Grivas on Ding-Gukesh games 7-9

by Efstratios Grivas
12/6/2024 – After the second rest day, three draws followed in the FIDE World Championship 2024, making the match score 4½-4½. D. Gukesh missed good chances to prevail in games seven and eight, while game nine was probably the ‘quietest’ and most ‘correct’ game of the championship. We are entering the dangerous zone, where every mistake counts double, as there are only six games remaining. The general feeling by now is that D. Gukesh has lost more chances to take the lead than his opponent, and he is fighting more (even sometimes unjustifiably) to take the initiative. My takes. | All photos by Maria Emelianova
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Game seven

GukeshGukesh, Dommaraju2783½–½Ding, Liren2728Ding
GMFIDE-Wch
Singapore03.12.2024[Efstratios Grivas]		GM
1.Nf3 (D)
The first-move opening deviations have become an important (traditional by now?) part of this match! It was D.Gukesh to play a different first move - he has already tried 1.e4 and 1.d4... 1...d5 2.g3 g6 3.d4 Bg7 4.c4 c6 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.0-0 0-0 (D)
And finally we have a 'Gruenfeld Defence' on the board! Both players have a vast experience with this position, as L.Diren has played/faced it already 13 times with the white pieces and 14 times with the black (if I am not missing any in the counting!) and D.Gukesh has played/faced it 16 times with the white pieces and 10 times with the black! 7.Re1 (D)
A ‘strange-looking’ move that has never appeared in any of the two opponents' games and in general it is not considered that 'dangerous' for Black! White has tried many (better in my opinion) moves here; among them 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Nc3 Ne4 9.Ne5 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Nc6 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qa4 Qb6 (D)
13.Ba3 Gukesh,D-Nepomniachtchi,I Zagreb 2023, or 7.Nbd2 Bf5 8.b3 Ne4 9.Bb2 Na6 10.Nh4 Nxd2 11.Qxd2 Carlsen,M-Anand,V Kristiansund 2010, or 7.Ne5 Nbd7 8.Nc3 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Ne4 10.cxd5 Nxc3 11.bxc3 cxd5 12.f4 Kramnik,V-Ding,L Novi Sad 2016, or, finally, 7.Qa4 (D)
7...Nfd7! 8.cxd5 Nb6 9.Qd1 cxd5 10.Nc3 Nc6 11.e3 Bf5 12.b3 Rc8 13.Bb2 Qd7 14.Qe2 Bh3 15.Rfd1 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 e6 17.Rac1 Yu,Y-DIng,L Huaian 2017. 7...dxc4 Rightly so! But Black spend approximately 25 minutes for this decision, trying to figure out what he had to choose from… 8.e4 An early novelty to 8.a4 Nd5 8...Bf5 9.Nc3 Ne4 10.Nh4 Nxc3 11.bxc3 Soucek,J-Meers,H Bratislava 2019, or 8...b6? 9.Ne5 Bb7 10.Na3 Nfd7 11.Nexc4 Na6 12.Bf4± Will,J-Schlag,A Germany 2018, but the untested 8...c5! (D)
Looks strong: 9.dxc5 Nc6 10.Na3 Qa5 11.Be3 Rd8 9.Na3 c3 10.bxc3 Nxc3 11.Qb3 Stavast,D-Hummel,J Groningen 2013 , or to 8.Na3? b5 9.Bf4 Nd5 10.Be5 f6 11.e4 Nb4 12.Bxb8 Rxb8 13.Qd2 a5 14.Nb1 e5 15.Rd1 exd4 16.a3 Nd3 0-1 Schriebl,A-Muellneritsch,A Raika 1999. With the text, White is ready to invest a pawn for central domination and good piece play. 8...Bg4 (D)
9.Nbd2 The main alternative is 9.a4 , when after Nfd7 10.Na3 c5 11.d5 Ne5 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 e6 , it looks like a great position for Black. 9...c5?! (D)
The text doesn't seem to be right, as it gives White a free hand. The principled 9...b5 , should be played. After 10.h3 Bc8! 11.a4 a5 12.Nf1 , White has compensation for his investment, but Black has the pawn! 10.d5! e6 A natural idea; Black isolates White's d-pawn, but on the other hand it makes it a passed one as well. 11.h3 11.dxe6 , doesn't look great, but messy variations can appear after Bxe6 , for example: 12.Ng5 Bg4 13.f3 Qd4+ 14.Kh1 Bd7 15.e5 Nd5 16.Re4 Qd3 (D)
17.Qe1! 17.Bf1?! Ne3 17...b5 18.Bf1 Qc2 19.Nxc4! bxc4 20.Rxc4 Qf5 21.Re4! (the queen is trapped!) Nc6 22.g4 Qxe5 (D)
23.Rxe5 23.Qh4 h6 24.Rxe5 Nxe5 25.Ne4 Nxf3! 26.Qh3 Ne5 27.Bxh6 Nxg4 28.Bxg7 Nf2+ 29.Nxf2 Bxh3 30.Bxf8 Bxf1 31.Bxc5 Be2= 23...Nxe5∞ . The main alternative 11.Nxc4 exd5 12.exd5 Nbd7 White would be on the top after 12...Qxd5?! 13.Qxd5 Nxd5 14.Ng5 Nb4 15.Bxb7 Nc2 16.Re7! 13.h3 , is only a transposition. 11...Bxf3 12.Bxf3 exd5 13.exd5 (D)
13...Nbd7 And not 13...Nxd5? 14.Nxc4 Bd4 15.Bh6 Nc6 16.Bxf8 Kxf8 17.Qb3± . 14.Nxc4 b5 Black has to gain space on the queenside and show some activity, otherwise the white bishop pair and the passed d-pawn can be proven mighty forces. 15.Na3 Qb6 (D)
16.Bf4 Rfe8 16...Rae8 , can be another great story, as messy variations can be revealed: 17.Qd2 c4 18.d6 Nc5 19.Re7! Rxe7 20.dxe7 Re8 21.Qd6 Nfd7 21...Qxd6 22.Bxd6 Nfe4 23.Nxb5 Nxd6 24.Nxd6 Rxe7 25.Nxc4 Nd3 26.Rd1 22.Rb1 Nd3 23.Qxb6 Nxb6 24.Bg5! f6 25.Be3 Rxe7 26.Nxb5 f5 27.Nxa7 Rxa7 28.Bxb6 Ra6 29.Bd5+ Kf8! 29...Kh8? 30.Be3 Nxb2 31.Bxc4!+- 30.Be3 30.Bxc4 Rxb6 31.Bxd3 Rxb2 32.Rxb2 Bxb2= 30...Nxb2 31.Bc5+ Ke8 32.Re1+ Kd8 33.a3 . 17.Qd2 Rad8 (D)
Both sides completed their development and a rich middlegame lies ahead. White seems to stand slightly better, due to his bishop pair and passed d-pawn, but Black hopes to succeed in ...c4 and ...Nc5, with good play. 18.Nc2 Edged pieces should be improved! Nf8?! A passive continuation. Black should have opted for 18...Rxe1+ 19.Rxe1 Ne8! (passed pawns must blockaded) 20.b3 Nd6 21.Re2 h5 22.Kg2 . 19.b4 (D)
A typical push to gain more squares in the centre. A good alternative seems to be 19.Rad1 Ne6 20.Be3 a5 21.a3 Nc7 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 Nfxd5 24.Bxc5 Rxe1+ 25.Qxe1 . 19...c4 19...cxb4 , had to be considered. After 20.Nxb4 Ne4 20...Nh5?! 21.Bxh5 21.Rad1 Nxf4 22.Qxf4 Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Qd6 24.Qxd6 Rxd6 25.Nc6 21...Bxa1 22.Rxa1 gxh5 23.Rc1 21.Bxe4 Bxa1 22.Nc6 Rc8 23.Be3 Qb7 24.Bg2 , White would have great compensation for the invested exchange sacrifice. 20.Be3 (D)
Interesting here is to exchange both rooks, as the endgame position after 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 20...Nxe8 21.Re1 Nd7 22.Be3 Qa6 23.Nd4 Ne5 24.Bg2 21.Re1 Rxe1+ 22.Qxe1 , looks quite pleasant for White. But as Black is lacking time, White decided to preserve more pieces in the board. 20...Qa6! 21.Bd4 Rxe1+ Black should seriously consider 21...N8d7 22.Qf4 Qa4 23.Rxe8+ Rxe8 24.Ne3 Qxb4 25.Rd1 , But he went for the pawn... 22.Rxe1 Qxa2 (D)
But the key-problem for L.Ding is his clock. He is down to a minute a move with NO increment for 18 more moves! That is living dangerously! 23.Ra1! Qb3? 23...c3! , was forced. After the long variation 24.Bxc3 Qc4 25.Bxf6 Bxf6 26.Rxa7 Bc3 27.Qg5 Rd7 28.Rxd7 Nxd7 29.Qd8+ Nf8 30.Qe7 Kg7 31.d6 Bf6 32.Qe2 Qxe2 33.Bxe2 Be5 34.Bxb5 Bxd6 35.Bc6 , White has some chances to prevail, but Black looks solid, due to the opposite-coloured bishops. 24.Ra3! Qb1+ 24...c3 , now, fails to 25.Bxc3 Qc4 26.Ne3 Qc7 27.Qb2+- . 25.Kg2 (D)
25...Rd7 25...N8d7 , doesn't solve Black's problems after 26.Rxa7 h5 27.d6± . 26.Ra5! 26.Bxa7?! h5 27.Be3 Ne6 , or 26.Rxa7?! Rxa7 27.Bxa7 N8d7 , would help Black to minimise White's advantage. 26...Qb3 27.Ra3 White repeats moves, but as his opponent is in grave time trouble, he should go for the direct 27.Rxb5 . 27...Qb1 28.Ra5 Qb3 (D)
29.Rxb5! Finally! White won back his pawn, preserving all his strategical advantages. Black's position is critical... Qd3 (D)
Trying for some counterplay... 30.Qf4? 30.Be3! Qxd2 31.Bxd2± , would leave Black without any decent moves. Note that 30.Qxd3? cxd3 , should be great for Black after 31.Ne3 31.Na3 d2 32.Bxf6 Bxf6 33.Nc4 Bc3= 31...Nxd5!= . 30...Qxc2 31.Bxf6 (D)
31...Qf5! 'Forcing' the queen exchange. After 31...Bxf6? 32.Qxf6 Qf5 33.Qd4+- , Black should think of resigning. 32.Qxf5?! Now Black will gain counterplay. Good was 32.Bg5! Qxf4 33.Bxf4 c3 34.Rc5± . The bishop pair should be retained. 32...gxf5 (D)
33.Bxg7?! Again, White should opt for 33.Bg5! , when a typical variation should run as Be5 34.Be2 c3 35.Bd3 a6 36.Ra5 Bd6 37.Bxf5 Bxb4 38.Bxd7 Bxa5 39.Ba4! 39.Bc8? Bb4 40.Bxa6 Nd7 41.Bc4 Nb6 42.Bb3 Ba3 43.Be3 Nxd5= 39...Bb4 40.Kf3± . 33...Kxg7 34.Rc5 (D)
34...Ng6! Activation of the passive knight. 35.Rxc4 Ne5 36.Rd4 Nc6! 36...Nxf3? , is out of the question after 37.Kxf3 Kf6 38.Kf4 Rd6 39.h4+- . 37.Rf4? (D)
White should seriously consider 37.Rd2! Nxb4 38.d6 Kf6 38...Rd8 39.Bd1± 39.Be2!± , when the material is equal, but Black is struggling, as his pieces are inferior to White's and his a-pawn less dangerous. 37...Ne7! 38.b5 Kf6 39.Rd4 h6! 39...Ke5? 40.Rh4! , wouldn't be welcomed by Black after Nxd5 41.Rxh7 Kf6 42.Rh4 Ne7 43.Ra4± . 40.Kf1 Ke5? (D)
The last move before the first time control, wasn't a success for L.Ding. After 40...Nc8! 41.Rf4 Nd6 42.Be2 Rb7 , Black should have excellent chances to save the half-point. 41.Rh4! Nxd5 41...Rd6 42.Ra4 Rd7 43.Ra6! , doesn't make any difference. 42.Rxh6 White now, as he exchanged his 'weaker' d-pawn with the most valuable black h-pawn, he has got nearly a winning position. Nc3 Black cannot escape even after 42...Nf6 43.Rh8 Rd3 44.Kg2 Rb3 45.Bc6+- . 43.Rc6! Ne4 (D)
43...Nxb5? 44.Rc5++- . 44.Ke1? This was a big miss by D.Gukesh. It was inexplicable to me why he did not play the simple 44.h4 , instead of the text. Rule of thumb: 'If you have a running pawn, let it run FAST!' His king was better off on f1 so he can defend his bishop on f3 if needed. King on e1 did not really have a purpose - Susan Polgar. 44...f6 45.h4 Rd3! (D)
It seems that now Black has sufficient counterplay to preserve the balance, as all his pieces are actively placed. 46.Bd1 46.Bxe4 fxe4 47.h5 47.Rc7 Rb3 48.Rxa7 Rxb5 49.h5 Rb1+ 50.Ke2 f5= 47...Kf5! 48.h6 Rd7!= , or 46.Be2 Rb3 47.Bd1 Rxb5 48.Bc2 a5= , offers nothing different to White. 46...f4! (D)
The only way, as any other move would allow White to regain his plus. 47.gxf4+ After 47.Bc2 , Black has fxg3! 48.Bxd3 48.fxg3 Rxg3= 48...g2 (D)
But White can be still saved after 49.f4+! Kxf4 50.Rxf6+ Nxf6 51.Kf2 g1Q+ 52.Kxg1 Kg3= . 47...Kxf4 48.Bc2 Rd5 48...Rh3 49.Ra6 f5 50.Bxe4 fxe4 51.Rxa7 Rxh4 52.b6 Rh1+ 53.Ke2 Rb1 54.Rf7+ Ke5 55.b7 Rb2+= , was good enough to split the point. 49.Rc4 f5 50.Rb4 Kf3 51.Bd1+ (D)
51...Kg2 And of course, not 51...Kf4? 52.f3+- . 52.Rb3 Re5! Another accurate, but not that difficult, continuation. Black's activity almost nullified White's extra material. 53.f4 Re7 54.Re3 Rh7! (D)
White's pawns must be attacked, as quicker as it is possible, otherwise White might consolidate his position. 55.h5 55.Bf3+ , fails to offer White something after Kg3! 56.Bxe4+ Kxf4 57.Bxf5 57.Rh3 Kxe4= 57...Kxf5= . 55...Nf6 56.Re5 Nxh5 57.Rxf5 (D)
57...Ng3! After the wrong 57...Re7+? , White could win with 58.Re5! Rxe5+ 59.fxe5 Nf4 60.Kd2!+- . 58.Rf8 Rb7 59.Ba4 Kf3 60.f5 Kf4 The white f-pawn is going nowhere and the much more active black king, makes the difference. 61.f6 Ne4 (D)
62.Bc2 62.f7 Ng5= . 62...Nd6 But not 62...Rxb5? 63.Bxe4 Kxe4 64.f7+- . 63.Rd8 But now, 63.Bd3 , doesn't work, due to Nxb5 64.Bxb5 Rxb5 65.f7 Rb7= . 63...Ke5 64.Bb3 (D)
64...Nf7! 64...Rxb5?! 65.f7 Nxf7 66.Bxf7 , although it is drawn, would allow White to torture his opponent for a long time. 65.Rd5+ Kxf6 66.Kd2 Rb6 67.Bc4 Rd6! (D)
Now the draw is perfectly in sight, as there is nothing left to play. Soon, the black knight will be given for White's last pawn. 68.Kc3 Rxd5 69.Bxd5 Nd6 70.Kb4 Nxb5 71.Kxb5 a6+ 72.Kxa6 ½–½

Games eight and nine

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1.c4 (D)
As usual, a first move deviation... The 'English Opening' is a highly successful opening at club level, simply because the player with the white pieces is aware of transpositions that a cursory glance at Black's options cannot reveal. When building a repertoire against 1.c4, it is important to take into account the fact that White will always have more experience of the general positional themes than Black. 1...e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 Not much to comment here, as both sides have a number of early alternatives at their disposal. But the text is coming to fashion rapidly! 3.Nd5 Be7 (D)
3...a5 , has been tried here: 4.Nf3 d6 5.g3 c6 6.Nxb4 axb4 7.d4?! 7.d3 c5 8.Bg2 Nc6∞ 7...e4 8.Nd2 Nf6 9.Bg2 d5 10.b3 0-0 11.e3 Bf5 Erigaisi,A-Gukesh,D Warsaw 2024. 4.Nf3 The 'main' way to proceed seems to be 4.d4 exd4 5.Bf4 c6 6.Nxe7 Nxe7 7.Qxd4 Steinitz/Potter-Kolisch/Meither London/Vienna Telex 1872 - the first time we encountered this variation. After 4.Nxe7 Qxe7 , it is important to realise that this doesn't give White any real advantage in itself. The earlier Black exchanges a bishop for a knight, the better he can organise his position accordingly. 4...d6 (D)
5.g3 After the initial game of 1872, it took a good number of years, until 1977, before this variation become again a part of the chess fashion opening culture. Relevant here is 5.d4 Nd7 6.e4 Ngf6 7.Bd3 exd4 8.Nxd4 Nc5 9.0-0 Nxd3 10.Qxd3 0-0 11.Nxe7+ Qxe7 12.f3 Yakubboev,N-Deac,B Internet 2024. 5...c6 Black could also think of 5...Nf6 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Bg2 Re8 8.d4 Caruana,F-So,W Saint Louis 2024. 6.Nxe7 The alternative 6.Nc3 f5 7.Bg2 Nf6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 , is flexible, but it doesn't seem to give any plus to White. 6...Nxe7 7.Bg2 (D)
7...f6 A logical novelty to 7...0-0 8.0-0 c5 9.b3 Nbc6 10.Bb2 h6 11.e3 Vakhidov,J-Caruana,F Samarkand 2023. Black wishes to protect his e-pawn and build a strong centre with ...d5. 8.0-0 Be6 9.b3 d5 (D)
So, White has the bishop pair and Black a strong centre for the coming rich middlegame. 10.Ba3 0-0 10...dxc4? , would be rather naive after 11.bxc4 Bxc4 12.d4!± . 11.Rc1 a5 (D)
12.Ne1 An interesting way of play. White wishes either to play f4, attaching Black's centre, or regroup his knight to d3-c5. If the position gets an open one, then the bishop pair will dominate. Re8 (D)
13.f4 Maybe a bit early. 13.Nd3 Na6 14.Nc5 Nxc5 15.Bxc5∞ , is a good way of play. Well, L.Ding faced a tough challenge early on as D.Gukesh's preparation left him out of his comfort zone. However, the reigning champion countered with a bold f4 push on move 13, seeking dynamic play in the centre. 13...exf4 14.Rxf4 14.gxf4?! Na6 , would be already nice for Black. 14...dxc4 15.bxc4 Ng6 (D)
Black's strong centre disappeared, but he seems to have more harmoniously placed pieces, with plenty of piece play in the board. 16.Re4 Na6! (D)
The black knight, from a6, can plan to move to b4 in some lines. 17.Nc2 Objectively, 17.Bb2 , should be tried. After Nc5 18.Re3 Bg4 19.Rxe8+ Qxe8 20.Nf3 Rd8 21.Qe1∞ , the position looks like dynamically balanced. 17...Qc7 17...f5! 18.Rd4 Qc7 , should have been tried. 18.Nd4! Bf7 19.d3 Ne5 (D)
20.Nf3?! (D)
White should have tried 20.Qd2 Nb4 21.Rf1∞ . After the text, D.Gukesh had an edge, both on the board and the clock, holding a time advantage of nearly 30 minutes. L.Ding is down to slightly more than a minute a move. This is not good, as he is playing with fire. Just because he saved some bad positions, it doesn't mean this is a good habit in a World Championship against a formidable opponent. 20...Nd7? Returning the favour. Strong was 20...Bg6! 21.Rf4 21.Re3 Ng4 22.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21...Nb4 22.Bxb4 axb4 23.c5 Rxa2 24.Rxb4 Qe7 25.Rc2 Rea8 . 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 (D)
22.Rb1? White should play 22.Bb2 Qd6 23.Qd2 . A critical moment arose here, when L.Ding's imprecise text move, allowed D.Gukesh to play the powerful coming idea. 22...b5! (D)
This aggressive (and tactical) move created connected ‘passers’ on the queenside, putting the reigning champion under serious pressure. 23.cxb5 Qb6+ 24.Kf1 cxb5 (D)
25.Bb2? A much better way to fight was by 25.Bh3 Ndc5 26.Bxc5 Nxc5 27.Qc2 Ne6 , or 25.Qc2 b4 26.Bb2 Bxa2 27.Ra1 Bd5 28.Qa4 Nac5 29.Qxa5 Qb7 . It would take another miracle for L.Ding to save this game. Proper time management is crucial in a World Championship. One cannot get into time pressure over and over again and expect to do well. It may work in some games but the odds are against you. This is one of the most important lesson I can give to young players. Fix it immediately before it becomes a lifetime bad habit. Many incredible players over the years failed to reach the pinnacle because of poor time management - Susan Polgar. 25...Bxa2 26.Bd4 (D)
26...Nac5? Obviously, D.Gukesh mixed-up his knights! After 26...Ndc5 27.Rc1 Bd5 , it would be difficult for L.Diren to save the game... 27.Rc1 Bb3? (D)
Another poor move. Black had to opt for 27...b4 28.Qc2 b3 . 28.Qe1! Nevertheless, L.Ding showcased remarkable precision in time trouble, particularly with the manoeuvre Qe1-f2, sacrificing a pawn on a2 to activate his pieces and fight for counterplay. Be6? A third mistake in a row would be quite much for everybody! D.Gukesh had to settle for an equal position with 28...a4! 29.Qb4! 29.Nd2?! Qd6 29...Na6 30.Qxb3+ axb3 31.Bxb6 Nxb6 32.Rb1 Nd5 33.Nd4 Ne3+ 34.Kf2 Nxg2 35.Kxg2 Nc5 36.Kf2= . 29.Qf2! Rc8 (D)
This is a nasty double deadly pin D.Gukesh got himself into! The last few moves by D.Gukesh are strange. All of a sudden, D.Gukesh came from nearly taking the lead to now fighting to hang on to an even match! People who never experienced it cannot understand the level of stress these players are in, and nerves play a massive role in winning or losing. 30.Be3! (D)
L.Ding not only neutralised D.Gukesh's advantage but also gained the upper hand. However, the Chinese champion admitted after the game: today during the game I didn't realise I was winning at some point. 30...Rc7 (D)
Otherwise White will win with d4. 31.Nd4?! The text looks like winning, but 31.Ne1! , was extremely strong: Bf7 32.Bf4 Ra7 33.Bh3 Be6 34.Bxe6+ Qxe6 35.Be3!+- . 31...Bf7! 32.Nc6 That was White's idea, which wins material. Rxc6 33.Bxc6 Qxc6 34.Bxc5 h6 (D)
White won the exchange, but the black queenside duo gives Black good counterplay. 35.Ke1 35.Qf3 Bd5 36.Qe3 Be6 37.Kf2± , would still keep White on the very top. But the text is not bad either. 35...b4 (D)
35...a4 , was the alternative try, but it seems that Black will not escape easily after 36.Qe3 Ne5 37.Bd4 Qa6 38.Bxe5 fxe5 39.Qc5! a3 40.Qc8+ Qxc8 41.Rxc8+ Kh7 42.Kd1 e4! 43.dxe4 b4 44.Kc1 b3 45.Ra8 a2 46.Kb2+- . 36.Qd4? Better is 36.Kd2! Qd5 37.Qf3! Qxf3 38.exf3 Ne5 39.Ke3± . 36...Ne5! 37.Kd2 Qg2 Now Black can present sufficient counterplay. 38.Qf2 Qd5! (D)
39.Qd4? 39.Bd4! , was probably White's last chance: Nc6 40.Bb6 Ne5 41.Qd4 Qg2 42.Qf4± . 39...Qg2? Black should play 39...Qa2+ 40.Rc2 Qe6= . 40.Qf2 Good seems to be here 40.Qe3± , but not 40.Qe4? Qxe4 40...Qxh2? 41.Bd4+- 41.dxe4 Nc4+= . 40...Qd5 41.Qd4? (D)
Lacking awareness of his chances, L.Diren consolidated his position rather than pushing for a win, which allowed D.Gukesh to force a triple repetition. However, the Indian challenger, much like in game 6, chose to play on in a slightly worse position, though he later acknowledged misjudging the situation. 41.Bd4 Nc6 42.Bb6± , had to be played. 41...Qa2+ D.Gukesh said at the press conference: this position where I didn’t repeat, I didn’t think I was in much danger. I always thought with his weak king and my strong pawn on b3, I should have played. I thought maybe I might even have some chances. But OK, it was just a misjudgement of the position. This is completely different mindset than L.Ding (who underestimated his position). D.Gukesh, on the other hand, overestimated his position. They are as different as can be, and that is why the games are exciting (even with a number of inaccuracies). 42.Rc2 Qe6 43.Qd8+ Kh7 44.Qxa5 b3! 45.Rc1 Qd5 46.Qb4 (D)
46...Qg2 Black's threats are good and present sufficient counterplay, so L.Ding decided to force a draw. 47.Qe4+ Qxe4 48.dxe4 b2! 49.Rb1 Ba2 50.Rxb2 Nc4+ 51.Kc3 Nxb2 51...Nxb2 Draw agreed, as after 52.Kxb2 Be6= , there isn't much to play. ½–½
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Ding,L2728Gukesh,D2783½–½2024A21FIDE-Wch8
Gukesh,D2783Ding,L2728½–½2024E11FIDE-Wch9

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Efstratios (30.03.1966) is a highly experienced chess trainer and chess author. He has been awarded by the International Chess Federation (FIDE) the titles of International Chess Grandmaster, FIDE Senior Trainer, International Chess Arbiter and International Chess Organiser.
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