World Championship Game 3: Gukesh grabs first win, evens the score

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
11/27/2024 – The World Chess Championship in Singapore is now level at 1½-1½ after 18-year-old Gukesh D claimed a commanding victory in Game 3. The youngest challenger in history showcased effective opening preparation and flawless technique to overcome Ding Liren, who struggled with time pressure in the critical phase. With this win, Gukesh has regained momentum ahead of the first rest day, resetting the narrative in a match many predicted he would dominate. Ding, on his part, has proven his resilience in the previous match for the crown. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An
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"A masterclass in piece harmony"

Find below expert video analysis by IM Robert Ris.

Gukesh D, the youngest challenger in World Championship history, delivered a commanding victory with the white pieces in game 3 to level the score against reigning champion Ding Liren. Heading into the first rest day, this result marks a critical psychological boost for Gukesh, especially after his painful loss in the opening game. The pre-match favourite has regained momentum, but Ding will have the advantage of playing with the white pieces in two of the next three games before the second rest day.

The third game featured an early h3-g4 thrust from Gukesh in a Queen's Gambit Declined. Ding, caught off-guard, quickly found himself out of preparation and spent over 30 minutes deciding on his 13th move. While the reigning champion initially seemed to stabilise his position, his time management ultimately proved fatal. With just over 8 minutes to make 11 moves at a critical juncture, Ding later lost the thread and ran out of time by move 37, failing to solve the complex problems posed by his young opponent.

Gukesh's opening strategy was both daring and practical, perfectly suited for the situation. Once he seized the initiative, his technique in converting the advantage was nearly flawless. Jovanka Houska, commentating for FIDE, praised the youngster's play, describing it as "a masterclass in piece harmony".

In the post-game press conference, Gukesh responded to questions about his subpar performance in the first game with his usual confidence and maturity:

I was a bit nervous, it's a new setting for me. For example, even Magnus, in his first World Championship, he wasn't at his best at the start. I think it's a very normal reaction, and I was okay with that. It was a bad game, but I was generally feeling good.

Ding, meanwhile, appeared dejected. But he has proven his resilience in the past - in last year's match against Ian Nepomniachtchi, he recovered from deficits in games 2, 5, and 7 to ultimately claim the crown. This time, he is not trailing, but Gukesh's convincing win has shifted the pre-match narrative. Many in the chess world are now reaffirming their belief that the youngster could emerge victorious in this historic encounter.

World Chess Championship 2024

The body language during the post-game press conference conducted by GM Maurice Ashley | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

Gukesh 1 - 0 Ding

Analysis by André Schulz

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1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 d5 3.c4 e6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Nc3 c6 6.Qc2 To hinder the development of the light-squared bishop to f5, although Black forces it anyway. The main line is 6.Bg5 Be7 7.Qc2 6...g6 An alternative is 6...Be7 7.h3 A very rarely played move in this position, used twice last year by Kramnik in rapid tournaments. Here, too, 7.Bg5 is the main line. 7...Bf5 8.Qb3 Qb6
9.g4 In the first game, Gukesh also played this expansive move, albeit in a different situation. Qxb3 9...Be6 10.Bg2 h5 11.g5 Nfd7 12.0-0 Bd6 13.e4 dxe4 14.Qxb6 Nxb6 15.Nxe4 Be7 16.Nc5 Bxc5 17.dxc5 Nd5 0-1 (50) Kramnik, V (2753) - Nepomniachtchi, I (2771), Amsterdam 2023 10.axb3 Bc2 10...Be6 11.Bf4 Nbd7= 11.Bf4 h5 11...Bxb3?! is unfavourable due to 12.Nd2 Bc4 12...Bc2? 13.Rc1 Be4 14.f3+- 13.Nxc4 dxc4 14.e3 Nbd7 14...b5? 15.Bg2+- 15.Bxc4± White has more space, central dominance, and the bishop pair. 12.Rg1 hxg4 13.hxg4 Gukesh played his moves fairly quickly, while Ding took more time. At this point, Ding spent half an hour thinking. Nbd7 After this move, Gukesh had nearly two hours on the clock, while Ding had just under one hour. 13...Bxb3 14.Nd2 Bc4 15.Nxc4 dxc4 16.e3 Bb4 17.Bxc4± with a good position for White. 14.Nd2 Now threatening Rc1, leaving the bishop on c2 in trouble. Rg8 To prepare g6-g5, giving the bishop on c2 a retreat square on h7. 15.g5 15.Be3!? g5 16.Rc1 Be4 17.Ndxe4 Nxe4 18.f3 15...Nh5 16.Bh2 Rh8
17.f3 White wants to play e4 to increase his central control and trap the bishop on c2. For now, the bishop on h2 is undefended, which Black uses to reposition the knight with tempo. Ng7 18.Bg3 Rh5?! Ding was already running short on time. After this move, he had 27 minutes left on the clock, while Gukesh had more than one hour. 18...0-0-0? is unfavourable: 19.Rc1 Bf5 20.Nxd5± Or 20.e4 dxe4 21.fxe4 Re8 22.Be2 Bh3 23.Nb5± 18...Ne6 might have been considered: 19.Rc1 Bf5 20.e4 Nxd4 21.exf5 Nxf5 22.Bf2 Bd6 with compensation for the piece, two pawns, and active play. A solid option was 18...Be7 also attacking g5. 19.Rc1 19.e4 Ne6 20.Rc1 dxe4 with the idea 21.Rxc2? Nxd4 22.Rc1 e3-+ 19...Bf5 20.e4 Be6 19.e4 dxe4 20.fxe4 Ne6
In the following complications, Black will lose a piece in all lines but gain two pawns as compensation. 20...Rxg5? 21.Rc1± traps the bishop on c2. 21.Rc1 Nxd4 22.Bf2 Bg7 An alternative was 22...Bc5 23.Na4 23.b4!? Bb6 24.Rg3± 23...Nxb3 24.Rxc2 Bxf2+ 25.Kxf2 Nxd2 26.Rxd2 Ke7+- Black has two pawns for the piece and must fight for a draw. 23.Ne2 Nxb3 23...Nxe2 24.Bxe2+- 24.Rxc2 Nxd2 25.Kxd2 Ne5+- Threatening a fork on f3, which is easily parried. 26.Nd4 26.Ke3+- 26...Rd8 27.Ke2 Rh2 28.Bg2 a6 29.b3 Rd7 30.Rcc1 Ke7 31.Rcd1 White defends the knight on d4 and opens up the possibility of Bg3. Ke8 For the last 9 moves, Ding had just 1 minute 50 seconds left on the clock, while Gukesh still had 15 minutes. 32.Bg3 Rh5 33.Nf3 Nxf3 34.Kxf3
34...Bd4 34...Rxg5? is dangerous: 35.Rxd7 Kxd7 36.Rd1+ Ke7?? 36...Ke6 37.Bh3++- 37.Bh4 35.Rh1 Rxg5 36.Bh3 f5 36...Rd8 37.Bh4+- 37.Bf4 Rh5 37...Rh5 38.Bxf5 Rxh1 39.Bxd7+ Kxd7 40.Rxh1+- 1–0
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Gukesh Dommaraju2783Ding,L27281–02024WCC Match 20243.1

Dommaraju Gukesh

Gukesh D fully focused | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

Ding Liren

Reigning champion Ding Liren | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

World Chess Championship 2024

Chess fever in Singapore | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

Expert analysis

Commentary by IM Robert Ris

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1.e4 4 e6 15 2.d4 9 d5 6 3.Nc3 9 Nf6 19 4.e5 6 Nfd7 6 5.f4 6 c5 14 6.Nce2 8 Nc6 2:17 7.c3 6 a5 27:42 7...Be7 is becoming the main line. C11: French: Classical System: 4 e5 and 4 Bg5 dxe4. 8.Nf3 10 a4 2:47 9.Be3 9 Be7 46 10.g4N 22 Predecessor: 10.Qd2 0-0 11.h4 b5 12.dxc5 Nxc5 13.Bxc5 Bxc5 14.Ned4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Be7 16.Kf2 1-0 Duda,J (2743)-Caruana,F (2823) Chess.com Speed blitz 2020 (1.19) 10...Qa5 14:17 11.Bg2 20:25 a3 12:44 12.b3 39 cxd4 4 13.b4 5:24 Qc7 1:16 14.Nexd4 22 Nb6 17:58 15.0-0 9:15 Nc4 3 16.Bf2 45 Bd7 2:38 17.Qe2 33:41 Nxd4 48 18.Nxd4 6:22 Nb2 41 19.Qe3 2:54 Rc8 1:39 20.Rac1 4:04 Qc4 28 21.f5 4:35 Qd3 50 21...Qxa2?! 22.Ra1 Qc4 23.Rxa3 22.Qe1 3:31 22.Rc2 22...Bg5-+ 2:01 22...exf5? 23.e6 23.Bxd5 Qa6± 23...fxe6 24.Nxe6+- 23.Rc2 2:17 Rc4 10 23...exf5 24.e6 Bf6 24...fxe6? 25.Nxe6 Qxc2 26.Nxg5+ Kf8 27.Ne6+ Kf7 28.Bxd5+- 25.Rd2 25.exd7+ Kxd7 26.Qb1 Qa6+- 25.Bxd5 0-0+- 25...fxe6 26.Rxd3 26.Nxe6 Qxc3 27.Nf4+ Kf8+- 26.Bxd5 0-0+- 26.gxf5 Qxc3 27.Nxe6 Rc4+- 26...Nxd3 27.Qe3 Rxc3 28.gxf5+- 28.Nxe6 Nxf2 29.Qxf2 Bxe6+- 23...Ba4 24.fxe6 fxe6 24...Bxc2? 25.exf7+ Kxf7 26.e6+ Ke8 27.Qe5+- 25.Nxe6 25.Re2? Bd1-+ 24.h4 7:40 Bf4 4 25.Qb1 1:39 Rxc3 7:13 26.Rxc3 1:58 Qxc3 5 27.fxe6 47 fxe6 4:34 27...Bxe6-+ aiming for ...0-0. 28.Nf5 Bxe5 28.Ne2 14 Qxe5 53 29.Nxf4 1:23 Qxf4 5 30.Qc2 6:09 30.Bc5 was called for. Qxg4 31.Qxh7 Qd4+ 31...Qxh4 32.Qxh4 Rxh4 33.Rf8# 31...Qxg2+ 32.Kxg2 Kd8 33.Bb6+ Ke7 34.Qxh8 Be8 35.Qxg7+ 32.Bxd4 Rxh7 33.Bc5 30...Qc4!-+ 6:08 30...Qxb4 31.Qc7 0-0 31...Qxg4 32.Bb6 31...Rf8 32.Qb8+ 32.Qxd7 Qxg4 33.Kh2 31.Qd2 48 31.Qxc4 Nxc4 32.Bd4 31...0-0-+ 3:48 31...Qxa2? 32.Qg5 Na4 32...0-0 33.Bd4 Rxf1+ 34.Bxf1 e5 35.Qxe5 Kf8 36.Qxg7+ Ke8 37.Bf6 Be6 38.Qe7# 33.Bd4+- 33.Qxg7 Rf8+- 31...Qxg4 32.Bc5 b6 32...Qxh4 33.Qc3= 33.Bxb6 32.Bd4 1
32...Nd3! 29 32...Qxa2 33.Qg5 Rxf1+ 34.Bxf1 e5 35.Qxe5 35.Qd8+ Kf7 36.Qxd7+ Kf6 37.Bc5 Qb1 38.Qe7+ Kg6 39.Qe6# 35...Kf8 36.Qxg7+ Ke8 37.Bf6 Be6 38.Qe7# 33.Qe3 2:53 Rxf1+ 3:13 33...Nxb4 34.Rxf8+ Kxf8 35.Bf1± 34.Bxf1 1 e5! 2 35.Bxe5 1 Qxg4+ 8 36.Bg2? 0 36.Bg3 Nxb4 37.Qxa3 36...Bf5-+ 27 36...Nxb4? 37.Qxa3 Bc6 37...Qxh4 38.Bc3= 38.Qb3-+ 37.Bg3 19 Be4 13 Inferior is 37...Nxb4 38.Qe8# 38.Kh2 4 h6 14 Resist 38...Nxb4 39.Bxe4 Qxe4 40.Qxa3-+ 39.Bh3? 16 39.b5 39...Qd1-+ 8 40.Bd6 0 Qc2+ 0 41.Kg3 4 Qxa2 3:37 42.Be6+ 5:46 Kh8 55 0–1
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WhiteEloWBlackEloBResYearECOEventRnd
Gukesh Dommaraju2783Ding,L27280–12024C11WCC Match 20241.1
Ding,L2728Gukesh Dommaraju2783½–½2024C50WCC Match 20242.1
Gukesh Dommaraju2783Ding,L27281–02024D35WCC Match 20243.1
Ding,L2728Gukesh Dommaraju2783½–½2024A06WCC Match 20244.1
Gukesh Dommaraju2783Ding,L2728½–½2024B22WCC Match 20245.1
Ding,L2728Gukesh Dommaraju2783½–½2024D02WCC Match 20246.1
Gukesh Dommaraju2783Ding,L2728½–½2024D78WCC Match 20247.1
Ding,L2728Gukesh Dommaraju2783½–½2024A21WCC Match 20248.1
Gukesh Dommaraju2783Ding,L2728½–½2024E11WCC Match 20249.1
Ding,L2728Gukesh Dommaraju2783½–½2024D37WCC Match 202410.1
Gukesh Dommaraju2783Ding,L27281–02024A09WCC Match 202411.1
Ding,L2728Gukesh Dommaraju27831–02024A13WCC Match 202412.1
Gukesh Dommaraju2783Ding,L2728½–½2024C11WCC Match 202413.1
Ding,L2728Gukesh Dommaraju27830–12024D02WCC Match 202414.1

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World Chess Championship 2024

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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.

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