2024 FIDE World Championship: Ding Liren Triumphs Over Gukesh in opener at Singapore; Check Game Factsheet

Singapore, Nov 25: The opening game of the 2024 FIDE World Championship in Singapore saw reigning World Champion Ding Liren deliver an impressive victory over India's young chess sensation Gukesh D.

In a surprise result, Ding, playing with the black pieces, outmanoeuvred Gukesh in a tense middlegame to claim a 1-0 lead in the best-of-14 match series. Also Read: Ding vs Gukesh: Format, Schedule, Prize Money - All You Should Know

2024 FIDE World Championship Ding Liren Triumphs Over Gukesh in opener at Singapore

Ding Liren, known for his deep positional understanding, handled the French Defence with precision and patience, neutralizing Gukesh's early aggression. Although Ding spent significant time in the opening, he successfully created imbalances, taking advantage of pawn weaknesses in Gukesh's position.

The game reached a critical juncture in the middlegame, where Ding unleashed a decisive counterattack, overwhelming Gukesh's defences.

The turning point came around move 27 when Ding chose the risky 27...fxe6 over the safer 27...Bxe6. This move gave Gukesh a fleeting opportunity to escape with a promising counterplay.

However, the 18-year-old prodigy miscalculated under pressure and played 30.Qc2 instead of the more aggressive 30.Bc5. This slight inaccuracy allowed Ding to regain control and ultimately force a win in 42 moves.

Reflecting on his victory in the post-game press conference, Ding admitted that luck played a small role. "I missed a couple of tactical shots, but fortunately for me, they didn't work out for Gukesh," he said.

Gukesh, meanwhile, expressed a mix of disappointment and respect for his opponent's play. "I was nervous before the game, but I managed to calm down. Ding played very well and deserved the win," he shared, acknowledging the challenges of his first World Championship appearance.

Ding's victory marks the first decisive result in a World Championship opening game since the 2010 Anand-Topalov match, where India's legendary Vishy Anand also lost his first game but went on to win the title. For Gukesh, the early loss is a setback, but he has ample time to regroup in this long match.

The second game is scheduled for Tuesday, November 26 at 5 PM local time in Singapore, where Gukesh will have the chance to play with the white pieces and seek redemption.