Singapour 2024 Ch. du monde Ding.L - Gukesh.D - Bienvenue sur le site du Club d'Échecs de la Béroche

[Event "Classic Match"] [White "Tal, Mihail"] [Black "Gulko, Boris"] [Site "?"] [Result "1-0"] [Date "1969.10.17"] [WhiteElo "2524"] [BlackElo "2545"] [Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2026.05.27"] [Round "1.1"] [White "Gukesh D"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "84"] [GameId "2314335597822082"] 1. e4 {The first surprise of the day was Ding's} e6 {since in the last decade he played the French Defence in games with classical time control only once.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nce2 Nc6 7. c3 {The second one was also delivered by the defending champion, who spent close to half an hour before playing} a5 {amid a theoretical position in a system which he had surely reviewed before playing this game!} (7... Be7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. a3 a5 10. g3 cxd4 11. cxd4 f6 12. Bh3 fxe5 13. dxe5 Qb6 14. Bxe6+ Kh8 15. Qxd5 $2 (15. Bxd5 Nc5 16. Be3 Rd8 17. f5 Bxf5 18. O-O)) 8. Nf3 (8. a4 Qb6 9. Nf3 Be7 10. g3 f6 11. Bh3 {identical positions as above but with a7-a5 and a2-a4}) 8... a4 9. Be3 Be7 {Commentators and fans were worried about Ding, given his subpar form during the year. However, once Gukesh went for} 10. g4 {a brave novelty and Ding replied by} Qa5 {it became clear that the Indian star was also under pressure. After the game, we found out that Gukesh was in fact out of book after Black's queen appeared on a5. The opening strategy by Ding had worked well, after all. At that point, Gukesh had a 47-minute advantage on the clock, but as the game progressed, Ding closed the time gap steadily as his position looked increasingly better move after move.} (10... O-O 11. Bg2 (11. f5 $2 {runs into} cxd4 12. cxd4 f6 13. fxe6 fxe5 14. exd7 Rxf3 15. dxc8=Q Rxc8 $19) 11... b5 {is great for Black.}) 11. Bg2 (11. a3 cxd4 12. Nexd4 Nc5) 11... a3 (11... Nb6) (11... b5 12. dxc5 b4) 12. b3 cxd4 13. b4 (13. Nfxd4 Bh4+) 13... Qc7 14. Nexd4 Nb6 15. O-O (15. Nb5 Qd8 16. Bf1 d4 17. Nfxd4 Nd5 18. Qd3 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Bh4+ 20. Ke2 Bd7) 15... Nc4 16. Bf2 Bd7 17. Qe2 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 {The world champion's} (18. Bxd4 {looks more natural and covers the potential weakness c3, but allows ideas of Bb5}) 18... Nb2 {played after only 42 seconds, was particularly impressive. Natural looking moves like 18...0-0 or 18...Rc8 are playable alternatives in this position, but Ding's choice of placing the knight on b2 is considered to be the strongest continuation by the engines. The Chinese star had recovered his usual form, and was willing to go for the most critical lines in order to fight for a win.} 19. Qe3 Rc8 20. Rac1 Qc4 21. f5 ({Better is} 21. Rfe1 Qd3 (21... Qxa2 22. Bf1 $18) 22. Bf1 Qxe3 23. Bxe3 Nc4 24. Bf2 {and White is only slightly worse.}) 21... Qd3 {Ding was already up on the clock. Moreover, it was difficult to find a good plan for White, as trading the queens would only increase Black's advantage.} 22. Qe1 {Another mistake. Ding was now clearly in the driver's seat.} ({Also} 22. Qf4 g5 23. fxg6 Qxg6 {is bad for White}) ({The best chance would have offered} 22. g5 {with a possible follow-up:} Qxe3 23. Bxe3 Nd3 24. Rcd1 Nxe5 (24... Rxc3 25. fxe6 fxe6 26. Ne2 Rc2 27. Rxd3 Rxe2 28. Rxa3) 25. Bf4 Nc6 (25... Nc4 26. Rde1) 26. Nb5 e5 27. f6) 22... Bg5 23. Rc2 Rc4 24. h4 Bf4 25. Qb1 Rxc3 26. Rxc3 Qxc3 27. fxe6 fxe6 $2 ({After the correct} 27... Bxe6 {Black has a winning advantage.}) 28. Ne2 Qxe5 29. Nxf4 Qxf4 30. Qc2 {Gukesh misses his opportunity.} (30. Bc5 Qxg4 {After the game he mentioned the variation} 31. Qxh7 Qd4+ 32. Kh1 Qxh4+ 33. Qxh4 Rxh4+ 34. Kg1 Bb5 $19 {But instead of taking on h7 with the queen, after which Black wins indeed as calculated by Gukesh during the game, White had a much stronger 31.Rf3! preparing Qf1. In that case the position is very sharp and double-edged.}) 30... Qc4 {A precise move, cementing his material advantage. The reigning champion castled short in the next move, and had little trouble improving his pieces, while Gukesh struggled both with his position and with the clock.} 31. Qd2 O-O 32. Bd4 Nd3 33. Qe3 Rxf1+ 34. Bxf1 e5 35. Bxe5 Qxg4+ 36. Bg2 Bf5 37. Bg3 Be4 38. Kh2 h6 39. Bh3 Qd1 {Gukesh played} 40. Bd6 {with only 31 seconds left, and Ding went on to secure his victory only two moves later.} Qc2+ 41. Kg3 Qxa2 42. Be6+ Kh8 {(not 42...Kh7 due to 43.Qxe4 dxe4 44.Bxa2)} 0-1

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Schulz,A"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2783"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "47"] [GameId "2314336434487488"] 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. O-O) 5... a6 6. a4 ({The most frequently used here so far is} 6. Bg5 {with plenty of theory.}) 6... d6 7. O-O 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 O-O-O 13. Ne3 Nb4 14. b3 h5 15. a5 Kb8 16. Qe1 Ng4 17. Qd2 g6 18. Na4 $14 {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 O-O 14. Bxc5 Qxc5 $11 {1/2-1/2 (47) Praggnanandhaa,R (2684)-Giri,A (2764) Wijk aan Zee 2023}) 9... Bxc4 10. dxc4 O-O ({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.} 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 $19) 22... Rd2+ 23. Ke3 {does nothing for Black.}) 22. Ne2 Nc6 23. Nc3 Nd4 24. Rab1 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Schulz,A"] [ECO "D35"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "74"] [GameId "2314336868835616"] 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 {Played after a 15 minute think.} (9... Be6 10. Bg2 h5 11. g5 Nfd7 12. O-O Bd6 13. e4 dxe4 14. Qxb6 Nxb6 15. Nxe4 Be7 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. dxc5 Nd5 $14 {0-1 (50) Kramnik, V (2753) - Nepomniachtchi, I (2771), Amsterdam 2023}) 10. axb3 Bc2 {The most active and principled continuation.} ({However, there was nothing wrong with the more passive} 10... Be6 11. Bf4 Nbd7 $11) 11. Bf4 h5 (11... Bxb3 $6 {is unfavourable due to} 12. Nd2 Bc4 (12... Bc2 $2 13. Rc1 Be4 14. f3 $18) 13. Nxc4 dxc4 14. e3 Nbd7 (14... b5 $2 15. Bg2 $18) 15. Bxc4 $16 {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 more than half an hour thinking.} Nbd7 {Much better than 13...Bxb3, as in the game Kramnik-Erigaisi, 2023 (see the full game below). 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 $16 {Kramnik-Erigaisi, 2023}) 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 $5 g5 16. Rc1 Be4 17. Ndxe4 Nxe4 18. f3 $14) 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 {The critical moment.} Rh5 $6 {A mistake, played after four minutes of thinking. 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.} ({A good option was} 18... Be7 {attacking g5.} 19. Rc1 ({Also in case of} 19. e4 Bxg5 ({or} 19... Ne6 20. Rc1 dxe4 {with the idea} 21. Rxc2 $2 Nxd4 22. Rc1 e3 $19) 20. exd5 Nf5 21. Bf2 Bxd2+ 22. Kxd2 Bxb3 {Black's prospects are at least not worse.}) 19... Bf5 20. e4 Be6 $15) ({The simplest way was just to retreat the bishop:} 18... Bf5 19. e4 Be6 {and Black has nothing to worry about.}) 19. e4 dxe4 {This second mistake leads Black to a very difficult, most probably lost position.} ({The last chance was} 19... Ne6 20. Rc1 Nxd4 21. Bf2 Bc5 {with good chances to escape. If now} 22. Na4 {then} Nxf3+ 23. Nxf3 Bxf2+ 24. Kxf2 Bxe4 {and the position is close to equal here.}) 20. fxe4 Ne6 {[#] In the following complications, Black will lose a piece in all lines. The two pawns he gains in return are not enough compensation.} 21. Rc1 Nxd4 22. Bf2 Bg7 ({After} 22... Bc5 23. Na4 ({or} 23. b4 $5 Bb6 24. Rg3 $16) 23... Nxb3 24. Rxc2 Bxf2+ 25. Kxf2 {Black's position is difficult.}) 23. Ne2 Nxb3 (23... Nxe2 24. Bxe2 $18) 24. Rxc2 Nxd2 25. Kxd2 Ne5 $18 {Threatening a fork on f3, which is easily parried.} 26. Nd4 (26. Ke3 $18) 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 {[#]} Bd4 (34... Rxg5 35. Rxd7 Kxd7 36. Rd1+ Ke6 37. Bh3+ f5 38. Re1 {must be winning for White as well.}) 35. Rh1 Rxg5 36. Bh3 f5 (36... Rd8 37. Bh4 $18) 37. Bf4 Rh5 {Ding lost on time here, although he might as well have resigned after 38.Bxf5:} (37... Rh5 38. Bxf5 Rxh1 39. Bxd7+ Kxd7 40. Rxh1 $18) 1-0

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Schulz,A"] [ECO "A06"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2783"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "84"] [GameId "2314337445130640"] 1. Nf3 ({So not this time} 1. e4 {which in game 2 led to a quick draw.}) 1... d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. b3 Bf5 4. Be2 h6 {White is playing a Queen's Indian Defence with reversed colours, while Black is playing a London System with reversed colours.} (4... Nbd7 5. Ba3 e5 6. Bxf8 Kxf8 7. d4 e4 8. Nfd2 {1/2-1/2 (51) Rapport, R (2760) - Ding, L (2799), Lichess.org INT 2021}) 5. Ba3 {This move is known from the Queen's Indian Defence, where the a6-bishop puts pressure on c4. Here, White aims to make e6 harder to achieve. After the exchange Bxf8, Black would lose castling rights.} Nbd7 6. O-O e6 7. Bxf8 Nxf8 {This way, Black retains castling rights, but the manoeuvre costs some time.} 8. c4 N8d7 ({The reference game for this opening variation is} 8... c6 9. Nc3 N8d7 10. d4 O-O 11. Rc1 Qe7 12. Qd2 Ne4 {1-0 (49) Fries Nielsen, J (2300) - Seirawan, Y (2400), Graz 1978}) 9. Nc3 O-O 10. cxd5 ({There was a prominent online predecessor here:} 10. d4 a5 11. a3 Qe7 12. Qc1 c6 13. Qb2 Bg4 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 Rfd8 16. Rfd1 Nb6 17. Be2 Nc8 18. c5 b5 19. b4 a4 20. f4 Ne4 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Kh2 g5 23. Rf1 f5 24. g4 Qf6 25. Qa2 Kh8 26. gxf5 exf5 27. fxg5 hxg5 28. Bg4 Ne7 29. Rxf5 Nxf5 30. Rf1 Rd5 {0-1 (30) So, W (2778) - Giri, A (2777), chess24.com INT 2021}) 10... exd5 $11 {[#]} 11. b4 (11. d4 Qe7 12. Qd2 c6 {with a structure resembling the Exchange Variation of the Queenâ¬"s Gambit. Here, however, Black has managed to develop his light-squared bishop effectively.}) 11... c6 12. Nd4 Bh7 13. Qb3 ({The Mega 2025 database still shows the predecessor game} 13. Nb3 Qe7 14. a3 Rfc8 15. Rc1 a5 16. Nxa5 b6 17. Nxc6 Rxc6 18. Nxd5 Nxd5 19. Rxc6 Ne5 20. Rc1 Nd3 21. Rc6 Ne5 22. Rc1 Nd3 23. Ra1 Rd8 24. Bxd3 Bxd3 25. Re1 b5 26. Rc1 Nb6 27. Qh5 {1/2-1/2 (27) Flores, D (2568) - Real de Azua, E (2448), Buenos Aires 2015}) 13... Ne5 {The knight's destination is unclear.} 14. a4 Rc8 {Preparing c5.} 15. a5 b6 {White has achieved little from the opening.} 16. Nf3 (16. axb6 axb6 17. Ra7 c5 $15) 16... Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 d4 18. Ne2 dxe3 19. dxe3 Be4 20. Rfd1 Qe7 21. Bxe4 Nxe4 {After the exchange of both pairs of minor pieces, the game has levelled out. Black has a pawn majority on the queenside, while White has an outpost on d4. The endgame is entirely equal, with a draw being the most likely outcome.} 22. axb6 axb6 23. Nc3 Rfd8 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25. h3 c5 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. bxc5 bxc5 28. Rc1 Qe5 29. Qc2 Rd5 {[#] There is nothing happening here anymore. The game is heading towards a draw.} 30. g3 f5 31. Kg2 Kh7 32. Qc4 Qd6 33. e4 Re5 34. exf5 Rxf5 35. Qe4 Qd5 36. Qxd5 Rxd5 37. Kf3 Kg6 38. Ke4 Rd4+ 39. Ke3 Rd5 40. Ke4 Rd4+ 41. Ke3 Rd5 42. Ke4 Rd4+ {And a draw by threefold repetition.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Black "Ding Liren, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B22"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "80"] [GameId "2314337741398514"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 {Gukesh's decision to go for the Exchange Variation with} 3. exd5 {seemed a bit too cautious.} exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 c4 7. Bc2 Bd6 8. Qe2+ Qe7 9. Qxe7+ Kxe7 {was a quick draw in the cards?} 10. O-O Re8 11. Re1+ Kf8 12. Rxe8+ Kxe8 13. Bg5 Nbd7 14. Nbd2 h6 15. Bh4 Nh5 16. Re1+ Kf8 17. g4 $6 {after 10 minutes Gukesh played this risky novelty} (17. Nf1 {more cautious and objectively better}) 17... Nf4 18. Bg3 Nb6 19. g5 hxg5 20. Nxg5 Bd7 21. Ngf3 Re8 22. Ne5 Bxe5 {[#]} 23. dxe5 $2 {A serious mistake.} ({After} 23. Rxe5 {the position remains equal. After the exchange of rooks a draw becomes the only logical result.}) 23... Nd3 {This move Gukesh probably overlooked when evaluating 23.Rxe5 or 23.dxe5} 24. Bxd3 {Gukesh is left with no choice} cxd3 25. f3 Nc4 $1 26. Nxc4 dxc4 27. Re4 {Here 27...Be6 keeps Black's advantage, with the idea of playing ...Re8-c8 next and then either rook via c5 to b5, or bringing the king to the centre via g8-h7, etcetera. Instead, Ding went for 27...Bc6, when White should not play 28.Rxc4 at once due to 28...Rd8, and White must give up his bishop to prevent the passer from promoting.} Bc6 $6 (27... Be6 $17 {Black can play on for a win without any risk. For instance after} 28. Kf2 ({Not better is} 28. Bf2 Bd5 29. Rd4 Rxe5) 28... Rc8 29. Ke3 Rc6 30. Kd2 Rb6 31. Kc1 d2+ 32. Kxd2 Rxb2+ 33. Kc1 Rxa2 34. Rd4 Kg8 {White's position is very difficult.}) 28. Rd4 (28. Rxc4 $4 Rd8 $19) 28... Bxf3 29. Kf2 Bc6 $6 (29... Bh5 {would have kept some winning chances.}) 30. Rxc4 Rd8 31. Rd4 Rxd4 32. cxd4 {Now the draw becomes obvious.} Bd5 33. b3 Ke7 34. Ke3 Ke6 35. Kxd3 g6 36. Kc3 a6 37. Kd3 Kf5 38. Ke3 Ke6 39. Kd3 Kf5 40. Ke3 Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "????.??.??"] [Round "6.1"] [White "Ding Liren, Liren"] [Black "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2783"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "92"] [GameId "2314337978327567"] 1. d4 {Both Ding and Gukesh were blitzing out the first moves of the London System} Nf6 2. Bf4 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Nf3 c5 5. c3 Bd6 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. Bxd6 Qxd6 9. Qa4 O-O 10. Qa3 Ne4 11. Nfd2 e5 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Qxc5 Qg6 14. Nd2 Qxg2 15. O-O-O Qxf2 {[#] Here Ding showed great preparation} 16. dxe5 (16. Rde1 Rb8 17. Rhf1 Qxh2 18. Rh1 Qf2 19. Rhf1 Qh2 20. Rh1 Qf2 21. Rhf1 Qh2 {½-½ Aronian,L (2775)-Dominguez Perez,L (2754) Saint Louis Rapid 2022 (7)}) 16... Rb8 {Played after 6,5 minutes of think.} 17. Nc4 Be6 {Gukesh used another 15 minutes for this move.} 18. Rd2 Qf3 19. Re1 {Ding continued to play quickly, obviously still following his home preparation.} Bxc4 {It took Gukesh almost 20 minutes to decide on this exchange.} ({After} 19... Rfc8 {White can use the weakness of the backrank with} 20. Nd6 Rc7 21. Nb5 $1 Rcb7 22. Qxc6 $16 {and Black cannot take on b5:} Rxb5 $2 23. Qxb5 Rxb5 24. Rd8#) 20. Qxc4 Qf5 {Up to this moment Ding built about 45-minute time advantage on the clock, but he used almost 43 minutes for his next move.} 21. Qxc6 $1 {The correct decision.} (21. Qd4 Qe6 22. Kb1 Rfe8 $11) 21... Qxe5 22. Qd5 $1 Qe7 $1 {Black must play accurately, since White is better centralized and controls the only open file. Gukesh correctly avoids the exchange of queens, keeping possibilities for counterplay.} 23. Qd6 (23. Red1 $5) 23... Qg5 24. Qd5 Qe7 25. Qd6 Qg5 26. Qd5 {A draw after move repetition appeared to be inevitable, but Gukesh had other plans.} Qh4 {Gukesh avoids the move repetition, following his match strategy to fight in every game as long as possible. In this position this is objectively doubtful, as now White gets an advantage.} 27. Red1 $1 g6 {[#]} 28. Qe5 ({The computer has no fear to advance the c-pawn, claiming an advantage after} 28. c4 {and if} Rfc8 {then simply} 29. b3 $16) 28... Rbe8 29. Qg3 Qh5 30. Qf4 Qa5 31. a3 Qb5 32. Rd4 Qe2 33. R1d2 Qf3 34. Kc2 {Black can trade off the queens in good conditions for him.} ({After} 34. Qg5 $1 $14 {White can continue to press his minimal advantage.}) 34... Qxf4 35. exf4 f5 $11 {[#]} 36. h4 e3 37. Re2 Re7 38. Kd3 Rfe8 39. h5 gxh5 40. Rd5 h4 41. Rxf5 Rd7+ 42. Kc2 Kg7 43. Rg2+ Kh8 44. Re2 Kg7 45. Rg2+ Kh8 46. Re2 Kg7 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2026.05.27"] [Round "7.1"] [White "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Schulz,A"] [ECO "D78"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "142"] [GameId "2314338084024866"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. c4 c6 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 (7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Nc3 {leads to a well-known position from the Fianchetto Variation of the Gruenfeld Defence.}) 7... dxc4 {This move has not yet appeared in any grandmaster games.} ({Rasmus Svane encountered this position with 7.Re1 twice.} 7... Bf5 8. Qb3 Qb6 9. Nc3 Rd8 10. h3 Ne4 11. cxd5 Nxc3 12. bxc3 cxd5 13. Nd2 Be6 14. Rb1 Nc6 15. Qxb6 axb6 16. Rxb6 Rxa2 17. Rxb7 $16 {1-0 (77) Svane, R (2615)-Bortnyk, O (2598), Lichess.org INT 2021}) (7... Nbd7 8. cxd5 cxd5 9. Nc3 e6 10. Bf4 a6 11. Rc1 $14 {0-1 (53) Svane, R (2613)-Goltsev, D (2312), Chess.com INT 2020}) 8. e4 Bg4 {Ding shows no intention of holding onto the c4-pawn.} ({After} 8... b5 {White can play} 9. b3 cxb3 10. axb3 {and initiate a genuine gambit with compensation for the pawn.}) 9. Nbd2 c5 ({Here Black could also try} 9... b5 {to hold the pawn.}) 10. d5 e6 {[#]} 11. h3 ({An interesting alternative was} 11. Nxc4 {with the idea} exd5 12. exd5 Qxd5 (12... Nxd5 13. h3 $16) 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14. Ng5 {leading to complications:} Nb4 15. Bxb7 Nc2 16. Bxa8 Nxe1 17. Be4) 11... Bxf3 12. Bxf3 exd5 13. exd5 Nbd7 (13... Nxd5 14. Nxc4 Bd4 15. Bh6 $16) 14. Nxc4 b5 15. Na3 Qb6 16. Bf4 Rfe8 17. Qd2 Rad8 {[#] White has the bishop pair and a Gruenfeld-style passed pawn on the d-file. Black, meanwhile, has a pawn majority on the queenside, which could play a role in the endgame. White's a3-knight is poorly placed.} 18. Nc2 Nf8 (18... Rxe1+ $6 19. Rxe1 Ne8 {to transfer the knight to the blockade square d6.}) 19. b4 c4 20. Be3 (20. Rxe8 Nxe8 (20... Rxe8 21. Rd1 $14) 21. Re1 $14) 20... Qa6 ({A less committed queen retreat was} 20... Qb8) ({or} 20... Qc7) 21. Bd4 {[#]} Rxe1+ {Starting a risky pawn grab combination.} (21... h5 $14) 22. Rxe1 Qxa2 23. Ra1 Qb3 ({With} 23... c3 $5 24. Bxc3 (24. Qxc3 Nxd5) 24... Qc4 {Black could have freed the queen.} 25. Bxf6 Bxf6 26. Rxa7 $14) 24. Ra3 Qb1+ 25. Kg2 Rd7 {Ding had about 15 minutes left on his clock, Gukesh had 35 minutes.} (25... N6d7 26. Rxa7 Bxd4 27. Nxd4 Re8 28. Nxb5 Qd3 29. Qc1 $16) 26. Ra5 (26. Bxa7 h5 $16) 26... Qb3 27. Ra3 Qb1 28. Ra5 {[#]} Qb3 {A silent draw offer, but Gukesh understandably wants more.} 29. Rxb5 (29. Ra3 Qb1 {leads to a threefold repetition.}) 29... Qd3 30. Qf4 $6 ({After the queen exchange} 30. Be3 Qxd2 31. Bxd2 {White stands clearly better with the bishop pair and passed pawn.}) 30... Qxc2 (30... g5 $5 31. Qxg5 h6 32. Qf4 Ng6 33. Qc1 $16) 31. Bxf6 Qf5 (31... Bxf6 32. Qxf6 Qf5 33. Qd4 $18) 32. Qxf5 ({Stronger was} 32. Bg5 Qxf4 (32... Qc2 33. d6 $18) 33. Bxf4 $18) 32... gxf5 33. Bxg7 (33. Bg5 $5 {keeps the bishop pair.} c3 34. Bd1 $18) 33... Kxg7 34. Rc5 Ng6 35. Rxc4 Ne5 36. Rd4 Nc6 37. Rf4 Ne7 {Black has survived his difficulties but still has to fight for the draw, though his chances are good now.} 38. b5 Kf6 (38... Nxd5 39. Rxf5 Nc7 40. Be2 {would give White better winning chances.}) 39. Rd4 h6 (39... Ke5 $2 40. Rh4 $18) 40. Kf1 Ke5 $2 {[#] Both players have now reached move 40. However, Black's last move is inaccurate, as he loses the h-pawn, and White's h-pawn becomes a passer. Both players now have 30 minutes for the rest of the game, with a 30-second increment per move.} (40... Nc8 $14 41. Rh4 Kg7) 41. Rh4 Nxd5 ({After} 41... Rd6 {there would follow} 42. Ra4 Rd7 43. Ra6 Ng6 44. h4 {and White wins the h6 pawn, promoting his passer on the h-file.}) 42. Rxh6 Nc3 43. Rc6 Ne4 44. Ke1 ({More direct was} 44. h4 f6 ({The rook ending after} 44... Nd2+ 45. Kg2 Nxf3 46. Kxf3 Rd5 47. Rc7 $18 {is winning for White.}) 45. h5 Rh7 46. Kg2 $18) 44... f6 {Ding spent a long time on this move and was left with just under 5 minutes on his clock.} 45. h4 $2 {Allows Black strong counterplay.} ({Correct was} 45. Rc8 $18 {with the idea:} Rd3 46. Re8+) ({or} 45. Ra6 Nc5 46. Ra3 f4 47. g4 $18) 45... Rd3 46. Bd1 (46. Bxe4 fxe4 47. Rc5+ Kd6 $14) (46. Ke2 $5) 46... f4 47. gxf4+ Kxf4 {White's advantage has almost disappeared. By now, Gukesh also had less time on the clock.} 48. Bc2 {Played with just seconds remaining on the clock.} (48. h5 Rh3 49. Rc7 Rh1+ 50. Ke2 Rxh5 51. Rxa7 Rxb5 52. Bc2 Rb2 53. Rc7 f5 $11) 48... Rd5 49. Rc4 f5 50. Rb4 Kf3 51. Bd1+ Kg2 (51... Kf4 $4 52. f3 $18) 52. Rb3 {With the strong threat of Bf3. White's king escapes via Ke2, while Blackâ¬"s king is now cut off.} Re5 {Threatens a knight discovered attack.} 53. f4 Re7 54. Re3 Rh7 55. h5 {With 13 seconds on the clock. Ding had over 4 minutes left.} Nf6 56. Re5 Nxh5 57. Rxf5 Ng3 58. Rf8 Rb7 59. Ba4 Kf3 60. f5 Kf4 61. f6 Ne4 62. Bc2 {[#]} Nd6 ({Not} 62... Rxb5 $4 63. Bxe4 Kxe4 64. Re8+ Kd4 65. f7 $18) 63. Rd8 Ke5 64. Bb3 Nf7 ({Even after} 64... Rxb5 65. f7 Nxf7 66. Bxf7 Rb2 {the game is theoretically drawn.}) 65. Rd5+ Kxf6 66. Kd2 Rb6 67. Bc4 Rd6 68. Kc3 Rxd5 69. Bxd5 Nd6 70. Kb4 Nxb5 71. Kxb5 a6+ {and a draw. A king and bishop cannot deliver checkmate.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2026.05.27"] [Round "8.1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Schulz,A"] [ECO "A21"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2783"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "102"] [GameId "2314338354201153"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 {The early bishop development is a popular choice and is often played by Carlsen, Caruana or Anand.} ({The main moves are} 2... Nf6) ({and} 2... Nc6) 3. Nd5 ({After} 3. g3 {White must be prepared for} Bxc3 {with a different system.}) 3... Be7 ({The alternative} 3... Bc5 {is also frequently played.}) 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 c6 6. Nxe7 Nxe7 7. Bg2 f6 {A novelty at this point. Black plans to play d5 early and defends the e5-pawn.} (7... O-O 8. O-O c5 9. b3 Nbc6 10. Bb2 h6 11. e3 Bg4 12. h3 Bh5 13. g4 Bg6 14. d4 f6 15. Nh4 Bh7 $16 {1/2-1/2 (51) Vakhidov,J (2599)-Caruana,F (2794) Samarkand 2023}) 8. O-O Be6 9. b3 d5 10. Ba3 {[#]} O-O ({The pawn grab} 10... dxc4 $2 11. bxc4 Bxc4 {would be a mistake, as White would gain a strong initiative:} 12. d4 exd4 13. Nxd4 O-O 14. Qb1 Qxd4 (14... Ba6 15. Rd1 $18) 15. Bxe7 Re8 16. Qxb7 $18) 11. Rc1 a5 12. Ne1 Re8 13. f4 {Ding challenges Black's central pawn structure on both flanks.} exf4 ({An alternative was} 13... e4 $11) 14. Rxf4 dxc4 {This dissolves Black's central pawns.} 15. bxc4 Ng6 16. Re4 Na6 17. Nc2 {At this point, Gukesh had a time advantage with 1 hour 30 minutes remaining compared to about 1 hour for Ding.} Qc7 18. Nd4 Bf7 {[#] Once again, an interesting position in this World Championship match. White's central pawns remain on their original squares, waiting for tasks. The position is equal.} 19. d3 Ne5 20. Nf3 Nd7 21. Rxe8+ Rxe8 22. Rb1 $6 {At this point, Ding's remaining time had dwindled to 25 minutes.} ({More cautious was} 22. Qd2 $11) 22... b5 23. cxb5 Qb6+ 24. Kf1 ({After} 24. Kh1 {White's king would be farther from the critical queenside, e.g.} cxb5 25. Bb2 Bxa2 26. Bd4 Nac5 27. Rc1 b4 $17) 24... cxb5 25. Bb2 Bxa2 26. Bd4 Nac5 (26... Qb8 {is no good:} 27. Ra1 Bd5 28. Rxa5) ({The computer suggests} 26... Ndc5 $5 27. Rc1 Bd5 $19) 27. Rc1 {[#]} Bb3 $6 {Not a good move. The white queen is driven to better squares.} ({Better was} 27... b4 {e.g.} 28. Qc2 b3 29. Qb2 (29. Qc3 $2 Rb8 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Qxc5 Qxc5 32. Rxc5 b2 {and wins.}) 29... Na4 30. Bxb6 Nxb2 31. Bd4 Na4 32. Nd2 b2 33. Rc7 Ne5 34. Rb7 $15 {White seems to hold.}) 28. Qe1 Be6 $2 {Another imprecise move. The position is tactically demanding and holds several dangers for Black.} ({Correct was} 28... a4 29. Bh3 (29. Qb4 Qe6 $11) 29... Qd6 30. Bxc5 Nxc5 31. Qb4 Qe7 $11) 29. Qf2 $18 {[#] Suddenly, the tables have turned completely, and White is now better. The pin on c5 costs material.} Rc8 30. Be3 Rc7 31. Nd4 $6 {To interrupt the defence of c5 via c6.} (31. d4 $4 Ne4 $19) ({Stronger was} 31. Ne1 $18 {with the threat of} Z0 32. d4 Na6 33. d5 $18) 31... Bf7 32. Nc6 Rxc6 33. Bxc6 Qxc6 34. Bxc5 {Winning the exchange. Black has compensation in the form of passed pawns.} h6 35. Ke1 (35. Qf3 $5 Bd5 36. Qe3 Be6 37. Kf2 a4 38. Bb4 {with better winning chances than in the game.}) 35... b4 36. Qd4 Ne5 37. Kd2 Qg2 38. Qf2 Qd5 39. Qd4 Qg2 {A repetition to reach the time control.} 40. Qf2 ({Not} 40. Qd8+ $2 Kh7 41. Qxa5 Bh5 42. Re1 Nf3+ $19) 40... Qd5 {[#]} 41. Qd4 ({Another option was} 41. Bd4 $5 {e.g.} Nc6 (41... a4 42. Bxe5 Qxe5 43. Qc5 Qxc5 44. Rxc5 b3 45. Rc8+ Kh7 46. Ra8 {White wins one of the two passed pawns and is then winning.}) 42. Bb6 $16) 41... Qa2+ 42. Rc2 Qe6 43. Qd8+ Kh7 44. Qxa5 b3 45. Rc1 Qd5 46. Qb4 Qg2 ({Another idea was} 46... Qa8 $5 {threatening Qa2 and potentially b2.} 47. Qe4+ {and after exchanges, the game would proceed as in the game.}) 47. Qe4+ Qxe4 48. dxe4 b2 49. Rb1 Ba2 50. Rxb2 Nc4+ 51. Kc3 Nxb2 (51... Nxb2 52. Kxb2 Be6 {with opposite-coloured bishops and a drawn position.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2026.05.27"] [Round "9.1"] [White "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Black "Ding"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Nebo"] [ECO "E11"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "107"] [GameId "2314338554557042"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 Bb4+ {the main positions of the catalan usually appear after} (3... d5 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O) 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 d5 6. Nf3 O-O {Ding has had this position on the board multiple times with black and white.} 7. O-O (7. Bf4 Nbd7 8. Qc2 c6 9. Nbd2 b6 10. h4 Bb7 11. e4 dxc4 (11... dxe4 12. Ng5 c5 13. Ndxe4 Bxe4 14. Nxe4 cxd4 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. Bxa8 Qxa8 17. O-O e5 18. Bg5 Bxg5 19. hxg5 e4 20. Rae1 {Dubov, D (2701) - Ding, L (2745) Almaty 2024} Re8 21. Qe2)) 7... c6 8. Qc2 (8. Bc3 dxc4 9. a4 b5 10. axb5 cxb5 11. Ne5 Nd5 12. Ba5 Qe8 13. b3 Nc6 14. bxc4 bxc4 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. e4 Nb6 17. d5 Qc7 18. Nd2 Bb7 19. Rc1 Ba6) 8... Nbd7 9. Rd1 b6 10. Bc3 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Qc7 12. Rac1 Rfd8 {technically speaking this is the novelty prepared for this game but compared to the adventurous games before this is quite tamed.} 13. b4 c5 14. bxc5 bxc5 15. Qb2 Nb6 16. Ba5 dxc4 17. Nxc4 Bxf3 18. Bxb6 (18. Bxf3 {followed by a sequence of trades favouring black} Nxc4 19. Bxc7 Nxb2 20. Bxa8 Rxa8 21. Rd2 Na4) 18... axb6 19. Bxf3 Ra6 20. Qb5 {White wins a pawn but he won't be able to hold on to it for long.} ({interesting was} 20. Ne5 $5) 20... Rxa2 21. Nxb6 Qa7 22. Qb1 Rb8 23. dxc5 Ra6 24. Qb5 Bxc5 25. Qxc5 Qxb6 26. Qxb6 Raxb6 27. Rc6 Rxc6 28. Bxc6 g5 29. Kg2 Rb2 30. Kf1 Kg7 31. h3 h5 {The black knight is minmally better with only one pawn chain on the king side but the advantage is not anywhere near significant} 32. Ra1 Rc2 33. Bb5 Rc5 34. Bd3 Nd7 35. f4 gxf4 36. gxf4 Rc3 37. Kf2 Nc5 38. Ke3 Nxd3 39. exd3 Rc2 40. Kf3 Rd2 41. Ra3 Kg6 {White is a bit passiv} 42. Rb3 f6 43. Ra3 Kf5 44. Ra5+ e5 45. fxe5 Rxd3+ 46. Ke2 Rxh3 47. exf6+ Kxf6 48. Kf2 {theoretical draw from here} h4 49. Kg2 Rg3+ 50. Kh2 Kg6 51. Rb5 Rg5 52. Rxg5+ Kxg5 53. Kh3 Kf6 54. Kxh4 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2026.05.27"] [Round "10.1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Nebo"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2783"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "72"] [GameId "2314338726720131"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 {Like in the sixth game Ding chooses the London System again.} e6 4. e3 c5 5. Be2 ({The sixth game continued} 5. c3 Bd6 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. Bxd6 Qxd6 9. Qa4 O-O 10. Qa3 Ne4 $11) 5... Bd6 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. c4 O-O 8. O-O Nc6 9. Nc3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 {[#] Here Gukesh spent almost half an hour before deciding on the uncommon continuation} Nh5 $5 (10... a6 {is a more usual continuation.}) 11. Bg5 {Played after 25 minutes, but Gukesh said after the game that this move had relieved him, because he knew he could then equalize.} (11. Ne4 {with the idea} Be7 (11... Nxf4 12. Qxd8 Rxd8 13. Nxc5 b6 $1 {is probably a better way to fight for equality}) 12. Bd6 $14 {was more challenging.}) 11... Be7 12. Ne4 Nf6 13. Nxf6+ Bxf6 14. Qxd8 {With this early queen trade Ding undermines his will to play solid and guide this game into a very drawish endgame with absolutely no imbalances.} Rxd8 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Rfd1 Bd7 $11 17. Rac1 Be8 18. Rxd8 Rxd8 19. Kf1 Kg7 20. a3 f5 21. Ke1 Kf6 22. Be2 Ne7 23. g3 Rc8 24. Rxc8 Nxc8 25. Nd2 Nd6 26. Nc4 Nxc4 27. Bxc4 Bc6 28. f4 b6 29. Kd2 Ke7 30. Kc3 Kd6 31. b4 f6 32. Kd4 h6 33. Bb3 Bb7 34. Bc4 Bc6 35. Bb3 Bb7 36. Bc4 Bc6 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2026.05.27"] [Round "11.1"] [White "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Nebo"] [ECO "A09"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "57"] [GameId "2314338966516381"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 c5 4. e3 Nf6 {Gukesh's opening choice must have been unexpected for Ding, who spent 38 minutes for his fourth move.} 5. a3 {A very rare pawn push. Instead, the most popular continuations are 5.b5 and 5.Bb2.} Bg4 {Played after another 22 minutes of thinking. Ding has already used half of his time} 6. exd4 cxd4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 {The position is about equal.} Qc7 9. d3 {9.c5 preparing the development of the bishop to b5 would have been a stronger plan.} a5 10. b5 Nbd7 {Aiming to plant a knight on the outpost c5} 11. g3 {Played after one hour of think. Thus Gukesh's time advantage had evaporated.} Nc5 12. Bg2 Nfd7 13. O-O Ne5 {Excellent horsemanship.} 14. Qf4 Rd8 15. Rd1 g6 {15...e6 was the stronger way to develop the f8 bishop} (15... Ncxd3 $2 16. Rxd3 g5 17. Qe4 $18 (17. Qxg5 Nxd3 18. Bd2 h6 $17)) (15... e6 $17) 16. a4 $1 $11 h5 {. ..Bh6! would now be deadly.} (16... Ncxd3 $2 {is the wrong capture.} 17. Rxd3 Qxc4 18. Qxe5 $18) 17. b6 Qd6 (17... Qb8 $1 $15 18. Qd2 Nb3) 18. Ba3 $1 Bh6 19. Bxc5 Qxc5 20. Qe4 Nc6 21. Na3 Rd7 ({Much worse is} 21... Qxb6 $6 22. Rab1 Qc7 23. Rb5 $16) 22. Nc2 {Prevents Nb4} Qxb6 23. Rab1 Qc7 24. Rb5 {White has compensation.} O-O 25. Na1 {A clever knight manoeuvre by Gukesh} Rb8 26. Nb3 e6 {[#]} ({Black should play} 26... Rd6 $14) 27. Nc5 $1 $16 Re7 28. Rdb1 {White is much more active. However, stronger was to take on b7.} (28. Nxb7 $1 $16 Nb4 ({or} 28... Rxb7 29. Qxc6) 29. Qxd4 (29. Nxa5 Rxb5 30. axb5 Qxa5 $17)) 28... Qc8 {A blunder in time trouble.} (28... Nb4 $1 $14) 29. Qxc6 $3 {White wins a piece, since after 29...bxc6 30.Rxb8 the black queen is pinned.} 1-0

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2026.05.27"] [Round "12.1"] [White "Ding, Liren"] [Black "Gukesh, Dommaraju"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Schulz,A."] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2783"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "77"] [GameId "2314339161514670"] 1. c4 e6 ({This time not} 1... e5 {as in game 8.}) 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nf3 (4. d4 {leads to a position from the Catalan Opening.}) 4... d4 ({After} 4... Be7 5. O-O O-O {White has the choice of transitioning to the Catalan (6.d4) or continuing in the Reti style (6.b3).}) 5. O-O Nc6 ({More popular is} 5... c5 {e.g.:} 6. e3 Nc6 7. exd4 cxd4 8. d3 Bd6 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. Ng5 Be7 11. f4 Rb8 12. Qe2 Qc7 13. g4 b5 14. b3 bxc4 15. bxc4 Rb6 16. Nde4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 Bb7 18. f5 exf5 19. gxf5 Ne5 20. Bf4 f6 21. Rae1 Bxe4 22. Qxe4 Bd6 23. Kh1 Qc5 24. Bg3 Rd8 25. Qe2 Nd7 26. Bf2 Be5 27. Bd5+ Kh8 28. Qh5 Qf8 29. Re4 Rb2 30. Qxh7+ {1-0 (30) Carlsen, M (2830) - Ding, L (2762) Stavanger 2024}) 6. e3 Be7 ({Another possibility is} 6... e5 7. exd4 (7. d3) 7... e4 $5 (7... exd4)) 7. d3 dxe3 ({With Black, Ding himself played here ten years ago} 7... e5 8. exd4 exd4 9. a3 a5 10. Bg5 O-O 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nbd2 Bf5 $11 {0-1 (55) Wang, R (2398) - Ding, L (2710) China 2014}) 8. Bxe3 e5 9. Nc3 O-O 10. Re1 {[#]} h6 {This leaves known territory.} ({In a previous game with this variation, the following occurred:} 10... Be6 11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Qxd4 Qxd4 14. Bxd4 c6 15. Bh3 Bxh3 16. Rxe7 $11 {1/2-1/2 (42) Postny, E (2564) - Parkhov, Y (2468) Jerusalem 2022}) 11. a3 a5 12. h3 Be6 13. Kh2 {Ding had 57 minutes remaining here, Gukesh had 1 hour and 25 minutes.} Rb8 ({Better is} 13... Re8 $5 {preparing ...Bf8.}) 14. Qc2 Re8 15. Nb5 {The knight is very well-placed here.} Bf5 16. Rad1 Nd7 {This is another doubtful decision. 16...Bf8 was clearly to be preferred. [#]} 17. Qd2 $16 {The queen eyes a5 and steps out of the pin on the d-pawn. White has the advantage and is now planning d4.} Bg6 {To mobilise the f-pawn.} 18. d4 e4 ({After} 18... exd4 {follows} 19. Bf4 {with the idea} Rc8 20. Nfxd4 Nxd4 21. Qxd4 Nc5 22. Nxc7 $18) 19. Ng1 Nb6 20. Qc3 {With the idea of d5.} Bf6 $6 (20... f5 $16) 21. Qc2 a4 22. Ne2 Bg5 $2 {Here both players had roughly 20 minutes left.} ({A better try was perhaps} 22... Na5 $5 23. c5 Nbc4 24. Nf4 Bf5 {but White is still clearly better.}) 23. Nf4 Bxf4 24. Bxf4 Rc8 {[#]} 25. Qc3 $18 {White is overwhelmingly better.} ({Also worth considering was} 25. d5 $5 Ne5 (25... Na5 26. d6 e3 27. Qc3 exf2 28. Rf1 $18) 26. d6 Nd3 27. dxc7 Qf6 28. Nd6 $18 {and White wins material.}) 25... Nb8 (25... f6 26. d5 Ne5 27. d6 c5 28. Bxe4 {is not much better either.}) 26. d5 ({Or} 26. Na7 $18 {winning the exchange.}) 26... Qd7 ({More resilient was} 26... Na6 27. Qd4 $18) 27. d6 c5 28. Nc7 {From this point onwards, most moves were played almost instantly.} Rf8 29. Bxe4 Nc6 {[#]} 30. Bg2 $18 {The black position has collapsed. For White, many roads lead to Rome.} Rcd8 31. Nd5 Nxd5 32. cxd5 Nb8 33. Qxc5 Rc8 34. Qd4 Na6 35. Re7 Qb5 36. d7 Rc4 37. Qe3 Rc2 38. Bd6 f6 {Allows mate in no more than eight moves.} 39. Rxg7+ {Black resigned.} (39. Rxg7+ Kxg7 40. Bxf8+ Kxf8 41. d8=Q+ Qe8 42. Qxf6+ Qf7 43. Qxh6+ Ke8 44. Qhh8+ Qf8 45. Qhxf8+ Kd7 46. Q8d8#) 1-0

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2026.05.27"] [Round "13.1"] [White "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Black "Ding, Liren"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "ChessBase"] [ECO "C11"] [WhiteElo "2783"] [BlackElo "2728"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "132"] [GameId "2314339325199039"] 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 $11) 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 $11 {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 $5 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 $5 9. Nf4 a4 10. Bd3 Qa5 {similar to the first game of the match.} 11. Kf1 $5) 9. Nf4 cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc4 $5 {Black wants to exchange the dangerous light-squared bishop to castle kingside safely. There is also the concrete threat of an annoying Qa5.} (10... O-O 11. Bd3 Nc4 12. h4 {with the idea} Nxb2 $2 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qh5+ Kg8 15. Nf3 {and a strong attack.}) 11. Bxc4 dxc4 12. Nge2 (12. Qg4 $5 {with complications, e.g.:} Qa5+ 13. Bd2 Qb6 14. Qxg7 Rf8 15. Nge2 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Qxd4 17. Be3 Qxb2 18. O-O b5 19. a4 $16) 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. O-O O-O 14. Nc3 Rb8 15. Nh5 {With the strong threat of Qg4.} f5 (15... a5 $4 16. Qg4 g6 17. Ne4 $18) (15... Kh8 $5 16. Qg4 Rg8 {was also a defensive idea.} 17. Rfd1 $14) 16. exf6 Bxf6 17. Qf3 (17. Nxf6+ $5 Qxf6 18. d5 exd5 19. Qxd5+ Kh8 20. Qc5 $14 {with the intention of Rd1 and Rd6.}) 17... Qe8 (17... Nxd4 $5 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. Qh5 Rf5 $11) 18. Nxf6+ Rxf6 19. Qe2 Qg6 20. f3 {To enable Ne4.} Rf8 21. Rad1 Ne7 22. Bf4 $16 {[#] 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.} 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.} Re8 30. Rde1 (30. Rfe1 $5 Qxe1+ (30... Qf7 $2 31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. Ne4 $18) 31. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 32. Kf2 Re8 $11) 30... Qf7 (30... Qxe1 31. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 32. Kf2 Re8 33. Ne4 Rbe7 34. Nd6 Re5 35. Qc6 R5e6 $14 {is playable for Black, but uncomfortable.}) 31. Ne4 $2 {Threatens decisively with Nd6.} ({Significantly stronger was} 31. Rxe8+ Qxe8 32. Ne4 $18 {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 $11) 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 $11) 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 $11) 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 $11) 50. Qxb5 Qxc3 51. Ra7 Qe1+ 52. Kh2 Qb4 (52... Qe3 53. Rxa5 Qf4+ 54. Kg1 Qc1+ 55. Kf2 Qd2+ 56. Kg3 Qe1+ $11) 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 $11) 65... Rc4+ 66. Kf3 Rc3+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "WCC Match 2024"] [Site "Singapore"] [Date "2026.05.27"] [Round "14.1"] [White "Ding Liren"] [Black "Gukesh Dommaraju"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Johannes Fischer"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "2728"] [BlackElo "2783"] [WhiteFideId "-1"] [BlackFideId "-1"] [PlyCount "130"] [GameId "2314339522954035"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 Nc6 4. d4 {Ding signals his fighting spirit and play the Gruenfeld with the black pieces} e6 5. O-O cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nge7 7. c4 Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Nc6 9. Qd1 d4 10. e3 Bc5 11. exd4 ({With} 11. Qh5 $5 Qb6 12. exd4 Bxd4 13. Nd2 {White could have entered a more sharp line but Ding choose to not do so}) 11... Bxd4 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Nb5 Bb6 14. b3 a6 15. Nc3 Bd4 16. Bb2 e5 17. Qd2 Be6 18. Nd5 {After the opening black has equalised} b5 19. cxb5 axb5 20. Nf4 $5 {a tactical brawl but the position remains totally equal} exf4 21. Bxc6 Bxb2 22. Qxb2 Rb8 23. Rfd1 Qb6 24. Bf3 ({Possible was} 24. Bd7 Rfd8 25. Bxe6 Qxe6 {and the resulting rook and queen endgame is only won with big help from white} 26. Qc3 Rxd1+ 27. Rxd1 Qe2 28. Qd2 Qxd2 29. Rxd2 fxg3 30. hxg3 {white is out of any danger}) 24... fxg3 25. hxg3 b4 {[#]} 26. a4 $2 {the white position only has one weakness, the pawn on a2. Ding is willing to give up a pawn and enter an objectively drawn endgame in order to eliminate his last weakness a2.} ({Keeping the tension with} 26. Rd4 {was a better idea. E.g.} Rfd8 27. Rad1 g6 28. Bd5 Bxd5 29. Rxd5 Rxd5 30. Rxd5 {and black has no serious chance of winning}) 26... bxa3 27. Rxa3 g6 28. Qd4 Qb5 {[#]} 29. b4 $2 {Ding wants to trade pieces and force simplifications, but maybe he underestimated what practical chances he hands to Gukesh} ({After} 29. Rd3 {the position remains equal}) 29... Qxb4 30. Qxb4 Rxb4 31. Ra8 Rxa8 32. Bxa8 {White is a pawn down, but the endgame is objectively a draw.} 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 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 {[#]} 55. Rf2 $4 {Ding falts under the pressure, the time trouble and the nerves and blunders horrendously} ({The dangers of White's position can be seen in the following variation:} 55. Ra4 Ba2 56. Rf4 {[%csl ]} Bb1 57. Ra4 {[%csl ]A mistake: White must make a move with the bishop, keeping the rook on f4, as explained below.} Be4 {It turns out that this position is winning for Black, because the rook endgame after} 58. Bxe4 fxe4 {is lost for White.}) ({The simplest method to make a draw was to keep the rook on f4 and move the bishop on the long diagonal. In that case Black has no ways to make progress, because the plan with bringing the bishop on e4 is not sufficient:} 55. Bc6 Ba2 56. Bg2 Bb1 57. Bc6 Be4 58. Bxe4 fxe4 59. Rxg4 {This rook endgame is a draw.}) 55... Rxf2 $1 56. Kxf2 Bd5 {Gukesh stands up and he realizes what just happened. He trades down into the pawn endgame that is simply won for him.} 57. Bxd5 Kxd5 58. Ke3 Ke5 {White resigns. A possible end could have been} 59. Kf2 Kd4 60. Ke2 Ke4 61. Kf2 Kd3 62. Kf1 Ke3 63. Kg2 Ke2 64. Kg1 Kf3 65. Kh2 Kf2 0-1