In an exhilarating start to the 2024 International Chess Federation (FIDE) World Chess Championship, the defending champion Ding Liren of the Chinese mainland secured a decisive victory against India's Gukesh Dommaraju in Singapore.
The match began with Gukesh launching an unexpected attack using his e-pawn, prompting Ding to respond with the French Defense. Demonstrating exceptional focus, Ding orchestrated a robust queenside counterplay, while Gukesh's aggressive attempts on the kingside began to falter as the game progressed.
At just 18 years old, Gukesh struggled with pivotal moves during the middle game, leading to critical miscalculations. Meanwhile, Ding methodically leveraged his positional advantages, ensuring Gukesh had no avenue for a comeback. The intense four-hour battle marked the first truly decisive game in a title match since Vishy Anand of India defeated Veselin Topalov of Bulgaria in 2010.
This victory marks Ding's first win in classical chess since January 27, when he bested Grandmaster Max Warmerdam of the Netherlands at the Tata Steel Masters.
Reflecting on the match, Ding stated, \"This was his first World Championship, and he might have been nervous, so I played something unusual, which I hadn't played for a long time.\"
Gukesh commented, \"Obviously it was not a great game by me. It all depended on the alertness. I think it was just a tactical oversight. It can happen.\"
Ding is set to play with the white pieces in the second game scheduled for Tuesday, promising an exciting continuation to the championship.
Reference(s):
Ding Liren defeats Gukesh Dommaraju in World Chess Championship opener
cgtn.com
