17.b6
£b8 18.£g5 leads to murky play after 18...
a4! 19.¦b5 h6 20.£h5 ¥e7.
human 18.¥a3 (18.£d2!! the engine’s
15...g6? Ding misses his best chance, way, voluntarily giving up an exchange.
spending only 2 minutes on this move. He 18...¤b3 19.£b2 ¤xa1 20.¥f4 ¥g7
must have planned it in advance, but after 21.¤d2 0–0 22.£xa1 and White has
the game he said he should have played good compensation for the exchange.)
15...e6 because after the game move his 18...¤exd3 19.£d2 e5 20.£xa5 f5 21.¥d5
bishop was "clearly out of play". He also e4 is a huge mess.
added that he missed 16.a4 and didn’t
think he had "any chance after that." 18.¥a3 ¥h6 19.¥xc5 Forced, to free the
A pessimistic evaluation again, as the e4–square for the queen.
position was objectively balanced, but he
was right in determining the tendency of 19...£xc5 20.£e4 ¤c6 Ding thought he
the game from this moment onwards, being was fine here, perhaps changing his mind
in White’s favour thanks to the clear-cut after the "no chance" comment above, but
plan on the queenside. Curiously enough, missed White’s next move.
Gukesh thought he was in trouble, another
misjudgement by the Indian. 21.¤a3 ¦d7?! Both players had less than
one minute per move to reach move 40
15...e6! was correct. 16.b6 (or 16.¤d2 and Ding commits the first mistake, after
¥d6 17.b6 £e7 when Black harmoniously spending three minutes on it, leaving him
finishes development while White’s with 15 minutes on the clock to reach
weakness on d3 remains.) 16...£d6 17.¤d2 move 40.
¤exd3 18.£xd6 ¥xd6 gives Black a clear
advantage and excellent winning chances. 21...0–0 was correct, keeping the equlibrium.
After 22.¦db1 (or in case of 22.¤c2
16.a4! White has the initiative now, quite £xb6 23.¦ab1 £c7 24.¦b5 ¦d6! Black
an abrupt change of scenery as a result of saves a tempo compared to the game, the
a single move. Gukesh called this a very rook comes to d6 in one move.) 22...¤b4
important resource. 23.£xb7 ¦b8 24.£c7 £xb6 Black should
be fine, though White is still pressing after
16...h5 17.b6! White needs to open the 25.£xb6 ¦xb6 26.c5 ¦f6 27.¦xb4!? axb4
b-file for his rooks. Gukesh (correctly) said 28.¤c4 with good compensation.
he was over the worst here.
22.¤c2 Stopping ...¤b4. Until here Gukesh
17...£d6 17...£b8 was an alternative, didn’t realise that he had chances to "take
with a complicated position after the more over the game".

January 2025
...¥d2–b4 ideas. (25...£c8 26.h4 e6

27.£e2 stopping ...¥d2–b4 and White has
excellent compensation for the pawn, but
Black can defend.) 26.£e2 stops ...¥d2–
b4. 26...¦dd8 27.c5 and White is pressing
on the queenside, but Black can resist.
25...¦b8 Ding spent six minutes on this

move, leaving him with less than eight
minutes to reach move 40.
25...¦d6! was more precise, as now Black

threatens ...¦e6. 26.¦db1 (for example
26.¤b3 ¦e6! 27.£f3 ¦f6 chasing the
queen away from the long diagonal. 28.£e2
22.£e2! is the engine’s way, with the idea b6 and Black defended his queenside.)
of 22...0–0? (22...£xb6 23.¦db1 £c7 26...¦b8 and Black isn’t worse.; 25...¤b4
24.¦b5 0–0 25.c5 gives White a strong bind was Ding’s suggestion in the press
on the queenside.) 23.¦db1 ¤b4 24.¤c2 conference, but after 26.£xb7! (26.¤b3
and Black’s queenside collapses as after the b6 is OK for Black. After 27.c5 he thought
exchange of knights the white rook comes it was "very difficult" though Black holds
to the b5–square. after 27...bxc5 28.¦xc5 £d6 29.¦xa5 e6)
26...£xb7 27.¥xb7 White is much better;
22...£xb6 23.¦ab1 £c7 24.¦b5 0–0
XIIIIIIIIY 25...¤a7 Gukesh thought this was Black’s
last chance and he missed it when playing
9-+-+-trk+0 25.¤a1. He thought after the exchanges on
9+pwqrzpp+-0 b7 it should be a draw. After 26.¦xb7 £xb7
27.£xb7 ¦xb7 28.¥xb7 ¦b8 29.¦b1 e5
9-+n+-+pvl0 30.¢f1 White is still better, but draw would
9zpR+-+-+p0 be the most likely result.
9P+PzpQ+-+0 26.¤b3 e6? Ding planned this in advance,
9+-+P+-zPP0 as he played it instantly.
9-+N+-zPL+0
26...¦d6! was necessary. After 27.¤c5
9+-+R+-mK-0 ¤a7!? 28.¦xb7 ¦xb7 29.¤xb7 ¦f6 with
xiiiiiiiiy ...¤c6–b4 to come, Black should be OK.
25.¤a1? Intending ¤b3–c5, but losing all
of the advantage. Gukesh was very proud 27.¤c5 ¦e7 28.¦db1 Piling up the
of this move as he thought that this would pressure, which suddenly brought
be unpleasant in time-trouble as "knight immediate benefit.
jumps are always so tricky to calculate".
Here we see the stark difference between 28.¤xb7 was objectively better. After
the objective evaluation of the move and 28...¤b4 (28...¦xb7 29.£xc6 £xc6
the human perception of it. 30.¥xc6 ¦a7 31.¥f3 is a winning endgame
for White as his c-pawn is going forward and
25.¦db1 was Gukesh’s first instinct and Black’s bishop is out of the game.) 29.£xd4
it was the correct one. After 25...¦b8 he White is a pawn up and should win.
wasn’t sure how to proceed. He said he
kept the rook on d1 in order to prevent 28...£c8??

01/145
In these difficult moments, Ding showed his

XIIIIIIIIY champion’s character. As he said in the press
9-trq+-+k+0 conference after game 11, in Astana he won
9+p+-trp+-0 in game 12, and he would try to do the same
in Singapore. Even his mom told him so.
9-+n+p+pvl0
9zpRsN-+-+p0 DING STRIKES BACK
9P+PzpQ+-+0
9+-+P+-zPP0 Ding Liren – Gukesh D
9-+-+-zPL+0 WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (12)
9+R+-+-mK-0 1.c4 In the penultimate game with the white
xiiiiiiiiy pieces, Ding returns to the English Opening.
A blunder after only 21 seconds, in spite of After all, the variation that Gukesh used in
having 7 minutes left on the clock. Black’s game 8, 1.c4 e5 2.¤c3 ¥b4 is susceptible
position wasn’t one to be envied, though. to more testing preparation.
28...¤b4 was the only move. 29.¤xb7 ¥f8 1...e6 Gukesh wisely changes his choice,
should be fine, as after 30.c5 e5 31.c6 ¦e6 going for the more solid Queen’s Gambit
32.£e2 ¢g7 the engine says it’s equal Declined set-ups, ideal when a draw is
(0.03), but in practice it’s tricky to defend the desired result. Or at least this was the
for Black. impression I got after seeing the first move...
29.£xc6! A simple tactic that wins on the 2.g3 d5 3.¥g2 ¤f6 4.¤f3 d4 This move
spot. confused me, as somehow it went in the
opposite direction of 1...e6. The move is an
1–0 ambitious one, but leading to more complex
positions than the alternatives like 4...¥e7
or 4...dxc4. This was clearly Gukesh’s
A very uneven game as a result of the preparation for the match, showing his trust
accumulated mental fatigue for both in it. However, some flexibility might have
players. Gukesh misplayed his promising been better suited for a ’must-not-lose and
opening preparation and misjudged the safety-first’ scenario so late in the match.
position more than once; Ding outplayed It’s worth pointing out that a mix of solidity
his opponent and obtained a big advantage, and ambition can often lead to confusion in
only to spoil it with a single move, after the mindset.
which he drifted back to his pessimistic
mindset and misjudged the position 5.0–0 ¤c6 This set-up was popularised by
because of that. Both players missed Carlsen, who used it in his match against
good chances in the second phase of the Nepomniachtchi. The alternative 5...c5
game, with the abrupt end coming as Ding leads to reversed Benoni positions, ideal for
couldn’t withstand the apparent pressure in a must-win situation for White.
an otherwise objectively equal position.
6.e3 ¥e7 7.d3 dxe3 8.¥xe3 e5 9.¤c3
It appeared that Gukesh’s win was 0–0 10.¦e1 The position is balanced, but
something that the whole world waited for. it’s less common than others that can arise
The narrative of Ding breaking down and in the closed openings. Unless a player is
collapsing was quick to make the headlines excellently prepared and knows how to
and the impression one got was that the play exactly, it’s not too easy to come up
match was practically over. with a plan over the board.

January 2025
10...h6 Ding calculated 11.d4 exd4 12.¤xd4 ¤xd4

XIIIIIIIIY 13.£xd4 c6 and thought Black can defend
after 14.£xd8 ¥xd8 (but not 14...¦xd8?
9r+lwq-trk+0 15.¥xh6! as he pointed out.) 15.¥c5 ¦e8
9zppzp-vlpzp-0 16.¦xe8+ ¤xe8 17.¦d1 ¥e6 was "nothing
for White."
9-+n+-sn-zp0
9+-+-zp-+-0 11...a5 It weakens the b5–square, but Black
9-+P+-+-+0 is OK for now.
9+-sNPvLNzP-0 12.h3 A useful move, covering the g4–
9PzP-+-zPLzP0 square and ensuring safety for the bishop
on e3.
9tR-+QtR-mK-0
xiiiiiiiiy 12.¤b5 ¤g4! 13.¥c1 ¥c5 was the reason
A new move, but "looks too slow" - Ding. why Ding didn’t play the immediate
12.¤b5.
10...¥e6 has been played so far. 11.h3 and
this could have led to a transposition; 12...¥e6 12...¥f5 13.d4 exd4 14.¤xd4
¤xd4 15.¥xd4 c6 16.¤a4 White targets
10...¥f5 is a more direct way, targeting the the weakened dark squares on Black’s
pawn on d3. After 11.£b3 ¥xd3 12.¦ad queenside, though after 16...¥e6 17.¦c1
White has serious compensation. It looks ¤d7 Black is very compact.
very dangerous for Black to go for this line
without definite knowledge of the lines. 13.¢h2
For example, now Black has the only move XIIIIIIIIY
not to lose: 12...¤a5 and after 13.£b5 c6
14.£xe5 ¤xc4 15.£d4 ¤xb2 is another 9r+-wq-trk+0
only move for Black. 16.¦d2 ¥a3 another 9+pzp-vlpzp-0
only move. 17.¤d1! ¥g6 18.£c3 ¤d5
19.£xa3 ¤c4 20.£b3 ¤xd2 21.¥xd2 9-+n+lsn-zp0
with a messy position where White’s 9zp-+-zp-+-0
chances would be preferable as the two 9-+P+-+-+0
light pieces can develop more activity than
the rook with the two pawns; 9zP-sNPvLNzPP0
9-zP-+-zPLmK0
10...¤g4 is another direct attempt. 11.¥d2!
is the correct move. (11.¥c1 ¥c5! this is 9tR-+QtR-+-0
strong, as after (11...¤b4?! 12.¥f1 with an xiiiiiiiiy
advantage, was a line given by Ding at the Carlsen called it "already unpleasant" for
press conference.) 12.¤e4 ¥b4! 13.¦f1 f5 Black, but objectively Black is perfectly fine.
the position is quite is murky.) 11...£xd3 This is a nice insight as the human perception
(11...¥c5?! 12.¤e4 works great for White and the objective reality (as presented by the
now as there is no ...¥b4 as in the line above.) engine) can, and often will, differ.
12.h3 ¤f6 13.¤d5 ¤xd5 14.cxd5 £xd5
15.¤xe5 £d6 16.¤xc6 bxc6 17.£e2 ¥e6 13...¦b8 Rather vague and a surprise
18.¥f4 £b4 19.¦ac1 with a stable initiative, for Ding. It appears that the move is a
but Black certainly has drawing chances. preparation for the knight jump ...¤d4, so
the rook defends the pawn on b7 in advance,
11.a3 Since direct play in the centre didn’t but Gukesh doesn’t follow through on the
work, Ding had to adopt a slower approach. next move.

01/145
exd4 16.¤b5! (16.¤e4 ¤xe4 17.¦xe4

c5 18.¦ae1 and Ding thought maybe it’s
easier to play for White.) 16...c5 17.¦e2
and the doubling of the rooks on the e-file
in connection with the strong knight on b5,
White has a serious initiative.
15.¤b5 Ding was "very optimistic" about

his chances after this move.
15...¥f5 16.¦ad1
XIIIIIIIIY
9-tr-wqr+k+0
9+pzp-vlpzp-0
13...£d7 was more straight-forward and
what Ding expected. Black wants to play 9-+n+-sn-zp0
..¦ad8 and then possibly ...£c8. 14.£b3 9zpN+-zpl+-0
was Ding’s intended line, but here Black 9-+P+-+-+0
has the strong (After 14.¤b5 ¦ad8 15.¦c1
£xd3 here 15...£c8 is also possible, but 9zP-+PvLNzPP0
the concrete capture works. 16.£xd3 9-zPQ+-zPLmK0
¦xd3 17.¤xc7 ¥c8 and the endgame is
fine for Black; 14.£d2!? is likely the best. 9+-+RtR-+-0
14...¦ad8 15.¦ad1 £c8 16.£c1 ¦fe8 xiiiiiiiiy
17.¤b5 and the maneuvering continues.) 16...¤d7?! With the ide of ...¤c5 and/
14...a4! is the refutation of Ding’s intended or ...¥f6. Gukesh believed he was
plan, with the idea (14...¦ad8 was the move comfortable, but after White’s next move,
Ding showed, wondering if he could take he was left without a clear plan. Ding said
on b7 and thinking that if Black puts the this move was a surprise for him.
queen on c8 he would be fine. 15.£xb7
(15.¦ad1! is stronger. After 15...£c8 16...¥f8 17.£c3 £c8 White has many
16.¤b5 White is better as his queen is moves and ideas to maneuver in this
better placed on b3 than on c1 as in the slightly better position. 18.¤d2 with the
analogous line after 14.£d2.) 15...¦b8 idea of ¤e4. (18.£c1; 18.b3; even 18.d4
16.£a6 ¦xb2 and Ding stopped with his exd4 19.¤fxd4 ¤e4 20.£c1 puts Black
calculations, without a clear idea if White under pressure in an open position.)
is better or not. The position is in fact
unclear.) 15.¤xa4? (15.£c2 ¦fd8 and with 17.£d2! Ding was deciding where to put
...¤d4 next Black successfully grabbed the queen, on d2 or c3. Eventually he chose
space on the queenside and in the centre.) the stronger option.
15...¤d4! 16.¥xd4 exd4 and the knight on
a4 is trapped; 17.£c3 ¥f6 18.d4 exd4 19.¤fxd4 ¥g6
White is still better, but his advantage is
13...¦e8 is another move that improves smaller compared to the game.
Black’s position. The idea is to drop the
bishop back to f8 and simply wait. 17...¥g6 Gukesh called this a mistake,
he tried to stop d4, but missed 18...exd4
14.£c2 ¦e8 14...¤d4 would have made 19.¥f4!. However, the position is already
sense in connection to Black’s last move, as difficult. Carlsen called this decision an
the rook defends the pawn on b7. 15.¥xd4 "admission of failure of his whole plan."

January 2025
17...¤c5 was the principled move, and 21.¤e2 ¤e7 with the idea of ...c6 was
the idea behind 16...¤d7, but it doesn’t what Ding mentioned, being worried
quite work. 18.d4! is the idea. 18...¤d3 about his knight on b5 not having squares,
(18...e4 19.dxc5 exf3 20.¥xf3 and White but White has 22.¥f4! ¦c8 23.¥e5 with a
is a pawn up.) 19.d5 "was tricky for winning advantage.
me" - Gukesh. (or 19.¤xe5 which is a
good alternative. 19...¤cxe5 (19...¤xe1 21...a4 21...¤e7 22.d5 ¤f5 23.¥xb6 cxb6
20.£xe1 £c8 21.¤d3 with a stable 24.¥xe4 is crushing, a line shown by Ding.
advantage.) 20.dxe5 c6 (20...¤xe1?
21.£xe1 £c8 22.£xa5 White has two 22.¤e2 ¥g5 22...¤a5 was the logical
pawns for the exchange and a dominating continuation of Black’s idea with
position.) 21.¤d6 ¥xd6 22.exd6 £xd6 ...¤b6 and ...a4, but again it’s not
23.£xa5 with an extra pawn and a pair good: 23.c5 ¤bc4 24.¤f4 and the black
of bishops.) 19...¤xe1 (19...e4 Ding knights are misplaced while the pawn
called this "very complicated, but maybe on a4 is hanging.
just better for White" after 20.dxc6
exf3 21.¥xf3 the engine says White 23.¤f4! The only move to obtain decisive
is just winning here.) 20.£xe1 ¤d4 advantage. Ding thought that his position
21.¤fxd4 exd4 22.¤xd4 ¥h7 23.£xa5 was "much, much better."
with two pawns for the exchange and a
strong central presence White is close to 23.c5 ¤d5 24.¤ec3 ¤xe3 25.fxe3 is
winning.; 17...¥f6 18.d4 e4 19.¤g1 was "only" better for White.; 23.h4? was Ding’s
a line shown by Ding, "something similar first intention, but he said "it was a very
to the game." bad move" as 23...¥xe3 24.fxe3 f5 gives
Black stability in the centre.
18.d4! White steamrolls ahead now.
23...¥xf4 23...¥h7 24.c5 ¤d7 25.£xa4
18...e4 18...exd4 19.¥f4! is the move White has an extra pawn and is dominating.
Gukesh missed. 19...¦c8 20.¤fxd4 ¤xd4
21.£xd4 and the difference in activity 24.¥xf4 ¦c8 24...e3 25.£c3 exf2 26.¦f1
of both armies is quite apparent, with a and White will pick up the pawn on f2.
winning advantage for White.
25.£c3 Controlling the e5–square and
19.¤g1 "Already very difficult" - Gukesh. preparing d5, thus not allowing ...¤e5,
even though that was winning, too.
19...¤b6 19...¥f8 20.¤e2 is similar to the
game, when White can improve his position 25.d5 ¤e5 26.d6 ¤d3 27.dxc7 £f6 28.¤d6
while Black doesn’t have an active plan. with a winning position.
20.£c3 Ding was deciding where to put 25...¤b8 26.d5 This wins, too. Upon
the queen, here or on c2. He decided on c3 seeing this move Gukesh started shaking
so that in some lines after d5–d6 the queen his head in disbelief that his opponent
would be better placed, but he missed didn’t play ¤a7.
Black’s next move.
26.¤a7 was the simplest, picking up
20.£c2 was also good. the exchange, but Ding admitted that he
missed it! This is very hard to understand,
20...¥f6 20...f5 21.¥f4 ¦c8 22.f3 but it happened.
undermines Black’s centre.
26...£d7 Ding was happy to see this move,
21.£c2 Ding was very happy to find this. expecting 26...¤a6 instead.

01/145
26...¤a6 27.d6! (or 27.¥e3)

28.¤c7! wins for White
27...c6 A TEST OF SURVIVAL
IN A COMPLEX
27.d6 c5 28.¤c7 ¦f8 29.¥xe4 ¤c6
29...¥xe4 "a last chance" - Ding, but he
THRILLER
showed 30.¦xe4 ¤c6 31.¥xh6! f6 (31... Now it seemed that the psychological
f5 32.¦e7!) 32.¥xg7! ¢xg7 33.¤e6+ "is advantage had passed to Ding. He practically
crushing" - Ding. came back from the dead and the match was
equal again.
30.¥g2 "No counterplay for Black" - Ding.
In this situation Gukesh’s mindset and the
30...¦cd8 30...¤d4 31.¦e7 £f5 32.¦xd4 preparatory work he’d done with Paddy
cxd4 33.£xd4 is the line Ding showed. came to the fore. In fact, even Paddy
came to Singapore to give Gukesh further
31.¤d5 ¤xd5 32.cxd5 ¤b8 32...¤d4 support. In the next game Gukesh came out
33.£xc5 prepared to win again.
33.£xc5 ¦c8 34.£d4 White’s position is Gukesh D - Ding Liren
so dominating that Black can hardly move.
34...¤a6 35.¦e7 £b5 36.d7 ¦c4 37.£e3
¦c2 38.¥d6 f6 1.e4 "Best by test." - Bobby Fischer. In his
XIIIIIIIIY last game with the white pieces Gukesh
goes for a theoretical fight, ready to tackle
9-+-+-trk+0 the French Defence.
9+p+PtR-zp-0
1...e6 Ding stays loyal to the opening that
9n+-vL-zplzp0 gave him a win in game 1 and great winning
9+q+P+-+-0 chances in game 5.
9p+-+-+-+0 2.d4 d5 3.¤c3 ¤f6 4.e5 ¤fd7 5.¤ce2
9zP-+-wQ-zPP0 Deviating from game 1, where 5.f4 was played.
9-zPr+-zPLmK0
5...c5 6.c3 ¤c6
9+-+R+-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy XIIIIIIIIY
38...¤c7 39.¥xc7 ¦xc7 40.d8£ ¦xd8 9r+lwqkvl-tr0
41.¦xc7 wins a full rook. 9zpp+n+pzpp0
39.¦xg7+! Played instantly for a crushing 9-+n+p+-+0
comeback in the match! 9+-zppzP-+-0
1–0
9-+-zP-+-+0
9+-zP-+-+-0
9PzP-+NzPPzP0
A great game by Ding, a bad one by
Gukesh. As Kasparov used to say, you 9tR-vLQmKLsNR0
can only play as well as your opponent xiiiiiiiiy
allows you to. In this game Gukesh 7.a3!? A rare alternative to the more
allowed Ding to show the world how popular moves, but it still ranks among the
strong he is. top-3 engine moves. Ding was surprised by

January 2025
this move, calling it a "move-order trick" as 9...¥d7 was a bit better, though after 10.b4
White keeps the option to play f4 or ¤f3, cxd4 11.cxd4 ¤c4 12.¥xc4 dxc4 13.£g4
depending on circumstances. The main g6 14.¤ge2 b5 15.0–0 White has a stable
moves are in fact either 7.f4 or 7.¤f3. position with an advantage.
7...¥e7 Ding started his usual long opening 10.cxd4 ¤c4 Played a-tempo.
think with this move, spending 17 minutes.
11.¥xc4 dxc4
7...cxd4 8.cxd4 f6 is another way to play, where XIIIIIIIIY
Black needs to be ready for 9.¤f4 fxe5 10.£h5+
(or 10.¤xe6 £b6 with complications.) 10...¢e7 9r+lwqk+-tr0
(or 10...g6 11.¤xg6 ¤f6 12.£h4 ¤xd4 with 9zpp+-vlpzpp0
an unclear position.) 11.dxe5 ¤dxe5 12.¤g6+
hxg6 13.£xh8 ¢f7 with compensation.; Ten 9-+n+p+-+0
days after this game Gukesh’s idea was tested 9+-+-zP-+-0
again in a high-level encounter. It worked 9-+pzP-sN-+0
really well after 7...a5 8.¤f3 a4 9.h4 £a5
10.¥d2 £b6 11.¦b1 ¥e7 12.¥e3 1–0 (23) 9zP-+-vL-+-0
Carlsen,M (2831)-Nepomniachtchi,I (2755) 9-zP-+-zPPzP0
Oslo NOR 2024.
9tR-+QmK-sNR0
8.¥e3 ¤b6?! Here 37 more minutes were xiiiiiiiiy
spent. If Ding didn’t remember his preparation, 12.¤ge2?! Gukesh spent only two minutes
he had plenty to think about as several moves on this natural developing move. Whether
were possible. Objectively this isn’t the best he wanted to force Ding to think more
plan, after which White gets an advantage. with quick play or not, here he missed the
Ding said it was already difficult to play with important moment to stop and think as it
Black, his pessimism showing itself again. was a big chance of a serious advantage.
Just like in game 11, Gukesh spoils his fine
8...b5; 8...a5; 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 b5 were all preparation with hasty play immediately
possible plans for Black.; 8...f6? 9.¤f4! after his memory of the lines ended.
was mentioned by Ding.
12.£g4! Gukesh briefly considered this
9.¤f4 cxd4 Played after only 2 minutes, option, but didn’t think it was very strong.
Ding apparently decided on this while 12...0–0 (12...£a5+ 13.¥d2 £b6 14.£xg7
considering 8...¤b6. ¦f8 15.¤ge2 ¤xd4 16.¤xd4 £xd4 17.¥e3!

01/145
£e4 18.0–0–0! with a strong initiative.; 12... 15...¢h8 16.£g4 ¦g8 leads to slower play.
g6 13.¤ge2 h5 was mentioned by Ding in After 17.¦fd1 ¦b7! is an important move,
the press conference, but White is better after intending ...¦d7 if the d-file is opened.
14.£f3) 13.¤f3 f6 (13...f5 14.£g3 £a5+
15.¥d2 ¥b4 16.¦d1 ¥xd2+ 17.¦xd2 White 16.exf6 16.d5 was mentioned by both players,
is dominating.) 14.0–0 (14.¤xe6 g6 15.¤xd8 who demonstrated 16...exd5 17.¤xd5 ¥e6
¥xg4 16.¤xc6 bxc6 17.¤d2 ¥e6 gives 18.¤hf4 ¥xd5 19.£xd5+ (19.¤xd5 ¤xe5
Black some drawing chances thanks to the 20.¤xe7+ £xe7 21.£d5+ ¤f7 22.¥f4 ¦b7
bishop pair.) 14...fxe5 15.dxe5 ¦f5 16.¦fd1 White has compensation, but not for more
£e8 17.h4 with a clear advantage for White. than equality.) 19...£xd5 20.¤xd5 "looks
slightly better for White" - Ding.
12...b5 An ambitious move. If Black
manages to develop the bishop to b7 and 16...¥xf6 17.£f3 Gukesh spent 13
control the d5–square, he will even be minutes on this decision, keeping the
better, but his position is shaky for the tension in the position.
time being as it lags in development and
the pawn on b5 can be attacked with a 17.¤xf6+ £xf6 18.d5 is the engine’s
gain of tempo. Still, objectively the move preference, but likely Gukesh didn’t think it
is fine, just that it increases the importance sufficed as it simplifies the position. After
of every move, making the game more 18...exd5 19.£xd5+ £e6 Gukesh thought he
forcing and concrete. With this decision we had nothing, but Ding immediately proposed
can observe Ding’s maximalism when the 20.¦fd1! and said "I think you’re slightly
fight is imposed on him, going for the most better here." He also added that as White he
ambitious moves and plans. would have gone for this variation. White
certainly has the initiative in an open position,
12...f6! 13.exf6 ¥xf6 would have got rid but Black should be able to defend and draw
of the space-grabbing pawn on e5, with an after 20...£xd5 21.¦xd5 a6 22.¦c5 ¥b7
equality for Black after 14.0–0 e5! 15.¤h5 23.a4 ¤b4 24.axb5 axb5 25.¦xb5 ¥c6 when
exd4 16.¤xf6+ £xf6 17.¤xd4 0–0; 12...0– a 3 vs 2 on the same wing is likely;
0 13.0–0 a6 preparing ...b5 with an already
castled king, was safer. 17.£g4?! was another move Gukesh was
considering. 17...e5! this is the refutation of
13.0–0 0–0 14.¤c3 ¦b8! Developing the White’s idea. (17...¦b7 was what Gukesh
rook and avoiding potential problems on said was "quite nice" and he couldn’t see a
the open long diagonal. follow-up, though after 18.¦ad1! White is
much better.) 18.£g3 £e8 and Black is at
14...a6?! 15.£g4! f5 16.£f3 pinpoints the least equal.
problems on the long diagonal: now the
rook on a8 hangs if Black takes the pawn 17...£e8 Played after only three minutes.
on d4. Here Ding missed a chance to clarify the
situation with some concrete play.
15.¤h5! 15.£g4 f5! solves Black’s
problems. 16.exf6 (16.£f3?! now this 17...¤xd4! worked for Black. After
doesn’t work as Black has 16...¤xd4 18.¤xf6+ (18.£g3 ¥b7 19.¦ad1 e5 is at
winning a pawn.) 16...¦xf6 Black already least equal for Black.) 18...¦xf6 19.£d1
threatens ...e5. Ding said he missed this, but Black is
fine. (19.£h5 ¦f5 20.£d1 e5 and Black
15...f5 Ding seeks more clarity and wants is not worse.) 19...e5 20.¥g5 ¥f5 21.¦e1
to avoid a possible attack against his king. £e8 22.¥xf6 gxf6 the monster knight on
After playing this move he had 44 minutes d4 and the pawn are more than enough
to reach move 40, while Gukesh had 56. compensation for the exchange.

January 2025
18.¤xf6+ ¦xf6 19.£e2 Ding missed this, nullifies White’s extra pawn.; 21...a6 was also
looking only at 19.£e4. He called it a better, finally safely defending the pawn on
"strong positional move." b5. 22.¥f2 (22.d5 exd5 23.¤xd5 ¥b7 is fine
for Black.) 22...¥b7 23.¦fe1 ¦fe8 (23...¦be8
19.£e4 ¥b7 was what Ding expected, 24.¥g3 stopping ...e5 was shown by Ding.)
when Black is fine. 24.¤e4 ¦bd8 25.¤c5 looks unpleasant for
Black, but he’s fine after 25...£f7
19...£g6 Activating the queen.
22.¥f4 Played a-tempo, but there was a
20.f3 ¦f8 Ding played this move almost good alternative. Ding missed this move.
instantly, though the rook would have been Gukesh had seen this trick a few moves
better placed on f5 to defend b5 and control d5. back and was quite proud of it.
20...¦f5! 21.¥f2 ¥b7 the pawn on b5 is 22.d5!? leads to a stable advantage for White
protected, so Black can finally develop after 22...¤xd5 23.¤xd5 exd5 24.¥xa7 ¦a8
the bishop on the b7–square, something he 25.£f2 ¥b7 26.¥d4 when White’s bishop
hoped for since his choice of 12...b5 in the is dominating and Black’s three pawns on
opening. 22.¦ad1 ¦bf8 and the position is the queenside mean very little as they are
rather balanced. blockaded, but Black does keep drawing
chances: after all there are opposite-coloured
21.¦ad1 bishops on the board. Still, this would have
XIIIIIIIIY been very unpleasant to defend for a long time.
9-trl+-trk+0 22...¦b6 22...¦xf4?? 23.£e5 is the trick
9zp-+-+-zpp0 that both players saw, attacking both rooks
at the same time.
9-+n+p+q+0
9+p+-+-+-0 23.¥c7 ¦b7?! 23...¦c6 was better, though it
9-+pzP-+-+0 certainly looks dangerous as Black’s position
looks very shaky and without coordination.
9zP-sN-vLP+-0 24.¥e5 ¦b6 intending ...¥b7. 25.a4 (25.d5
9-zP-+Q+PzP0 ¤xd5 26.¤xd5 exd5 27.¦xd5 ¥e6 28.¦c5
c3! 29.£f2 cxb2 30.£xb2 White has an
9+-+R+RmK-0 advantage thanks to the better bishop, but
xiiiiiiiiy Black should be able to draw, although with
21...¤e7?! After 11 minutes, but not the some suffering.) 25...a6 26.¤e4 bxa4 27.¥d6
best choice. Black worsens the harmony of ¦e8 28.¥c5 ¦b3 29.¥xe7 ¦xe7 30.¤c5
his position. ¦b5 31.¦f2 looks extremely good for White,
whose knight dominates the bishop and Black
21...b4! was a concrete solution. 22.¤e4 has pawn weaknesses to take care of.
a) 22.£xc4? bxc3 23.£xc6 cxb2 wins for 24.¥d6 ¦e8 25.¥xe7?! This keeps the
Black; advantage, but the three minutes Gukesh
spent on this hasty move were not enough to
b) 22.axb4 ¤xb4 23.¥f4 (23.£xc4? ¥a6 understand that there were better options. The
wins the exchange.) 23...¦b6 24.¥c7 ¦c6 idea of the move is to avoid ...¤d5 ideas.
25.¥g3 ¤d3 and Black is obviously fine
with the knight on d3; 25.¦fe1! would have been very unpleasant
for Black. White improves his position
22...bxa3 23.bxa3 ¤e7 24.£xc4 ¥b7 allows while Black’s uncoordinated pieces
Black to develop and the blockade on d5 can do very little. 25...¥d7 (25...¤f5

01/145
26.¥b4 ¥d7 27.£e4 ¦bb8 28.d5! and the draw after 29.¦fe1 (29.£c5 £e8)
Black’s position collapses after 28...exd5 29...¦d7! 30.¦xe6 ¦xd5 31.¦xg6 ¦xd1+
29.£xd5+ ¥e6 30.£d2 with ideas like 32.¤xd1 hxg6 with a draw.
£f4,¤e4,¦e5 etc.) 26.¥xe7 now this
works as White pushes the d-pawn all the 29.£c5 ¦e8 The only move.
way to d6 thanks to the undefended rook
on the e-file. 26...¦xe7 27.d5 ¦e8 28.d6 30.¦de1 £f7?
looks tremendous for White. XIIIIIIIIY
25...¦exe7 26.£e5?! Gukesh goes for 9-+l+r+k+0
the forcing lines, but this allows Black a 9+r+-+qzpp0
narrow path for an escape.
9p+-+-+-+0
26.¦fe1 the patient strengthening of the 9+pwQ-+-+-0
position would have posed more problems 9-+p+-+-+0
after 26...a6 27.£f2 when White can
squeeze playing on the weak dark squares. 9zP-sN-+P+-0
9-zP-+-+PzP0
26...a6 27.d5 exd5 28.£xd5+ £e6 An
understandable solution. Ding spent two 9+-+-tRRmK-0
minutes and 25 seconds on this move, but xiiiiiiiiy
still couldn’t clearly calculate the forcing Played after 17 seconds, this move gives
solution after the alternative. White a decisive advantage.
28...¦e6! self-pinning in time-trouble is a 30...£xe1 was the only move. After

rare occurrence. Still, it practically forces 31.¦xe1 ¦xe1+ 32.¢f2 ¦e8 Black

January 2025
manages to hold, in spite of the somewhat 31...¦f8! Ding was huffing and puffing,
clumsy pieces. covering his face in despair, but still
managed to find the only move after three
31.¤e4? Gukesh returns the favour after minutes, coming down to only four to
only 55 seconds. He had 12 minutes to reach move 40. He admitted that he almost
reach move 40, while Ding had 8. gave up as he couldn’t find a move to stay
in the game, but eventually he found the
31.¦xe8+! £xe8 32.¤e4 was correct. only one to do so. Gukesh also admitted
Curiously Gukesh intended this in case that he missed this move when playing
Black put the queen on d7 instead of f7! 31.¤e4.
Now Black is defenceless as he lacks
the other rook to protect the eighth rank. 31...¦c7? was his initial idea, but he saw
Admittedly, the lines are anything but easy 32.¤f6+! which wins on the spot.
to see. 32...¦d7 (32...£d7 33.¤d6 ¦b8
34.£d5+ ¢f8 35.¦d1 Black can barely 32.¤d6 ¦c7 Gukesh missed this initially.
move. 35...¥b7 36.£e5 £e7 37.¤xc4!
£xe5 38.¤xe5 with a technically winning 33.£e5 £f6 34.£d5+ ¢h8 35.¦e5 ¦e7
position.) 33.¤d6 £f8 Gukesh wasn’t sure, A practical solution, going for exchanges.
as he said the lines were complicated, but
this is winning after (33...£d8 34.£d5+! 35...¥b7 was possible, activating the
(34.¤xc8? ¦c7 is equal.) 34...¢f8 35.£f5+ bishop at last. 36.¤xb7 ¦xb7 37.¦e6 £f7;
¢g8 (35...£f6 36.£xf6+ gxf6 37.¤xc8 35...h6
wins a piece.) 36.£e6+ ¢f8 37.¦d1 and
White wins.) 34.£d5+ ¢h8 35.¦e1 h6 36.¦fe1 ¦xe5 37.¦xe5 Played instantly,
36.¦e6 with a total domination as they but in fact the exchange of queens offered
looked at during the press conference. more chances.

01/145
37.£xe5! £xe5 38.¦xe5 and the difference 56.¢g3 ¢h7 57.¦b5 ¢g6 58.f4 ¢f6
in piece activity would have forced Black 59.¢f3 ¦c2 60.g3 ¦c3+ 61.¢g4 ¦a3 61...
to still exert care. 38...¢g8 39.¦c5 ¥d7 g6 with the idea of ...h5 is another idea.
40.¦c7 ¥f5 41.¢f2 h6 42.¦c6 ¥d3
43.¢e3 and White can continue to press. 62.h4 ¦c3 63.¦b6+ ¢f7 64.f5 64.h5 ¦a3
and Black waits.
37...h6 Black is safe now and White doesn’t
have any more chances. 64...h5+ 65.¢f4 ¦c4+ 66.¢f3 ¦c3+
67.¢f4 ¦c4+ 68.¢f3 ¦c3+
38.£c5 ¥d7 39.¤e4 £f4 40.¦e7 ¥f5 ½–½
Ding spent almost all his remaining time
on this move, a minute and 48 seconds.
A missed opportunity for Gukesh, who played
40...£c1+ going after the pawn on b2 well enough to win, but his strongest asset,
was also possible. 41.¢f2 £xb2+ 42.¢g3 precise calculation, let him down. This is the
¥f5 and Black is more than fine. In fact, main problem with calculation, sometimes the
it is White who should seek the draw after position would be so complicated that pure
43.¦c7 ¢g8 44.£d5+ ¢h8 45.£c5 ¢g8 calculation would not produce the desired
result. It happened in game 13 for Gukesh, while
41.£d4 ¦g8 42.h3 £c1+ 43.¢f2 ¥xe4 Ding had to find the only move to stay in the
44.¦xe4 c3! A forcing solution that game, which he did, thanks to the well-known
simplifies the position. method of elimination – when everything else
loses, what remains must be the only move.
45.bxc3 45.£xc3 £xc3 46.bxc3 ¦c8
47.¦e6 a5 48.¦e3 ¦c4 with ...¦a4 next. FROM TRIUMPH
45...£xa3 46.¢g3 £b3 47.¦e7 a5 48.¦b7 TO HEARTBREAK:
£c4 49.£e5 49.£xc4 bxc4 50.¦c7 ¦a8
51.¦xc4 a4 52.¦b4 a3 53.¦b1 ¦a4 54.¢f2
DING’S FINAL MISSTEP
¢g8 is a drawn rook endgame. After the ups and downs of the last three games,
mental stability was of utmost importance
49...£c6 50.£xb5 £xc3 Going for the for both players. Gukesh could rely on the
endgame 3 vs 2 on the same wing, which is conversations with Paddy Upton, while what
an easy draw. Ding did, we don’t know. The last game showed
that the younger man was more psychologically
50...£g6+ 51.¢h2 (51.¢f2 £c2+ 52.¢g3 stable than the more experienced one.
£g6+ is a perpetual.) 51...£d6+ 52.¢g1
£d1+ 53.£f1 the only way to avoid the Ding Liren – Gukesh D
perpetual. 53...£d5 and in all likelyhood
the same 3 vs 2 would have arisen. WCh 2024 Singapore SIN (14)
51.¦a7 £e1+ 52.¢h2 £b4 52...£e3 1.¤f3 In a short interview after game 13,
53.¦xa5 £f4+ 54.¢g1 ¦c8 gives Black Ding said that he didn’t think the last game
enough activity for a draw. would be a short draw. In Astana against
Nepomniachtchi he played very aggressively
53.£xb4 axb4 54.¦b7 ¦a8 55.¦xb4 to win from the start, but that backfired and
¦a2 The endgame is an easy draw, though he was forced to defend for a very long time
nobody could imagine that this is only the to save the draw. In Singapore, Ding decided
first of the two 3 vs 2 on the same wing to keep the game more controlled. The choice
that Ding will have to defend in the last of 1.¤f3 hints at less forcing opening play
two games. and a game with protracted tension.

January 2025
Ding and Gukesh

under the watchful eye of the
Fair Play Officer - Aleksandar Colovic
1...d5 2.g3 Ding sticks to the Reti Opening, 9...d4 10.e3 ¥c5 10...e5 was played in
instead of a transposition to d4–openings the only game so far in this line: 11.exd4
after 2.d4. exd4 12.¦e1+ ¥e7 13.¥g5Sarakauskas,G
(2388)-Willow,J (2395) BCF-chT 2223
2...c5 3.¥g2 ¤c6 4.d4 It is considered that (4NCL) 2022.
the reversed King’s Indian after 4.0–0 e5 is
quite safe for Black. 11.exd4 ¥xd4 12.¤c3 0–0 13.¤b5 The
critical moment in the opening.
4...e6 5.0–0 The move 5.c4 was also
possible, giving the position a more 13...¥b6?!
Catalan-style flair. XIIIIIIIIY
5...cxd4 6.¤xd4 ¤ge7!? A rare move. Gukesh 9r+lwq-trk+0
again manages to spring an early surprise. The 9zpp+-+pzpp0
usual moves are 6...¥c5 and 6...¤f6.
9-vln+p+-+0
7.c4 White must attack the centre before 9+N+-+-+-0
Black completes development. 9-+P+-+-+0
7.¤b3 ¤f5 8.e4 dxe4 9.¤c3 ¥e7 is 9+-+-+-zP-0
possible, but Black is fine; 9PzP-+-zPLzP0
7.¤xc6 ¤xc6 8.c4 d4 would lead to the game. 9tR-vLQ+RmK-0
xiiiiiiiiy
7...¤xd4 8.£xd4 ¤c6 9.£d1 The other Gukesh spent 13 minutes on this move,
retreats were also possible. but it gives White chances for a serious

01/145
advantage. A "shocking decision,"

"ambition without ammunition" - Carlsen.
13...e5 was natural and correct. After

14.¤xd4 exd4 Black’s central presence
compensates for White’s pair of bishops.
14.b3?! Ding spent almost 11 minutes

on this move, but failed to find the most
precise way to exploit Black’s imprecision.
This was Ding’s best chance in this game,
perhaps surprising that it came so early, but
after he let it pass, he was never really close
to playing for more than a draw.
18.¤d5 b5!? A direct and concrete way.
14.£e2! Black undermines the pawn on c4 and the
XIIIIIIIIY knight on d5.
9r+lwq-trk+0 18...¥xb2 19.£xb2 £d6 was a more
9zpp+-+pzpp0 positional way.
9-vln+p+-+0 19.cxb5?!
9+N+-+-+-0 XIIIIIIIIY
9-+P+-+-+0 9r+-wq-trk+0
9+-+-+-zP-0 9+-+-+pzpp0
9PzP-+QzPLzP0 9p+n+l+-+0
9tR-vL-+RmK-0 9+P+Nzp-+-0
xiiiiiiiiy 9-+-vl-+-+0
With the intention of ¦d1 was correct.
Black is under serious pressure after 9+P+-+-zP-0
14...e5 15.¦d1 £f6 (15...£e7 16.b3! 9PvL-wQ-zPLzP0
with the idea of ¥a3.) 16.¥e3! ¤d4
(16...¥xe3 17.£xe3 a6 18.¤c7 ¦b8 9tR-+-+RmK-0
19.¤d5 and White has a great position xiiiiiiiiy
thanks to his superior pieces and the This is the moment when Ding starts to play
mobile queenside majority.) 17.¤xd4 openly for a draw. He spent 10 minutes on
exd4 18.¥f4 as he finds it difficult to this decision, after which he over-eagerly
develop the queenside and keep White’s started to exchange pieces with the hope
queenside majority at bay. to end the game as soon as possible, as if
wanting to end it all and move on to the tie-
14...a6 Black is out of the woods now. breaks. He had this tendency in the match, as
we observed in some other games as well, but
15.¤c3 ¥d4 16.¥b2 e5 After the early while possible, it’s a pessimistic and perhaps
scare Gukesh continued confidently. The even cynical way of playing, going for a draw
dark-square control in the centre guarantees from a position of weakness. The problem
Black against any problems. that this time this strategy didn’t work was
that it happened in the last game of a long and
17.£d2 ¥e6 A good alternative was tense match and in his own words, after game
17...£a5. 13, Ding was feeling "exhausted."

January 2025
19.¥xd4 was a way to try to keep some

pressure. 19...¤xd4 20.f4!? (or 20.¦ac1
¥h3!? 21.f4 ¥xg2 22.£xg2 bxc4 23.bxc4
exf4 24.¦cd1 ¤c6 is fine for Black because
White’s king has been weakened.) 20...
bxc4 21.bxc4 ¦c8 22.¦ac1 and Black’s
knight on d4 and pawn on e5 are under
some pressure, though with precise play
Black should be OK.
19...axb5 20.¤f4 Continuation of the

intended line of play on the previous move.
20...exf4 21.¥xc6 ¥xb2 22.£xb2 ¦b8
The world expected the game to end in a
draw soon enough and indeed, the position
is a drawn one. 26...bxa3 27.¦xa3 g6 White’s pieces are
too passive defending the pawn on b3, so
23.¦fd1 £b6 24.¥f3 24.¥d7 leads to White will likely lose it.
the exchange of bishops and it would have
been perhaps the simpler solution. 28.£d4 £b5 29.b4 A continuation of the
line of play intended on move 26. Not even
24...fxg3 25.hxg3 b4 trying to defend the pawn, Ding gives it up
XIIIIIIIIY and exchanges more pieces.
9-tr-+-trk+0 29.¦d3 was perfectly possible, not giving
9+-+-+pzpp0 up the pawn.
9-wq-+l+-+0 29...£xb4 30.£xb4 ¦xb4 31.¦a8 ¦xa8
9+-+-+-+-0 32.¥xa8 The endgame is a draw, of course.
9-zp-+-+-+0 Both players knew it, but Gukesh wasn’t
going to offer it. His match strategy was
9+P+-+LzP-0 to play on every game until the end and
9PwQ-+-zP-+0 he wasn’t going to change that now. The
game enters a quiet phase now where the
9tR-+R+-mK-0 whole world was expecting a draw and the
xiiiiiiiiy upcoming tie-breaks.
26.a4?! Ding’s eagerness to draw reeks of
impatience. He wants to get rid of all the 32...g5 33.¥d5 ¥f5 If Black is to try
queenside pawns even at the cost of losing something, he must keep the bishops. The
one. It’s still a draw after this, but why rook endgame is a trivial draw.
suffer for a draw when it wasn’t necessary
at all? Why would he torture himself for 34.¦c1 ¢g7 35.¦c7 ¥g6 36.¦c4 The
many hours on (as by now he realised that bishop endgame is also a trivial draw, so
his opponent would play until bare kings Black must avoid exchange of rooks, too.
are left on the board) when this wasn’t even
remotely required? Nobody asked Ding these 36...¦b1+ 37.¢g2 ¦e1 38.¦b4 h5 39.¦a4
questions, so we will likely never know. ¦e5 40.¥f3 ¢h6 41.¢g1 ¦e6 42.¦c4 g4
43.¥d5 ¦d6 44.¥b7 ¢g5 45.f3 Ding
26.¦ac1; 26.£d4; 26.¦d4 were all normal could have kept the pawn structure intact,
moves that would have drawn the game but he takes the opportunity to reduce the
with little effort. number of pawns.

01/145
45...f5 46.fxg4 46.f4+ was another way, fixing

Black’s pawns on the square colour of his
bishop. 46...¢h6 (46...¢f6 47.¦c6 exchanges
rooks.) 47.¥c8 pinning Black down to the
defence of the f5–pawn. 47...h4 this looks
dangerous, but after 48.¦c5! ¦f6 49.gxh4
¢h5 50.¢g2 ¢xh4 51.¦c1! White threatens
mate and 51...g3 52.¦h1+ ¢g4 53.¦h3 ¢xf4
54.¦xg3 eliminates almost all the pawns.
46...hxg4 47.¦b4 ¥f7 48.¢f2 ¦d2+

49.¢g1 ¢f6 50.¦b6+ ¢g5 51.¦b4 ¥e6
52.¦a4 ¦b2 53.¥a8 Nothing wrong
with the move, but placing the bishop in
the corner is potentially dangerous as the drawn. A tragic end of Ding’s reign as a
bishop has only access to one diagonal, World Champion, but perhaps everything
meaning that it can be exchanged if Black came full circle for him: from the self-
places his bishop on the same diagonal. pinning and Championship-winning rook
move 46...¦g6 against Nepomniachtchi,
53...¢f6 Here Ding became worried about to the self-destructive rook move 55.¦f2
the possible transfer of the opponent’s against Gukesh, his reign encompassed
bishop to e4. With that in mind he thought between two fateful rook moves.
he should place the rook on f4 so that in case
that transfer happens, after the exchange of To illustrate the defensive idea Ding had in
bishops he could win the g4–pawn. mind: 55.¥g2 ¥a2 56.¥c6 ¥b1 57.¥g2
(57.¦a4? ¥e4 58.¥xe4 fxe4 is winning
Now the key events unfold: for Black, something that Ding correctly
54.¦f4 ¢e5 feared.) 57...¥e4 58.¥xe4 fxe4 59.¦xg4
XIIIIIIIIY ¢d4 60.¦g7 ¢e3 61.g4 ¢f3 62.g5 is a
draw as White gives checks from behind,
9L+-+-+-+0 while his own pawn marches forward.
9+-+-+-+-0
55...¦xf2 Upon seeing his opponent’s last
9-+-+l+-+0 move Gukesh first wanted to play 55...¦b3,
9+-+-mkp+-0 but then saw the upcoming transformation
9-+-+-tRp+0 and couldn’t believe it. He took two
minutes to calm down and then calculated
9+-+-+-zP-0 what followed. He later said it was "the best
9-tr-+-+-+0 moment of my life."
9+-+-+-mK-0 56.¢xf2 ¥d5! Here comes the problem
xiiiiiiiiy with the cornered bishop - it cannot avoid
55.¦f2?? If bishops are exchanged the being exchanged.
position is a draw, if rooks are exchanged,
the same, but if all pieces are exchanged, the 57.¥xd5 ¢xd5 58.¢e3 ¢e5 At the final
pawn endgame can be winning for Black if press conference Gukesh said that the main
he takes the opposition. Ding likely forgot thing he learned about his opponent was
his bishop cannot escape the long diagonal how incredible fighter Ding is. He paid
and is exchanged, after which Black takes tribute to his fighting spirit and said he was
the opposition. He spent 14 seconds on this even inspired by his opponent after losing
move. Any reasonable move would have badly the 12th game of the match.

January 2025
The pawn endgame after 58...¢e5 59.¢d3 that culminated in a shocking finale
f4 60.¢e2 f3+ 61.¢e3 f2 62.¢xf2 ¢d4 is during the last moments of the final game.
an elementary win as the black king takes
the pawn on the third rank. Gukesh proved himself a worthy challenger,
demonstrating remarkable maturity and
0–1 psychological resilience for someone
his age. Still a teenager, he has become
World Champion and the torchbearer for a
At the end, Ding couldn’t sustain his new generation of young players who are
pessimistic approach and desperate draw- already surpassing the established elite.
seeking, most likely due to fatigue, while While the match exposed areas for growth
Gukesh’s strategy of pushing relentlessly in in his game, Gukesh’s eagerness to improve
every game paid off. was clear from his remarks at the final press
conference, reflecting his relentless pursuit
of excellence.
THE DAWN OF A
NEW GENERATION When Kasparov became the youngest
World Champion in 1985, aged 22, Rona
OF THE CHESS ELITE Petrosian remarked that she felt a bit sorry
for him. Kasparov was taken aback, but
Ding exceeded expectations, displaying she explained, “the best day of your life is
a stronger version of himself than many already behind you.” I shared this story with
anticipated, though he was not the same Gukesh when we happened to meet in the
Ding from his peak years. His improved hotel lobby two days later. He smiled and
level and unyielding fighting spirit replied, “No, no, I’m sure there will be many
delivered a tense, evenly matched contest great things ahead.” I couldn’t agree more.

Photo: FIDE Official - Maria Emelianova
fixed on Magnus Carlsen. But Gukesh’s
win rightfully marks the beginning of the
changing of the guards. Yet, what is stunning
about Gukesh (even before he won the
Candidates or became World Champion)
was his calm composure and grounded view
of the world, unusual for someone who is
just 18 and has achieved so much.
Reflecting on his journey, he said, “When

Magnus won, I thought I really want to be
the one to bring back the title to India, and
this dream that I had more than 10 years
ago has been the single most important
thing in my life so far.”
Like any avid player, the love for the game

is still at the centre: “I’m still this kid who
loves chess,” he shared.
India’s chess prodigy Gukesh Dommaraju The Indian also reflected on his opponent
stunned the world when he became the and how he prepared to fight Ding Liren.
youngest-ever World Chess Champion, While Ding hesitated, Gukesh knew he had
at just 18 years old. His triumph wasn’t to take risks. “My whole strategy was to
just a victory on the chessboard; it was the push as much as possible in every single
fulfilment of a decade-long dream, based on game with both colours, and it wasn’t
determination and a love for the game. working till the last moment,” he explained.
“But it just takes one game for the strategy
“Since I was seven, I have been living to pay off.” That one game was decisive,
this moment,” Gukesh told reporters after leaving no doubt about the teenager’s
his triumph. “Every chess player wants to ability to perform under pressure.
experience this and doesn’t always get the
chance. I am living my dream.” Despite dethroning a chess titan, Gukesh’s
spoke about Ding with admiration, respect
With King Gukesh on the throne, a new and humility, which is not common among
era for the chess world has started. For the chess elite. “We all know who Ding
years, the global spotlight had been firmly is,” he said. “He has been one of the best

January 2025
players in the world for several years, and Gukesh’s success feels uniquely his own. His
to see him struggling, and to see the fight determination to bring the title back to India,
he gave, it shows what a true champion he a feat last accomplished by Anand in 2007,
is. For me, he is the real world champion.” now stands as an inspiration for countless
young chess players.
Moments like these captured the essence of
Gukesh’s personality—grounded, gracious, Gukesh’s victory is notable not just for its
and fiercely competitive. While many players historic significance but also for the manner
would revel in their triumph, Gukesh’s focus in which he conducted himself throughout the
remained firmly on the future. “The World tournament. Calm under pressure, resourceful
Championship win is really important,” he in difficult situations, and a gentleman on and
noted, “and now, my next goal is to be the off the board are hallmarks of his campaign
best chess player in the world. Players like and, hopefully, a sign of a new culture and
Magnus keep motivating me to work harder.” style of behaviour in the chess elite.
For someone so young, Gukesh has an After his win, Gukesh’s gratitude shone
uncanny ability to stay grounded in his through. “There are so many people who
ambitions, at least on the surface. “I don’t are supporting me and showing so much
feel a lack of motivation of any kind,” he love, and it surely gives me a lot of energy
said. “The goal has always been to become to go there, be myself, be at my best... it’s a
the best player in the world, and since it’s huge privilege for me!”
still a long journey and there will be a lot of
challenges, it’s easier to motivate myself.” Despite reaching the top, his focus is not
on what’s below but what is ahead: “I’m
After the match, Gukesh was quick to excited to face the strongest players in
highlight how this victory was just the the world again in Norway, and also the
beginning of new challenges. “I have Armageddons will be fun,” he remarked,
started thinking about new goals, new his youthful enthusiasm shining through.
tournaments, and new ways to prepare,”
he said. “The objective and the approach His rise to the top has been nothing short of
will be the same: to give my best, to keep extraordinary, but the way he speaks about it
improving myself, and to win as many makes it feel almost ordinary. That’s perhaps
tournaments as possible.” his greatest strength. So far – and let’s hope
that remains the case - he hasn’t got lost
Winning the World Championship has in the magnitude of his achievements; he
elevated Gukesh to an elite status, drawing simply focuses on the next move.
comparisons to Bobby Fischer. But for him,
it’s not about matching someone else’s For a teenager who has achieved what most can
legacy; it’s about creating his own. “It’s only dream of, Gukesh’s words carry wisdom:
a huge honour for me to not be compared “It’s easier to motivate myself because I know
to, but be in the same sentence as Bobby that the challenges ahead will only make me
Fischer,” he said, again showing his humility. better”. This mindset, coupled with his talent,
makes him not just a champion of the present
Gukesh’s triumph has sparked immense but a name to watch for years to come.
excitement in India which has in 2024 claimed
the Olympic gold in both the Open and the As he takes his place among the legends
Women’s competitions. In recent years chess of chess, Gukesh remains refreshingly
has experienced a renaissance in India, thanks human—a young man chasing greatness
to the influence of former World Champion but not forgetting where he came from and
Viswanathan Anand and the large number of who he is. Perhaps that is what makes this
Indian players sweeping the world stage. Yet entire story so compelling.

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Volume 145

2 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Milan Dinic, Editor

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 3

GUKESH’S PATH TO THE THRONE: The World Chess Championship match,

At a World Championship match there are

4 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

Being on the stage, mere few meters away

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 5

10.£d2 was played by Duda. After 10...0–0 15.0–0

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 7

8 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 9

10 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 11

12 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

4.¤c3 would be the usual move, but here

4...exd5 5.¤c3 c6 6.£c2 Stopping ...¥f5

6...g6 The principled choice, preparing the

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 13

XIIIIIIIIY the h-file. 17...¤g7 18.¥xd7+ ¢xd7

14 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 15

29.b3! An unpleasant move to meet in time 1–0

16 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

A very important game for Gukesh to regain

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 17

18 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

"weakening" it is still possible to play it. XIIIIIIIIY

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 19

20 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

6.c3 White wants to keep the bishop on the

6.0–0 was played by Kasparov in 1991.

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 21

22 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 23

Ding Liren – Gukesh D

10.0–0 cxd4 11.cxd4 c5 12.¦c1 c4 13.b3

24 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

20...¦bd8 is what he probably recalled, as it’s 23...£g5 23...£xd6 24.¦xd6 f5 25.b4

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 25

XIIIIIIIIY 29...£xg3! 30.hxg3 ¦e5 was a nice way

26 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

40.¦d5 h4 41.¦xf5 ¦d7+ 42.¢c2 ¢g7

Ding missed yet another opportunity to

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 27

28 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 29

25...¤6d7 was a better try, but things are 31.¥xf6 £f5

30 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 31

32 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

A GAME OF CONTRASTS 4.¤f3 d6 5.g3 The other plan is to play in

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 33

34 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

20.£d2 ¥g6 21.¦f4 ¤b4 22.¤f5 would 25...¥xa2 26.¥d4

BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE | 35

and Black can unpin with ...£d6 and XIIIIIIIIY

36 | BRITISH CHESS MAGAZINE

35...b4 36.£d4?! A strange change of Practically offering a draw by repetition.