Grivas on games five and six

After the six encounters, each opponent has won one game, and there were four fighting draws to complete the picture. Ding seems to be in charge, while Gukesh is fighting well and tries to create chances in every game. But it is Ding who finds them. However, he doesn’t take advantage of the "presents" of his opponent!

The match remains unclear and promises more entertaining games. Here are my comments on games five and six – followed by a replayer with all six games with my annotations.

Gukesh, Dommaraju2783

-

Ding, Liren2728

FIDE-Wch Singapore30.11.2024[Efstratios Grivas]

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 (D)

As 'expected', L.Ding goes for his beloved 'French Defence'. 3.exd5 A huge surprise and the first time in his chess life that D.Gukesh opts for the 'Exchange French Defence'; an opening is consodered to be quite drawish! Well-prepared players do not opt for such simple lines, which gives, more or less, nothing to White, in an early stage already... Obviously, the team of D.Gukesh has spotted something.... exd5 4.Nf3 (D)

Long time ago, L.Diren had faced the same variation: 4.Bd3 Bd6 5.Ne2 Nf6 6.Bf4 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.Nd2 Bxf4 8...Bg4 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.c3 Nbd7 11.Qc2 Bh5= Aengenheister,D-Fromm,J Willingen 2016 9.Nxf4 Qd6 10.Qf3 Be6 11.c3 Nbd7 Liu,R-Ding,L Suzhou 2001. 4...Nf6 4...Bg4?! , is an alternative, quite tricky line, played by L.Diren as well: 5.h3 Bh5 6.Qe2+! Qe7 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Nc3 0-0-0 9.0-0-0 Nf6?! 9...f6 10.g4 Bf7 11.Bg2 Ji,D-Ding,L Xinghua Jiangsu 2009 10.g4 Bg6 (D)

11.Ne5! 11.Bg2? Ne4 12.Nxe4 Bxe4= Bacrot,E-Caruana,F Paris 2017 11...Qe6 12.f4 Be4 13.Rg1 Bb4 14.Nxe4 Nxe4 15.Bg2± Magerramov,E-Iuldachev,S Abu Dhabi 2001. 5.Bd3 c5 (D)

An active continuation, but more natural is 5...Bd6 6.0-0 0-0 7.Bg5 Bg4 7...h6 8.Bh4 Nc6 9.c3 g5 10.Bg3 Ne4 11.Bxd6 cxd6 12.Nfd2 f5 13.Na3 Anand,V-Caruana,F Stavanger 2018 8.Nbd2 Nbd7 9.c3 c6= Aghasiyev,K-Caruana,F Internet 2024. 6.c3 White can force Black having an isolated pawn, but it doesn't seems to mean much after 6.dxc5 Bxc5 7.0-0 0-0 8.Nc3 h6 9.h3 Nc6 10.Bf4 Re8 11.Re1 Rxe1+ 12.Qxe1 Nb4 13.Be5 Nxd3 14.cxd3 Be6= Adams,M-Bluebaum,M Budva 2023. 6...c4 An early advance, where Black seems to be doing fine. The main alternative is 6...Nc6 7.0-0 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Be7 9.h3 Nxd4 10.cxd4 0-0 11.Nc3 Be6 12.Re1 Mamedov,R-Gvetadze,S Kocaeli 2008. 7.Bc2 Bd6 (D)

8.Qe2+ Other natural ways are 8.0-0 0-0 9.h3 Nc6 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 g5 12.Bg3 Bxg3 13.fxg3 Nh5 14.Kh2 Qd6 15.Ne5! Nxg3! 16.Kxg3 f6 17.Na3! fxe5 18.Nb5 Rxf1 19.Qh5! Qf6 20.Rxf1 Qxf1 21.Qg6+ Kf8= Grandelius,N-Shirov,A Budapest 2024 and 8.b3 Qe7+ 9.Qe2 Qxe2+ 10.Kxe2 0-0∞ Rafea,S-Rawand,H Baghdad 2017. 8...Qe7 8...Be6?! , could give White something after 9.Ng5 Qe7 10.Nxe6 Qxe6 10...fxe6?! 11.0-0 Nc6 12.Re1± Midy,R-Lucas,A Budapest 2024 11.Qxe6+ fxe6 12.0-0 Nc6 13.f4 . 9.Qxe7+ Kxe7 (D)

9...Bxe7 , is also possible: 10.Bf4 0-0= Tregubov,P-Aitbayev,A Internet 2020. 10.0-0 Re8 11.Re1+ Kf8 12.Rxe8+ Kxe8 Black has lost his castling rights, but in such positions without the queens on the board, this fact is of a minor significance. 13.Bg5 Nbd7 14.Nbd2 (D)

White has somewhat better development (due to the black c8-bishop), but it seems that he cannot take advantage of it, due to the balanced pawn structure and the absence of serious threats. Still, Black needs to be on the alert. 14...h6 15.Bh4 Nh5 L.Ding finds a good square for his f6-knight and gets the opportunitty to move the other one (the d7-knight), without shattering his pawn structure, helping the development of his c8-bishop. A clever idea indeed. 16.Re1+ Kf8 (D)

17.g4 An aggressive, although not advisable, novelty to 17.Nf1 g5 18.Bg3 Nxg3 19.Nxg3 Bxg3 20.hxg3 Nf6= Damjanovic,V-Kramer,J Petrovac 2024. The text doesn't seems to offer anything positive to White; it just weakens his pawn structure. A typical reaction of young players, who, after failing to get the position they do like, get over-aggressive! 17...Nf4 18.Bg3 Nb6 (D)

Time to fully develop, winning a tempo on g4. 19.g5! hxg5 20.Nxg5 Bd7 21.Ngf3?! (D)

21.Nf1 Re8 22.Rxe8+ Kxe8 23.Ne3 f6 24.Nf3 Ne2+ 25.Kf1 Nxg3+ 26.hxg3= , is more or less equal, as Black's bishop pair cannot be retained forever (Bf5 will come sooner or later). 21...Re8?! As White's rook has no entrance point to the black camp, Black could try 21...Rd8 22.Nf1 Na4 23.Rb1 b5 24.Ne3 Nb6 , where he could present a tiny advantage, due to his better pawn structure. 22.Ne5 (D)

22.Rxe8+ Bxe8 23.Ne5 Ba4= , is plain equal. 22...Bxe5! 23.dxe5? A mistake. White should have opted for 23.Rxe5 Rxe5 24.dxe5 Ba4 25.Bf5 Ne6= . 23...Nd3! Probably missed by White, who only expected 23...Nh5 24.Nf3= . 24.Bxd3 White had no other option to save material. cxd3 (D)

Although material is equal and the opposite-coloured bishops help the 'defender', the black d3-pawn looks dangerous anbd threats as ...Na4, or ...Nc4, can be annoying. White will have to struggle to save the half-point and this can be called a 'punishment' for his poor opening choice. 25.f3?! Another innacuraccy by the young Indian. He should have opted for 25.Bf4! Re6 25...Nc4 26.b3! Nxd2 27.Bxd2 Bg4 26.f3 Na4 . 25...Nc4! (D)

26.Nxc4 What else? 26.Bf4 , looks worst after Nxb2 27.Rb1 Nc4 27...Na4 28.Rxb7 Nxc3 29.Kf2 Bb5 28.Nxc4 dxc4 29.Rxb7 Bc6 . 26...dxc4 (D)

Now, the black d passed pawn is also well-protected, but the presence of opposite-coloured bishops can be helpful to White. Here Black needs to find other targets as well, so he plans ...Re6-b6/a6, with full dominance. 27.Re4! (D)

White tries to force ...b5, cutting-off the black's rook threats along its 3rd rank. Black would be in the right way after 27.Kf2?! Re6! 28.Ke3 28.Bf4 Rb6 29.Rb1 29.Bc1 d2! 30.Bxd2 Rxb2 31.Re2 Rxa2 29...Ba4 30.Be3 Rb5 31.b3! 31.f4? Bc2-+ 31...cxb3 32.Rb2! 32.axb3? Bxb3-+ 32...a5 33.c4 bxa2 34.Rxa2 Bb3! 35.cxb5 Bxa2 36.Bd2 a4 37.Ke3 Bc4 38.b6 Ke7-+ 28...Ra6 29.Ra1 Ra5 . 27...Bc6?! The text loses a considerable amount of the advantage. Good was 27...Be6 28.Rd4 Rc8 29.Bf2 Kg8! 29...Rc6 30.Rd8+ Ke7 31.Rd6 Rc8 30.Be3 Kh7 , when Black should be in the right track. 28.Rd4! Probably Black missed the text, expecting only the naive 28.Rxc4? Rd8! 29.Bf4 d2 30.Bxd2 Rxd2-+ . 28...Bxf3 29.Kf2! (D)

29...Bc6?! 29...Bh5 , was Black's last try for something more: 30.Ke3! b5 31.b3 Rc8 32.Rh4 g6 33.Rd4 . 30.Rxc4 Rd8 31.Rd4! Rxd4 32.cxd4 Bd5 33.b3 (D)

The position now is plain equal... 33.Ke3 Bxa2 34.Kxd3 Bd5= . 33...Ke7 34.Ke3 Ke6 34...Be4 35.Be1 Bf5 36.d5 Kd7= , would be also OK for both sides. 35.Kxd3 (D)

White won a pawn, but the position remains equal due to the presence of the opposite-coloured bishops... 35...g6 36.Kc3 a6 37.Kd3 Kf5 38.Ke3 Ke6 39.Kd3 Kf5 40.Ke3 (D)

And draw agreed, as there isn't much to play for, for either side.

Live commentary during the game by ChessBase India

Ding, Liren2728

½–½

Gukesh, Dommaraju2783

FIDE-Wch Singapore01.12.2024[Efstratios Grivas]

1.d4 In his three white games, L.Ding started with three different first move: 1.e4, 1.Nf3, and in this game 1.d4. This is the R.Rapport factor, unpredictability! Nf6 2.Bf4 (D)

Once more L.Ding avoids direct opening conflicts and prefer 'sidelines', like the 'London System'. He obviously admits that D.Gukesh has a better home preparation... 2...d5 3.e3 e6 One of the many decent lines Black can opt for. The most common nowadays is 3...c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nd2 Bf5 6.Ngf3 e6 7.Qb3 Qc8 8.Nh4 , with a tiny white advantage, as in Carlsen,M-Vidit,S Internet 2023. 4.Nf3 c5 5.c3 Bd6 (D)

Logical, exchanging some pieces, but Black could opt for the modest 5...Nc6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.Bd3 0-0 8.Ne5 Anand,V-Koschetzki,C Baden Soden 2019. 6.Bb5+ Black faces no problems after 6.Ne5 0-0 7.Bd3 Qc7 8.Nd2 b6 9.h4 Ba6 10.Bxa6 Nxa6 11.h5 h6∞ Erigaisi,A-Keymer,V Warsaw 2024. 6.Bg3 , also fails to offer White anything after 0-0 7.Nbd2 Qc7∞ Carlsen,M-Svane,R Internet 2020. 6...Nc6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 (D)

White decided to opt for a position where Black sooner or later will have to go for ...cxd4, when after his response cxd4, a backward and weak pawn will appear on the semi-open c-file. A good strategy when aiming for a slight but persisting plus! 9.Qa4! Accurate, planning Qa3. Nothing is gained by 9.Nbd2 0-0 10.Qa4 cxd4 11.cxd4 c5 12.Qa3 Qa6!∞ Kamsky,G-Dominguez Perez,I Internet 2022. 9...0-0 10.Qa3 (D)

10...Ne4! Protecting both the c5-pawn and its queen, thus solving the largest amount of Black's problems. 11.Nfd2 Black stands fine after the natural 11.Nbd2 cxd4 12.Qxd6 Nxd6 13.cxd4 Rb8! 13...Ba6?! 14.Nb3 Kamsky,G-Siddarth,J Internet 2023 14.b3 Ba6 15.Rc1 Rfc8∞ . 11...e5! (D)

As the b1-knight protects now its queen, wrong would be 11...cxd4?! 12.Nxe4 Qxa3 13.Nxa3 dxe4 14.cxd4 Aronian,L-So,W Internet 2021, when White’s advantage is not much, but it is 'annoying'... 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxc5 Qg6! This is Black's point. He has invested a pawn to achieve pressure on the kingside and generally on the light squares. 14.Nd2 (D)

Both opponents are well prepared! After the ‘inappropriate’ 14.g3? Ba6 15.Qxe5 Bd3 , Black's play gives him the edge, although being two pawns down. 14...Qxg2! A direct capture! Wrong would be 14...exd4?! 15.Qxd4 Re8 15...Bf5?! 16.0-0-0 Rad8 17.Qe5 Rd5 18.Qg3 Bg4 19.f3± Harikrishna,P-Vidit,S Internet 2022 16.0-0-0 Ba6 16...c5?! 17.Qxc5 Qa6 18.Nxe4! Qxa2 19.Qa3± Abasov,N-Svane,R Lublin 2023 17.c4 Qe6 18.Qc5 Rad8 19.b3 Bc8 20.Nb1 Sevian,S-So,W Saint Louis 2021. 15.0-0-0 Qxf2! (D)

16.dxe5 Best again. Not much is 16.Rde1?! Rb8?! 16...exd4! 17.Nxe4 Qh4 18.Qxd4 Bf5 19.Ng3 Qh3 17.Rhf1 Qxh2 18.Rh1 Qf2 19.Rhf1 Qh2 20.Rh1 Qf2 21.Rhf1 Qh2 ½-½ Aronian,L-Dominguez Perez,L Saint Louis 2022. 16...Rb8 17.Nc4 (D)

17...Be6 A novelty to (the more sound) 17...Qf3 18.Rhf1 ½-½ Martin,S-Chronopoulos,A Email 2022. 18.Rd2! Qf3 19.Re1 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 (D)

Both opponents have weak pawns, but White's pieces seem to be more centralised and general more active, so Black should be on the alert. 20...Qf5 The text should be considered an 'inaccuracy'. Black had to opt for 20...Rbd8 21.Rd6! h5 22.a4 , where a long fight could be on the cards. Note that this was the first time in this game that L.Ding start thinking, so the home prep gave him already a 45-minute edge on the clock and a comfortable and pleasant position. Kudos to his team! 21.Qxc6! Qxe5 (D)

22.Qd5! White offers a queen exchange, as he has rightly evaluated that the arisen double rook endgame would be rather pleasant for him. And this is because his rooks will be able to attack Black's weaknesses (a5 and e4), while assisting efficiently their passed c-pawn. Qe7! And D.Gukesh rightly avoids it, because of the above note. It is important to create threats on the white king and the queen is a valuable weapon. 23.Qd6 Trying once more... Qg5 But the answer is again NO! 24.Qd5 Qe7 (D)

It seems that Black is not bothering with the draw... 25.Qd6 L.Ding is playing somewhat strange; he seems not to be satisfied with his position... He should have opted for 25.Red1 Rfc8 26.Kc2 . 25...Qg5 26.Qd5?! Once again, in a very pleasant risk-free comfortable endgame, L.Ding opted to repeat moves! This was a bit disappointing! And it was D.Gukesh (in the next move) who refused to accept a draw and deviated! Kudos to him for trying to fight on... Qh4? (D)

But is is D.Gukesh who breaks the equalibrium! A draw could be signed after 26...Qe7 , which produce a three-fold move repetision. The text is absolutely wrong, giving White the advantage. 27.Red1! But now L.Ding didn't miss his chances and goes for the right way. The domination on the only open file can assist his dreams. g6 28.Qe5 Maybe it was time to push the passed c-pawn as well: 28.c4 Qh3 29.Qd4 29.Qg5 a5 30.Kb1 , can be an alternative option 29...Rbd8! 30.Qxe4 30.Qxd8? Rxd8 31.Rxd8+ Kg7 32.Re1 Qxh2∞ 30...Rde8 31.Qd4 Qxe3 32.Qxe3 Rxe3 33.c5 a5 34.a3 , as the white duo on the queenside seems to be rather dangerous. 28...Rbe8 (D)

29.Qg3?! 29.Qa5 , looks interesting, but Black can preserve a balanced position by Qh3 30.Qxa7 Ra8 31.Qc5 Rxa2 32.Rd8! Rxd8 33.Rxd8+ Kg7 34.Qf8+ Kf6 35.Rd6+ Kg5 36.Qe7+ 36.Qxf7 Qxe3+ 37.Kb1 Ra7!∞ 36...Kh6 37.Kb1 Ra8 38.Qxe4 Qxh2∞ . So, White's best should have been 29.Qc5 Rc8 30.Qxa7 Ra8 31.Qd4 Rxa2 32.c4 . Here, the 'weaker' white king can be troubly for White. 29...Qh5?! It is difficult to prove White's advantage after 29...Qxg3 30.hxg3 Re5! , but D.Gukesh is generally 'afraid' of exchanging queens. Well, nobody can be really harsh with his decision... 30.Qf4 (D)

In general, White has the more pleasant position as he has already activated his rooks and can create threats or simply push his passed c-pawn. 30...Qa5?! Rather optimistic. 30...a5 31.a4 Qf3 32.Qg5! , should be a better try for Black. 31.a3 Qb5 32.Rd4 Qe2 (D)

33.R1d2! Bad would be 33.Rxe4? Rxe4 34.Qxe4 Qxh2∞ . 33...Qf3 (D)

The alternative was 33...Qe1+ 34.Kc2 a5 , when White can hold his nice advantage by 35.Rd7! White is even losing after the naive 35.Rxe4? Rb8!-+ 35...Qa1 36.Rb7 Qh1 37.Kb3!± , as the black a- and e-pawns are rather weak and the white pieces more active. 34.Kc2? L.Ding doesn't find the right way, which was by 34.Qg5 Qf1+ 35.Kc2 Qe1 36.Qg3!± and loses all his advantage... 34...Qxf4 35.exf4 f5 (D)

Now Black's passed and protected e-pawn should be enough to preserve the balance. 36.h4 Stopping Black's potential passed duo after 36.c4 g5! 37.Rg2! 37.fxg5? f4-+ 37...h6! 38.Rd6 Kg7 39.fxg5 h5!∞ . 36...e3! The 'counterplay' starts rolling! 37.Re2 Re7 And Black is ready to protect it by ...Rfe8, as well. 38.Kd3 Rfe8 (D)

39.h5 Exchanging weak pawns is hardly a bad idea; anyway, White has nothing better to do ( 39.c4?! Kg7 40.c5 Kh6 ). 39...gxh5 Or 39...Kg7 40.hxg6 hxg6 41.Rd5= . 40.Rd5! h4 41.Rxf5 (D)

41...Rd7+ 42.Kc2 Kg7! Activating the king. 43.Rg2+ 43.Rh5 Kg6 44.Rxh4 Kf5 , looks quite aggressive for Black, although White can hold after 45.c4 Ke4 46.f5+! Kf3 47.Reh2 47.Rhh2= 47...e2 48.R2h3+= . 43...Kh8 43...Kh6? , would be rather naive: 44.Rf6+ Kh5 45.Rg5# . 44.Re2 Kg7 45.Rg2+ Kh8 46.Re2 Kg7 (D)

And draw agreed, in an equal endgame, with three-fold repetition. ½–½

And here for all who missed it: my commentary on all six games: