Ding_Liren_Defeats_Gukesh_Dommaraju_in_Opening_Game_of_2024_World_Chess_Championship

Ding Liren Defeats Gukesh Dommaraju in Opening Game of 2024 World Chess Championship

Defending champion Ding Liren of the Chinese mainland began his World Chess Championship title defense with a resounding victory over India’s Gukesh Dommaraju in Singapore on Monday. Playing with the black pieces, Ding showcased his strategic prowess, securing a decisive win in the opening game of the 2024 FIDE World Championship match.

Gukesh, the 18-year-old prodigy making his debut at this level, opened the game with an unexpected e-pawn move. Ding responded confidently with the French Defense, a choice that immediately set the tone for an intense battle. As the game unfolded, Ding remained steadfast at the board, meticulously plotting his queenside counterplay, while Gukesh frequently took breaks, perhaps indicative of nerves on the big stage.

The middle game saw Gukesh launching an aggressive kingside attack. However, critical miscalculations began to tilt the balance in Ding’s favor. Move by move, the defending champion capitalized on Gukesh’s oversights, his precise play earning him multiple positional advantages. Ding’s relentless accuracy left his young opponent with dwindling options and no path to recovery.

After four hours of high-stakes chess, Ding secured the victory, marking the first time since 2010 that the opening game of a title match ended decisively. This win also signifies Ding’s first triumph in classical chess since his victory over Max Warmerdam of the Netherlands at the Tata Steel Masters earlier in the year.

“This was his first World Championship, and he might have been nervous, so I played something unusual, which I hadn’t played for a long time,” Ding commented after the match, acknowledging his strategic departure from the norm to unsettle his opponent.

Reflecting on the game, Gukesh admitted, “Obviously it was not a great game by me. It all depended on the alertness. I think it was just a tactical oversight. It can happen.”

The two grandmasters will return to the board on Tuesday, with Ding set to play with the white pieces in the second game of the championship.

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