In a thrilling start to the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship, defending champion Ding Liren defeated India’s teenage prodigy, Gukesh Dommaraju. The first game, held at Singapore’s Resorts World Sentosa, showcased Ding’s strategic brilliance and resilience under pressure.
A Milestone Win for Ding Liren
Ding’s victory marked his first classical chess win in 304 days. It also ended a streak of 28 games without a win. The triumph brought a significant morale boost for the Chinese grandmaster, whose recent form had sparked concerns.
“I had a lot of time to recover and to change and to prepare, to get to the tournament with a totally new appearance,” Ding told reporters after the game.
This result also made history as the first decisive opening game in a World Chess Championship in almost 15 years. The last such result occurred in 2010 when Veselin Topalov beat Viswanathan Anand.
A Bold French Defence
Ding employed the rarely used French Defence, surprising his 18-year-old opponent. The choice was a calculated risk, designed to test Gukesh’s nerves.
“Because it’s the first game, I think he might get nervous at the start of the match, so I tried to play something unusual, which I haven’t played for a long time, and it turned out to work perfectly!” Ding explained.
Gukesh initially responded confidently, unveiling a less common sixth move, 6.Nce2. His innovative 10.g4 move put Ding on the back foot early in the game.
Tactical Mastery Turns the Tide
Ding faced significant time pressure but displayed remarkable composure. After a long pause, he responded to Gukesh’s attack with a decisive move, 10…Qa5. This shifted the momentum.
“I analysed it, but I couldn’t remember what was the continuation. I had to decide to play the line I knew, but maybe didn’t know properly, or I needed to come up with a new idea myself, like in the game, and I chose the second one,” Ding said.
His bold strategy began to pay off as he gained control of the game. Gukesh admitted he made a tactical oversight, allowing Ding to seize the advantage.
“Suddenly I found this idea Nxd4 and then Nb2 to create counterplay on the queenside, and I just moved the pieces very quickly, to give him the pressure not only on the board but on the clock,” Ding recounted.
Gukesh’s Struggles Under Pressure
Gukesh, the youngest player in history to compete in a World Chess Championship, acknowledged his nerves played a role.
“For sure I was nervous… it would be surprising if I said I wasn’t nervous, I was surely nervous,” he shared.
“But after the game started, I calmed down… I think I was playing some good chess… and then I kind of flipped.”
A Hard-Fought Win
The game stretched over four hours and 42 moves. Ding’s precise play, particularly his bold use of the queen, overwhelmed Gukesh. Despite his initial dominance, the teenager succumbed to Ding’s relentless counterattacks.
“But then suddenly I found this idea… I’d be (able) to create counter-breaks on the queen side, and I just moved the piece very quickly,” Ding explained during the post-match press conference.
This win signals a potential return to form for Ding, who had struggled in recent tournaments.
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Looking Ahead
Ding and Gukesh will meet again for game two on November 26. The 14-match series, with a prize fund of $2.5 million, will determine the next World Chess Champion. The first player to reach 7.5 points will claim the title, with tiebreaks scheduled if necessary.
Gukesh will aim to rebound from this loss and make history as the youngest undisputed World Chess Champion, surpassing Garry Kasparov’s record.
The stakes are immense, with this being the first World Chess Championship contested between two Asian players in its 138-year history. The chess world now eagerly awaits the next clash between these two formidable competitors.
Game two starts at 2:30 p.m. IST and will be streamed live on platforms such as Chess.com and Chess24.
