The new world champion

Cast your mind back to April 2023, when Ding Liren from China became the world champion, defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana. After 14 seesaw games, Ding triumphed in a rapid tiebreak, in which his move 46…Rg6! from the final game was a memorable piece of brinkmanship, living dangerously and pushing for the win.

December 2024 saw the conclusion of Ding’s title defence in Singapore against his brilliant 18-year-old challenger Gukesh Dommaraju from India. Alas, the majestic courage which Ding showed in Astana has seemed to desert his game ever since, to the point where Gukesh was considered a heavy pre-match favourite.

To the delight of this spectator, Ding brought character and resilience to his title defence, and the match remained tied after 13 games. The champion showed flashes of his imperturbable best, and won a couple of strategically profound games. But more often, he allowed his advantages to fizzle out into draws, seeming not to believe in his opportunities. Gukesh, by contrast, was the lionheart of this match, relishing any chance to prolong the tension.

Viewed narrowly, Gukesh’s victory in the 14th and final game was fortuitous, but in the big picture it was thoroughly deserved. In the middlegame, Ding’s evident desire to steer the game towards a draw entailed a series of small concessions. His chances for a draw remained high – perhaps 90 per cent, but the other 10 per cent of the chances were all on Gukesh’s side. Sure enough, he got the break he was looking for, when Ding made the fateful blunder below.

Ding Liren-Gukesh Dommaraju

Fide World Championship, Game 14, Singapore 2024

Both players would have expected Ding to achieve a draw with accurate play, but it is no formality. The main winning attempt for Black is to bounce his bishop around to e4. White would be reluctant to cede the diagonal, but the alternative – trading the bishops on e4 – creates a dangerous passed e-pawn.