12/7/2024 – As the World Chess Championship in Singapore nears its conclusion, the tension remains palpable, with the score still tied after ten games. Saturday's cautious game 10, a 36-move draw from a London System, reflected the heightened stakes as players avoid unnecessary risks with only four classical games left. Gukesh D, the challenger, and Ding Liren, the reigning champ, are both focused on precision, knowing that a single mistake could prove decisive. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An
new: ChessBase Magazine 225
Chess Festival Prague 2025 with analyses by Aravindh, Giri, Gurel, Navara and others. ‘Special’: 27 highly entertaining miniatures. Opening videos by Werle, King and Ris. 10 opening articles with new repertoire ideas and much more. ChessBase Magazine offers first-class training material for club players and professionals! World-class players analyse their brilliant games and explain the ideas behind the moves. Opening specialists present the latest trends in opening theory and exciting ideas for your repertoire. Master trainers in tactics, strategy and endgames show you the tricks and techniques you need to be a successful tournament player! Available as a direct download (incl. booklet as pdf file) or booklet with download key by post. Included in delivery: ChessBase Magazine #225 as “ChessBase Book” for iPad, tablet, Mac etc.!
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before. FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
Expand your Chess Horizon
The perfect equipment for 2026 with the latest ChessBase program '26, Mega Database, ChessBase Magazine and Premium-Account!
€349.90
Little room for error
Find below expert video analysis by GM Daniel King
With only four classical games remaining, the World Chess Championship in Singapore remains tied. After the early excitement of wins in games 1 and 3, games 4-10 have all ended in draws. Saturday's game 10 was a cautious, 36-move encounter that offered little in the way of fireworks, leaving the overall score balanced as the match heads into its final stretch.
Ding Liren opened with his favoured 1.d4, prompting commentator David Howell to quip, "Pawn to Ding 4." The game quickly transitioned into a London System, marking the second time this structure has appeared in this match and the third time overall in a World Championship match. Both players rattled off their prepared moves until Gukesh D spent almost half an hour on 10...Nh5, a somewhat uncommon continuation in the position.
Although the knight move is not the most popular continuation, Gukesh noted it as a reasonable idea in this system. The position evolved with 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Ne4 Nf6 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6, and Ding chose to simplify further by trading queens with 14.Qxd8
In this Fritztrainer: “Attack like a Super GM” with Gukesh we touch upon all aspects of his play, with special emphasis on how you can become a better attacking player.
This sequence, while logical, significantly reduced the chances for either player to create meaningful imbalances.
Ding retained a slight edge, but he wisely avoided over-pressing against an opponent of Gukesh's calibre. Further simplifications led to a draw being agreed on move 36, with both players left with a bishop and six pawns each. While the game was not as thrilling as earlier encounters, it reflected the caution now dominating the match.
The significance of every move has grown with only four classical games remaining. Ding remarked in the press conference:
There’s not so much room to make mistakes. Every loss will result in a very bad situation. We need to be careful with every move.
Gukesh echoed this sentiment, saying:
Now the cost of one game is higher than before, but my approach and my goal is still the same – to play good games.
The action continues with games 11 and 12 scheduled for Sunday and Monday, followed by a final rest day on Tuesday. The fourteenth and potentially decisive classical game is set for Thursday, with a tiebreaker, if needed, to follow on Friday. By the end of the week, we will either see Ding Liren retaining his title or witness the crowning of the youngest world champion in chess history.
Gukesh D thinking in front of Ding Liren's empty chair | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An
In this video course, experts including Dorian Rogozenco, Mihail Marin, Karsten Müller and Oliver Reeh, examine the games of Boris Spassky. Let them show you which openings Spassky chose to play, where his strength in middlegames were and much more.
World Championship memorabilia on display | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An
World Championship memorabilia on display | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An
Looking for a realistic way to play for a win with Black against 1.e4 without taking unnecessary risks? The Taimanov Sicilian is a reliable system, and hence one of the best options out there!
Carlos Alberto ColodroCarlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this volume, we dive into core aspects of chess technique. Smyslov taught the principle of tactical hierarchy, “checks, double attacks, and unprotected pieces”, and Mikhalchishin demonstrates how this method of calculation is vital.
Videos: Nico Zwirs examines two Petroffs from the 2026 Candidates. Robert Ris has a tip against the Caro-Kann Advance Variation with 3…c5. Fiona Sieber reveals a surprise weapon against the Najdorf. ‘Lucky Bag’ with 40 analyses by Ganguly, L'Ami et al.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this powerful new course, endgame expert Karsten Müller teams up with rising star Leon Mendonca to deliver what truly matters: 10 essential rules that every player must know.
In this video course experts examine the games of Bent Larsen. Let them show you which openings Larsen chose, where his strength in middlegames were, how he outplayed his opponents in the endgame & you’ll get a glimpse of his tactical abilities!
From the 2026 Candidates Tournament, featuring a video review by Dorian Rogozenco, to Jan Werle’s opening video on the French Tarrasch Defence, and Oliver Reeh’s tactical column ‘Top Grandmasters at Work’. Analyses by Giri, So, Wei Yi and many others.
€21.90
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, analysis cookies and marketing cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies. Here you can make detailed settings or revoke your consent (if necessary partially) with effect for the future. Further information can be found in our data protection declaration.
Pop-up for detailed settings
We use cookies and comparable technologies to provide certain functions, to improve the user experience and to offer interest-oriented content. Depending on their intended use, cookies may be used in addition to technically required cookies, analysis cookies and marketing cookies. You can decide which cookies to use by selecting the appropriate options below. Please note that your selection may affect the functionality of the service. Further information can be found in our privacy policy.
Technically required cookies
Technically required cookies: so that you can navigate and use the basic functions and store preferences.
Analysis Cookies
To help us determine how visitors interact with our website to improve the user experience.
Marketing-Cookies
To help us offer and evaluate relevant content and interesting and appropriate advertisement.