In a thrilling showdown at the FIDE World Championship in Singapore, the Chinese mainland's defending champion, Ding Liren, secured a vital victory against India's Gukesh Dommaraju in Game 12, tying the overall score at 6-6.
After a challenging loss in Game 11, where Ding trailed 6-5 with only three games remaining, the pressure was mounting. Undeterred, Ding opted for the English opening once again, transitioning into a Reti setup with a kingside fianchetto as Gukesh countered with a Queen's Gambit declined formation.
The game remained evenly matched through the middle stages, with both players demonstrating remarkable patience and strategic foresight. The tide turned when Gukesh targeted Ding's backward d3-pawn, prompting the champion to execute 18.d4, seizing control of the board.
Leveraging his central pawns and a pair of bishops, Ding gained the upper hand. Despite Gukesh's efforts to find defensive resources after losing two pawns, the Chinese champion maintained dominance, leading to a crucial draw that leveled the match.
Reflecting on his performance, Ding remarked, \"Yesterday was a difficult game to deal with, but I tried to continue with my normal routine and be refreshed for this important game. Today I had a cup of coffee before the game, which helped me feel much more energetic, and also, I had some snacks to maintain my energy levels for the critical moment. I think I played a very good game and found some good moves.\"
Gukesh expressed resilience despite the setback, stating, \"In the second half of the match, I had chances in many of the games. Today was obviously a bad game, but I wouldn't draw too much from it. Bad games happen. But if you look at the second half overall, I think we are both playing better than the first half. 6-6 is overall the fair result, but since I was leading after yesterday, it is a bit disappointing to lose this game.\"
With the score tied, the championship remains on a knife-edge, promising an intense conclusion in the upcoming games.
Reference(s):
Ding Liren defeats Gukesh to tie battle at FIDE World Championship
cgtn.com
