World Championship Game 2: A 23-move draw to cool things off

"We still have a long match"

Find below expert video analyses by GM Daniel King and IM Robert Ris.

Ding Liren holds a 1½-½ lead in the World Championship match in Singapore after the second game ended in a 23-move draw on Tuesday. Gukesh D, recovering from a difficult loss in the opening game, managed to neutralise Ding's opening surprise and displayed poise throughout the encounter. The result allowed the young challenger to regain composure ahead of game three on Wednesday, where he will play with the white pieces. This next clash will be the final one before the players take their first rest day.

Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana, among others, noted after game one that nerves likely played a major role in Gukesh's defeat, making a draw (with black) in game two a positive step for the 18-year-old. Gukesh acknowledged this in his post-game remarks, stating:

Draw with black in the world championship match is always nice. And it’s too early, we still have a long match.

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Ding, meanwhile, made the most of the opening phase, securing a solid position while holding the white pieces. Though he might have pushed harder for a win, his choice to simplify and accept a draw by triple repetition appeared prudent under the circumstances. With memories of last year's gruelling match still fresh, Ding is pacing himself wisely, saving energy for critical moments. Looking ahead to game three, the reigning champion remarked:

I think it will be a big fight tomorrow. He's a point down and he will have the white pieces, so I'm ready for a fight.

While Garry Kasparov has dismissed this as a true World Championship match, citing the absence of the world's best player, the contest in Singapore has already delivered excitement. It is clear that both Ding and Gukesh, among the strongest players in the world, are fully committed to giving their all in pursuit of the sport's most prestigious title.

Reigning champion Ding Liren has a 1-point lead in the match | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

Ding ½ - ½ Gukesh

Analysis by André Schulz

Ding, Liren2728

½–½

Gukesh Dommaraju2783

WCC Match 2024 Singapore26.11.2024[Schulz,A]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.d3 This variation of the Italian game, called Giuoco Piano, is ancient and currently highly topical again. There are countless subtleties and the top players are constantly discovering new details. Both players have already gained a lot of experience with this opening. Nf6 5.Nc3 The move turns the Giuoco Piano into a Giuoco Pianissimo. However, experience has shown that the action can still become very lively. The most popular continuations are 5.c3 Or 5.0-0 5...a6 6.a4 The most frequently used here so far is 6.Bg5 with plenty of theory. 6...d6 7.0-0 h6 Prevents Bg5 and makes g5 possible. 8.Be3 Be6

9.a5 A new idea in this position. 9.Bxc5 dxc5 10.Nd2 Qd6 11.Bxe6 Qxe6 12.Nc4 0-0-0 13.Ne3 Nb4 14.b3 h5 15.a5 Kb8 16.Qe1 Ng4 17.Qd2 g6 18.Na4 1-0 (59) Abdusattorov,N (2731)-Caruana,F (2764) Stavanger 2023 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.d4 exd4 11.Nxd4 Qd7 12.Nxc6 Qxc6 13.Qd3 0-0 14.Bxc5 Qxc5= 1/2-1/2 (47) Praggnanandhaa,R (2684)-Giri,A (2764) Wijk aan Zee 2023 9...Bxc4 10.dxc4 0-0 The strange pawn structure after 10...Bxe3 11.fxe3 was not what Black was prepared for in this game. 11.Bxc5 dxc5 12.b3

Now an almost symmetrical position has been created in which all the bishops have disappeared. 12...Qxd1 13.Rfxd1 Rad8 14.Rdc1 Dodges the exchange of rooks. Ding is by no means looking for a draw to secure his advantage. Nd4 15.Ne1 Avoiding the exchange again. Both players now try to improve their position a little. Rd6 16.Kf1 g6 17.Rd1 Rfd8 18.f3 Kg7 19.Kf2 h5 20.Ne2 This is practically a draw offer. The players now repeat the position and the draw is agreed. Nc6 21.Nc3 Nd4 21...Rxd1 22.Nxd1 22.Rxd1 Rxd1 23.Nxd1 Nxa5-+ 22...Rd2+ 23.Ke3 does nothing for Black. 22.Ne2 Nc6 23.Nc3 Nd4 24.Rab1 ½–½

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A beautiful chess set is being used in Singapore | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

Expert analyses

Commentary by GM Daniel King

Commentary by IM Robert Ris

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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)