12/4/2024 – The World Chess Championship in Singapore continues to thrill fans as game 8 delivered yet another dramatic encounter. Both Ding Liren and Gukesh D missed opportunities to secure a crucial win, with the game ultimately ending in a hard-fought 51-move draw. Gukesh introduced a prepared novelty, gaining an early advantage, but Ding's resourcefulness turned the tables. Despite a tense battle featuring bold strategies and critical time pressure, neither contender could break the deadlock. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An
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YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before. FRITZ is more than just a chess engine – it’s a training revolution! Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
In this course, IM Nico Zwirs presents the Reversed Sicilian as a powerful and practical weapon for White
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Relentless tension
Find below expert video analyses by GM Daniel King and IM Robert Ris
There has been no shortage of drama in the World Chess Championship match in Singapore. While the last five games have ended in draws, game 8 brought yet another layer of excitement as both Ding Liren and Gukesh D missed clear chances to secure a second victory. With Ding winning game 1 and Gukesh bouncing back in game 3, the score remains tied as the 14-game confrontation passes its midway point. The relentless tension is pushing both players and their teams to fine-tune their off-the-board strategic preparations as the stakes continue to rise.
In Wednesday's game, Ding tried 1.c4, the English Opening, marking his fourth different opening move with white. This diversity has been a defining feature of the match, in contrast to confrontations where players stick to probing specific systems. Despite Ding's variety, it was Gukesh who introduced a novelty, crafted by his well-prepared team. The Indian prodigy later acknowledged his support staff, particularly Grzegorz Gajewski, saying:
[My team] has been doing a great job. Not only 'Gaju', but other team members as well.
Ding faced a tough challenge early on as Gukesh's preparation left him out of his comfort zone. However, the reigning champion countered with a bold f2-f4 push on move 13, seeking dynamic play in the centre. By move 20, Gukesh had a clear edge both on the board and the clock, holding a time advantage of nearly 30 minutes.
A critical moment arose on move 22 when Ding's imprecise 22.Rb1 allowed Gukesh to play the powerful 22...b5. This move created connected passers on the queenside, putting the reigning champion under serious pressure.
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.
Nevertheless, Ding showcased remarkable precision in time trouble, particularly with the manoeuvre Qc1-e1-f2, sacrificing a pawn on a2 to activate his pieces and fight for counterplay.
Ding not only neutralised Gukesh's advantage but also gained the upper hand. However, the Chinese champion admitted after the game:
Today during the game I didn't realise I was winning at some point.
Lacking awareness of his chances, he consolidated his position rather than pushing for a win, which allowed Gukesh to force a triple repetition. However, the Indian challenger, much like in game 6, chose to play on in a slightly worse position, though he later acknowledged misjudging the situation.
The thrilling encounter finally ended in a 51-move draw after both players navigated the tense endgame with precision. With Gukesh set to play with the white pieces in Thursday's game 9, the last one before Friday's rest day, fans eagerly anticipate whether the tie will finally be broken in the fiercely contested championship.
Both contenders were in good spirits at the press conference: reigning champion Ding Liren | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An
Both contenders were in good spirits at the press conference: challenger Gukesh D | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An
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.
Looking for a realistic way to play for a win with Black against 1.e4 without taking unnecessary risks? The Taimanov Sicilian is a reliable system, and hence one of the best options out there!
Carlos Alberto ColodroCarlos 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.
YOUR PERSONAL CHESS COACH - Whether you’re taking your first steps into the world of club chess, or already playing at a tournament level: with FRITZ, you can train more efficiently, intelligently and with a more personalised approach than ever before.
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“Mate is great!” – Tactical training with Oliver Reeh, “The 8th rank” – Andy Woodward analyses his game against Magnus Carlsen from TePe Sigeman 2026, “A modern Nimzo-Indian” – Andrei Volokitin introduces readers to "his" system and much more!
Chess is a concrete game. There is no way around training your calculation skills. Improve your visualization, pattern recognition and learn calculation techniques such as reciprocal thinking with this course.
This compact course is designed specifically for practical play. Instead of overwhelming you with endless theory, it focuses on the critical lines, typical plans, and recurring tactical ideas.
Slav and Semi-Slav Powerbase 2026 is a database and contains a total of 11 766 games from Mega 2026 or the Correspondence Database 2026, of which 1136 are annotated.
For the Slav and Semi-Slav Powerbook 2026 the ratings average was set again at 2400. 2.24 million games from the engine room of playchess.com met this threshold, to which were added over 130 000 games played by humans.
What makes 2.b3 so attractive is that it's aggressive and positional at the same time.
€9.90
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