FIDE World Championship: Gukesh D Seizes the Lead After Game 11 Blunder by Ding Liren

This afternoon in Singapore, 18-year-old chess prodigy Gukesh D made a significant leap toward becoming the youngest classical chess world champion in history. It was one of the most gripping games of the FIDE World Championship match.

Gukesh defeated reigning champion Ding Liren to claim a 6-5 lead with just three games remaining. The game was a rollercoaster of tension, with both players taking nearly an hour to decide on a single move.

newproject8-1733682228 — Gukesh D vs Ding Liren (Photo: FIDE Media)

Speaking about his performance, a visibly dejected Ding admitted, "It was a very difficult game for me. Already on move four, I wasn't sure if I had made the correct choice. I remembered a game I played in a rapid tournament against GM Adhiban but I couldn't remember the other moves. I spent 40 minutes calculating some nonsense variations."

The turning point came when Ding, under severe time pressure, blundered on move 28. Instead of 28...Nb4, which would have sacrificed his extra pawn but retained reasonable drawing chances, Ding played 28...Qc8. This critical error allowed Gukesh to deliver a winning combination with 29.Qxc6, forcing Ding to resign.

Reflecting on his victory, Gukesh credited his team of coaches for their meticulous preparation. "Full congratulations to my team for their effort in the preparation of this opening, which caught my opponent by surprise. Then I did some stupid things, but I am happy I was able to get it back together," he said after the match.

Despite the setback, Ding is not giving up hope. Drawing from his experience in the previous championship, he said, "In the last match I made a comeback on the twelfth game, so I am hoping to play well tomorrow."

The match now heads into its final stages, with Gukesh holding a slim lead and Ding looking to stage a dramatic comeback. Game 12 will undoubtedly be crucial as both players vie for the world champion title.

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