World Championship Game 13: Ding saves draw, score tied before final classical game

A "golden game" coming

In two days' time, at the most, we will know whether Ding Liren retains his title as world chess champion or Gukesh D becomes the youngest player ever to claim the crown. In the key game 13, Ding managed to secure a draw from a difficult position, with the score remaining tied at 6½-6½. Gukesh, playing white, created significant pressure out of a French Defence but was unable to capitalise on his advantage. On Thursday, Ding will have the white pieces in what he described as a "golden game".

Before the match began, many pundits believed that Gukesh might win the match without the need for all 14 games, similar to Magnus Carlsen's victory against Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2021. This expectation was fuelled by Ding's struggles on and off the board since winning the title in 2023. However, Ding's resilient play in Wednesday's game proved he had prepared mentally and strategically for the challenge.

Gukesh approached the game with confidence, opting for 1.e4 for only the third time in the match. Ding responded with the French Defence, as in games 1 and 5 (Ding won game 1 and got good chances in game 5). This time, Gukesh unveiled what he later described as a "cool idea" playing the quiet but subtle 7.a3

The pawn push forced Ding into deep thought, spending 17 minutes on 7...Be7 and a further 37 minutes on his eighth move. In fact, Ding confessed that he had felt "confused" about his opponent's "tricky idea" of delaying f4. Thus, Gukesh emerged from the opening with a better position and a significant advantage on the clock.

A pivotal moment came on move 12, when Gukesh played 12.Nge2 instead of the more aggressive 12.Qg4. Still, his positional approach with 12.Nge2, followed by 13.0-0 and 14.Nc3, allowed him to maintain a comfortable edge.

Top Choice Repertoire: Play the French Defence Vol.1 & 2

In this two-volume video course former world-champion and startrainer Rustam Kasimdzhanov shows you the ins and outs of this hugely complex opening.

Meanwhile, Ding struggled to develop his light-squared bishop, the perpetual weakness of the French Defence, as Gukesh's threats mounted.

Game 13 in progress | Photo: FIDE / Eric Rosen

Realising the importance of his opportunity, Gukesh began to spend considerable time from move 16, searching for the best plan to convert his advantage. The tension escalated as Gukesh continued to improve his pieces. By move 31, however, Gukesh made the critical mistake of playing 31.Ne4 instead of the stronger 31.Rxe8+ Qxe8 32.Ne4, which would have given him a decisive edge.

Gukesh's mistaken move order allowed Ding to defend with 31...Rf8, a move he later described as a relief. In fact, his initial intention of playing 31...Rc7 in this variation would have led to disaster after 32.Nf6+

From this point, Ding demonstrated remarkable defensive technique despite being in severe time trouble. He navigated to the time control with accurate play, reaching a queen and rook endgame by move 43. The position was objectively drawn, but Ding had to defend precisely until move 68 to secure the result. Gukesh's early advantage had slipped away, leaving the score tied heading into the final classical game.

Understanding Middlegame Strategies Vol.11 - King's Indian Structures

This course will enhance your understanding of the King’s Indian Defence. Perfect for anyone looking to improve their opening strategy, reduce mistakes, and develop a winning game plan.

The stage is now set for a dramatic conclusion on Thursday. Fatigue and nerves will undoubtedly play a role in the deciding encounter. Should another draw occur, the World Chess Championship will be decided in rapid tiebreaks on Friday.

Draw agreed | Photo: FIDE / Eric Rosen

Gukesh ½ - ½ Ding

Analysis by André Schulz

Gukesh Dommaraju2783

½–½

Ding, Liren2728

WCC Match 2024 Singapore11.12.2024

1.e4 3 e6 26 2.d4 7 d5 0 3.Nc3 6 Nf6 12 4.e5 6 Nfd7 5 5.Nce2 5 In the first game of the match, the line seen was 5.f4 c5 6.Nce2 Nc6 7.c3 5...c5 26 6.c3 7 Nc6 5 7.a3 10 A rather rarely played move in this position. 7.f4 leads by transposition to the variation from the first game of the match. More common is 7.Nf3 e.g.: Be7 7...Qb6 8.a3 cxd4 9.cxd4= 8.a3 a5 9.h4 a4 10.Nf4 Qa5 11.Bd2 Qb6 12.Bc1 Qa5 13.Qd2 cxd4 14.cxd4 Nb6 15.Nh5 Kf8 16.Rh3 h6 17.Rg3 g6 18.Nf6 Nd7= 1-0 (52) Carlsen, M (2832)-Erigaisi, A (2778) Almaty 2024 7...Be7 The main move here is 7...Qb6 with the following predecessor 8.Nf3 cxd4 9.cxd4 Be7 9...f6!? 10.exf6 Nxf6 10.Nf4 Qd8 11.h4 Nb6 12.Bd3 and a clear advantage for White in (63) Kamsky, G (2609)-Dilmukhametov, A (2276) Chess.com INT 2024 (1-0) 8.Be3 Here, White could return to the more usual lines with 8.Nf3 8...Nb6 Another idea was 8...a5!? 9.Nf4 a4 10.Bd3 Qa5 similar to the first game of the match. 11.Kf1!? 9.Nf4 cxd4 10.cxd4 Nc4!? Black wants to exchange the dangerous light-squared bishop to castle kingside safely. There is also the concrete threat of an annoying Qa5. 10...0-0 11.Bd3 Nc4 12.h4 with the idea Nxb2? 13.Bxh7+ Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Nf3 and a strong attack. 11.Bxc4 dxc4 12.Nge2 12.Qg4!? with complications, e.g.: Qa5+ 13.Bd2 Qb6 14.Qxg7 Rf8 15.Nge2 Nxd4 16.Nxd4 Qxd4 17.Be3 Qxb2 18.0-0 b5 19.a4± 12...b5

After the exchange on c4, Black has a pawn majority on the queenside, the d5 square for a knight, and the open diagonal b7-g2 for the light-squared bishop. White, on the other hand, has a large operational area on the kingside and the e4-square as a springboard for active play. 13.0-0 0-0 14.Nc3 Rb8 15.Nh5 With the strong threat of Qg4. f5 15...a5?? 16.Qg4 g6 17.Ne4+- 15...Kh8!? 16.Qg4 Rg8 was also a defensive idea. 17.Rfd1 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Qf3 17.Nxf6+!? Qxf6 18.d5 exd5 19.Qxd5+ Kh8 20.Qc5 with the intention of Rd1 and Rd6. 17...Qe8 17...Nxd4!? 18.Nxf6+ Rxf6 19.Qh5 Rf5= 18.Nxf6+ Rxf6 19.Qe2 Qg6 20.f3 To enable Ne4. Rf8 21.Rad1 Ne7 22.Bf4±

White is slightly more active and has a space advantage in the centre. Of the two weak pawns, d4 and e6, Black's e6 is weaker. 22...Rb6 23.Bc7 Rb7 24.Bd6 Re8 25.Bxe7 Played with the idea that the knight is the better piece among the remaining minor pieces. Rexe7 26.Qe5 a6 27.d5 exd5 28.Qxd5+ Qe6 29.Qc5

White threatens Rd8 and Rd6. Ding had only about 8 minutes left on the clock here. 29...Re8 30.Rde1 30.Rfe1!? Qxe1+ 30...Qf7? 31.Rxe8+ Qxe8 32.Ne4+- 31.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 32.Kf2 Re8= 30...Qf7 30...Qxe1 31.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 32.Kf2 Re8 33.Ne4 Rbe7 34.Nd6 Re5 35.Qc6 R5e6 is playable for Black, but uncomfortable. 31.Ne4? Threatens decisively with Nd6. Significantly stronger was 31.Rxe8+ Qxe8 32.Ne4+- with the threats of Re1 and either Nf6 or Nd6, e.g.: Rb8 33.Nd6 Qd7 34.Qd5+ Qe6 with the lovely idea 35.Re1 Qxd5 36.Re8# 31...Rf8 32.Nd6 The computer sees only a small advantage for White here, who is more active. But the position is unpleasant for Black to play, especially with limited time. Rc7 33.Qe5 Qf6 34.Qd5+ 34.Qxf6 gxf6 35.Rd1= 34...Kh8 35.Re5 Re7 36.Rfe1 Rxe5 37.Rxe5 h6 38.Qc5 Bd7 At long last, the French bishop is developed on move 38. 39.Ne4 Qf4 40.Re7 Bf5

The time control has been reached. The endgame is now balanced. 41.Qd4 Rg8 42.h3 Qc1+ 43.Kf2 Bxe4 44.Rxe4 c3 45.bxc3 Qxa3 46.Kg3 46.Rh4 Threatens mate with Rxh6, but can be easily countered. Qa2+ 47.Kg3 Qe6= 46...Qb3 Clears the way for the a-pawn but also prevents Re6, after which Rxh6 would be threatened. Black has a passed pawn on the queenside, but it cannot be easily exploited. 47.Re7 a5 48.Rb7 Qc4 49.Qe5 The rook endgame after 49.Qxc4 bxc4 is drawn, e.g.: 50.Ra7 Rb8 51.Rxa5 Rb3 52.h4 Rxc3 53.Kf4 Kh7 54.h5 Rc2 55.g4 c3 56.Rc5= 49...Qc6 Black offers a transition to a rook endgame with a pawn deficit, which is, however, drawn. 49...b4 50.cxb4 axb4 51.Qe4 Rc8 52.Rxb4= 50.Qxb5 Qxc3 51.Ra7 Qe1+ 52.Kh2 Qb4 52...Qe3 53.Rxa5 Qf4+ 54.Kg1 Qc1+ 55.Kf2 Qd2+ 56.Kg3 Qe1+= 53.Qxb4 axb4 54.Rb7 Ra8 55.Rxb4 Ra2 56.Kg3 Kh7 57.Rb5 Kg6 58.f4 Kf6 59.Kf3 Rc2 60.g3 Rc3+ 61.Kg4 Ra3 62.h4 Rc3 63.Rb6+ Kf7 64.f5 h5+ 65.Kf4 65.Kxh5 Rxg3= 65...Rc4+ 66.Kf3 Rc3+ ½–½

Attack like a Super Grandmaster

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.

Dommaraju Gukesh | Photo: FIDE / Eric Rosen

Richard Rapport, Ding Liren's second | Photo: FIDE / Eric Rosen

Games

Schedule

Links

• Official website
• Two Knights Talk: Who will win the World Chess Championship match 2024?
• Ding Liren, the chess king from China who defies the odds
• Gukesh: From a school in Chennai to the world title match in Singapore
• Ding Liren is the new world chess champion! (2023)