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According to the definition provided by GM Miguel Illescas in his book Jaque Mate, published in 2012, the "panic mode" is a mental state in which a player moves irrationally, without calculating any variation, not even the simplest ones. According to the author, this is what explains the tremendous blunder that decided the last World Chess Championship match between Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju. In this article, he presents his theory and provides details and additional material to illustrate his arguments.
The 2024 World Chess Championship match was decided in the final game, when the titleholder made an unbelievable blunder in a clearly drawn position. Black had no way to make progress, so any waiting move would have maintained the balance, but Ding Liren suddenly offered a rook exchange.
55.Rf2??
Allowing the transition to a winning pawn endgame for Black.
55...Rxf2 56.Kxf2 Bd5! 57.Bxd5 Kxd5 58.Ke3
If 58.Ke2 Ke4! 59.Kf2 Kd3, the black king breaks into White's position and eventually captures the g3-pawn. And in the case of 58.Ke1, the precise response is 58...Ke5!, with distant opposition. After 59.Kf2 Kd4, the black king penetrates, just as in the previous variation.
58...Ke5
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And Liren resigned. This theoretical endgame is elementary, and would continue: 59.Kd3 f4! 60.Ke2 f3+! 61.Kf2 Ke4 62.Kf1 f2! 63.Kxf2 Kd3 64.Kf1 Ke3 65.Kg2 Ke2 66.Kg1 Kf3 67.Kh2 Kf2 68.Kh1 Kxg3 69.Kg1 Kh3 70.Kh1 g3 71.Kg1 g2 72.Kf2 Kh2. 0–1
The start of the deciding final match | Photo: FIDE / Eric Rosen
How could the Chinese GM make such a blatant blunder? The calculation was very simple! After the rook exchange, Black forces the bishop exchange, and the pawn endgame is straightforward. Any strong player knows that king endgames with an extra pawn are almost
always winning. Let's try to explain the blunder with a few questions:
How can we explain the inexplicable? I believe I can offer a reasonable explanation based on my experience as a player and coach.
In my opinion, Liren made this mistake after entering a specific psychological state I call "panic mode". In this state, the player's brain freezes and stops calculating, instinctively selecting a move - usually one that attacks an opponent's piece or pursues a seemingly desirable goal, even if it is not concretely achievable.
The move 55.Rf2 fits this pattern. It attacks the opponent's rook and seeks the longed-for exchange of rooks, which would leave a bishop and two pawns against a bishop and one pawn - an obvious draw.
Not all players are vulnerable to "panic mode". I associate it with players of a certain age or those not in top form. In reality, it is a problem of stress management, which accumulates over time and, if uncontrolled, can lead to nervous system collapse. The player seeks relief from the immense pressure by making any move, avoiding the suffering of rationally choosing a move through disciplined calculation.
How does panic mode emerge? It rarely appears out of nowhere but builds up throughout the game, growing more intense as time runs low. Stress and fatigue increase, and in my experience, when the clock falls below 20 minutes, the pressure rises significantly.
Perhaps it's no coincidence that DGT clocks switch their display mode from hours/minutes to minutes/seconds at the 20-minute mark. In any case, let's examine how Liren gradually reached panic mode in that decisive 14th game.
From the start of the match, Liren aimed to play solidly, seeking a draw even with the white pieces. This game was no exception, and after 30 moves, he accepted a pawn-down endgame, knowing it was a clear draw.
31.Ra8 Rxa8 32.Bxa8
Ding forced the exchange of one rook, bringing him closer to his goal. At this point, Liren had 23 minutes, while Gukesh had 1 hour. However, the endgame was so clearly drawn that time didn't seem to be a relevant factor. If either the rooks or bishops were exchanged, the position would be theoretically drawn, so Gukesh's only hope was to keep all the pieces on the board and try to push his pawns - which is exactly what he did.
Liren attempted several times, unsuccessfully, to exchange either bishops or rooks. But Gukesh managed to keep all the pieces on the board. This gradually increased Liren's anxiety. The Chinese GM wanted to secure the draw immediately, but instead, he was forced to keep fighting a pawn down.
32...g5 33.Bd5 Bf5 34.Rc1 Kg7 35.Rc7 Bg6 36.Rc4 Rb1+ 37.Kg2 Re1 38.Rb4 h5 39.Ra4 Re5 40.Bf3 Kh6 41.Kg1 Re6 42.Rc4 g4 43.Bd5 Rd6 44.Bb7 Kg5 45.f3!
Finally, Liren manages to simplify the position, even if only by exchanging a pawn. However, Gukesh does not give up and keeps the remaining pieces on the board, preventing further exchanges.
45...f5 46.fxg4 hxg4 47.Rb4 Bf7 48.Kf2 Rd2+ 49.Kg1 Kf6 50.Rb6+ Kg5 51.Rb4 Be6 52.Ra4 Rb2 53.Ba8 Kf6 54.Rf4 Ke5
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After another 20 moves, Black has made little progress, though the time advantage has grown - Gukesh now has an hour, while Liren is down to just 10 minutes. However, the blockade on f4 is solid, and the black king has no entry, making a draw inevitable with simple waiting moves. If Black places his bishop on e4, White can exchange and capture on g4, securing an easy draw. Staying calm was crucial, but the accumulated stress took its toll on Liren. In "panic mode", he instinctively sought the longed-for rook exchange without calculating, unable to withstand the pressure any longer.
Reigning world champion Gukesh Dommaraju | Photo: FIDE / Eric Rosen
It is significant that Liren had already fallen into "panic mode" in his previous loss in Singapore, although it was not as evident at the time. Let's examine the final moves of that game.
After spoiling a promising opening position, Liren began to feel uncomfortable under White's queenside pressure. Unable to play actively or creatively, he kept opting for the most obvious and passive moves until he made a critical blunder.
25...Rb8
Liren once again opts for the most passive continuation, and by this point, his nervousness was clearly visible. I prefer seeking counterplay with the subtle 25...Rd6! 26.Nb3 Re6 27.Qf3 Rf6 28.Qe2 h4, or alternatively, the more risky but consistent 25...e5 26.Nb3 f5.
26.Nb3
White is closing on the dream position, and Liren is unable to put up any resistance.
26...e6?
Once again, active play was needed by returning the pawn with 26...Rd6! 27.Nc5 Na7 28.Rxb7 Rxb7 29.Nxb7 Rf6.
27.Nc5! Re7 28.Rdb1
The direct 28.Nxb7 Rxb7 29.Qxc6 Qxc6 30.Bxc6 Ra7 31.Bf3 Rec7 32.c5 was also strong, leading to a vastly superior endgame due to the passive placement of Black's rooks.
28...Qc8??
A fatal blunder, for which Liren spent barely half a minute, confirming that he had been unable to calculate clearly for some time.
28...Nd8? was ineffective due to 29.Na6. However, 28...Nb4! 29.Nxb7 Bf8! would have offered much more resistance.
29.Qxc6! 1–0
And Liren was forced to resign after 29...bxc6 30.Rxb8 Qxb8 31.Rxb8+, as White has won a piece outright. It is clear that Liren could see that 28...Qc8 loses a piece, but by that point, his brain was no longer capable of calculating. The stress kept building - he disliked his position, the clock was becoming a factor, and his opponent was growing in confidence...
Liren didn't even look for active options - though they existed - and instead chose the simplest and most defensive moves, trusting that the opposite-coloured bishops would save him once White captured on b7. As we've seen in the analysis, that approach didn't hold up. The reality is that Liren couldn't handle the pressure and succumbed to panic mode - a sweet surrender where no calculation is required.
Ding Liren, the 17th undisputed world chess champion | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An
Liren should not feel particularly frustrated by what happened. Panic mode has affected other great players and emerge in the most crucial moments.
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The diagram shows the conclusion of the second game of the London World Championship. Kramnik had caught Kasparov with a strong novelty against the Grünfeld Defence, and Garry had been struggling to keep up throughout the game. Under time pressure and fatigue, he made an unbelievable blunder, leaving a piece en prise.
39...Ke7?
In time trouble, the decisive blunder occurs. Clearly, Black could have resisted much longer with 39...Kg7.
40.Bd5! 1–0
A double attack - on the rook and the check on e6. Kasparov resigned after 40...Rxa5 41.Re6+ Kd7 42.Rxe5 Kd6 43.Rxh5 Rxd5 44.Rxd5+ Kxd5 45.Kg4.
Did Kasparov not see 40.Bd5? Obviously not, as he would have played his king to g7. How can such a simple move from the opponent be overlooked? The most reasonable explanation is that Kasparov didn't calculate anything - not a single move. He simply moved his king to a dark square without any further thought. This is typical panic mode behaviour, when stress overwhelms the player, and the hand moves instinctively without rational analysis.
Another World Championship example, this time a more subtle version of panic mode. Let's put it into context. Kramnik was being outplayed in the openings during his 2008 match against Anand. He had lost the third game, and now, in the fifth, he once again found himself in an uncomfortable position. Black's pieces were harmoniously coordinated in the centre, while White's army was split into two groups.
After 28...Rc3, Black threatens to capture on f3 and jump with the knight to e5. The pressure on Kramnik was immense - losing this game would put him two points behind, having already played more games with White. The position was complex, particularly in terms of evaluation. Finally, Kramnik entered a forced sequence that led to a losing position. What could have gone wrong in his calculation? The moves following his blunder were simple and forced.
29.Nxd4?
The desire for a move to work can be so strong that it clouds objectivity. In panic mode, Kramnik may have played it even while "sensing" it was bad. The necessary calculation was well within his ability and would have clearly revealed that the move was losing. A natural continuation would have been 29.Bxd7, and if 29...Bxf3!? 30.gxf3 Kxd7, the position remains unclear. Another possibility was 29.Qh5 (or 29.Qg8) followed by 29...Bxf3 30.gxf3 Qg6+ 31.Qxg6 hxg6 32.a5, leading to an endgame that is far from clear.
29...Qxd4 30.Rd1 Nf6 31.Rxd4 Nxg4 32.Rd7+ Kf6 33.Rxb7 Rc1+ 34.Bf1 Ne3! 35.fxe3 fxe3 0–1
And White was forced to resign in the face of Black's unstoppable pawn advance. Did Kramnik overlook 34...Ne3? Probably, but such a combination is trivial for a player of his calibre. He simply didn't calculate the variation with in his usual disciplined style. If you calculate a move and see that it's bad, you cannot play it. So, a brain operating in panic mode prefers not to calculate, secretly hoping the move will work. Once again, playing 29.Nxd4 was a form of relief - either it works, or I lose, but at least I no longer have to suffer trying to defend this position…
To conclude, I offer a recent example from my own experience. "Panic mode" has haunted me throughout my career, especially from the age of 30–35, when one becomes more vulnerable. In my case, it coincided with the decline of my competitive career, as I started focusing on other pursuits, such as coaching Kramnik or founding Peón de Rey magazine.
Let me provide some context for the following game. After several years of inactivity - or very limited play - I decided to participate in the Catalan League, playing a few games as the first board for the Tres Peons club. I knew my opponent, Alejandro Alvarado, from a previous encounter in the Spanish Championship, where I had won a fine game. However, I was aware of his danger, particularly in time trouble.
I prepared the opening well and obtained a promising position. Then, I missed several chances to increase my advantage, finally reaching the diagrammed position after nearly three hours of play.
I cannot deny that I felt some frustration upon realizing that my extra pawn offered no real chances to fight for a win.
42.Qg4 Qh7 43.Qg6 Qh8!
Black must avoid the queen exchange at all costs.
44.Qg4 Qh7 45.e4!?
An interesting idea. I felt it was important to weaken Black's king position, and it was unclear whether Black could capture the f-pawn safely.
45...dxe4 46.Qxe4 a5
The immediate 46...Qxf5? would have been a mistake due to 47.Qxf5 Rxf5 48.h5. However, 46...Rxf5 47.Rf2 Rh5 48.Qxh7 Rxh7 49.Rh2 c5 was playable, leading to a drawn endgame.
47.d5!? Rxf5 48.Qe3+
I played this check without much calculation, just trying to avoid a draw. I rejected the natural 48.Rf2, which led to a clear draw after 48...Rh5 49.Qxh7 Rxh7 50.Rxf6 Rxh4+ 51.Kg2 Rc4.
48...Ka6
It turns out that after 48...c5!, White is at risk of being worse, and only the precise 49.Qe8! secures equality. (49.Qd3? Qd7!; 49.Qe6+? Ka7!).
49.Qd3+ Kb6 50.dxc6!
I thought I might force the black king to capture that pawn and activate my rook via c2 with lethal effect. By this point, time trouble arrived, and Alejandro showed his best qualities, keeping his nerves under control throughout.
50...Qh5!
A precise move that caught me off guard. It threatens Rd5–d1, and my king suddenly looks quite vulnerable. I started calculating frantically, seeing only draws. With less and less time, I was stubbornly trying to win this game "because I had been winning in the middlegame". Past advantages don't guarantee future privileges, but a brain in panic mode ignores such logic.
51.Qd8+
According to the engine, White's best option was to seek a rook exchange, but I was fixated on trading queens. 51.Qd4+! Kb5 52.Rf2! Instead, I wasted most of my energy calculating lines like 51.c7 Kxc7 52.Rc2+ Rc5 53.Qg3+ Kc6, which offered no real advantage.
51...Kb5
Black wisely avoids the poisoned pawn - 51...Kxc6? 52.Rc2+ activates White's rook with a mating attack.
52.Qd3+
The losing move would have been 52.Qb8+? Ka4, as the black king finds a safe haven while White's king remains exposed.
52...Kb6 53.Qe2?!
A move played entirely in panic mode, desperately seeking the queen exchange. Needless to say, the best approach was to stay objective and accept the draw - a fair result for both players' efforts.
53...Qh6!
The worst part of panic mode here was that I already understood that even after 53...Qxe2 54.Rxe2 Rh5 55.Rh2 Kxc6, my winning chances in the endgame were nonexistent.
For instance: 56.Kg2 Kd5 57.Kf3 Ke5 58.Kg4 Rh8, with a completely drawn position.
54.Qd2??
Suddenly, I had no checks, and in panic mode, I blundered my queen.
The position remained balanced with any natural move, for example: 54.Qd1 Rc5 55.Qd8+ Kxc6 56.Qc8+ Kb6 57.Qb8+, forcing a perpetual check.
54...Rf1+ 0–1
And I had to resign after 55.Kg2 Qxd2+.
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