World Chess Championship 2024: Gukesh and Ding Liren are battling for the ultimate prize.
World Chess Championship 2024 has been a topsy-turvy ride for Gukesh D and Ding Liren, and with the defending champion registering a dramatic win in game 12, it is all set for a thrilling climax in the last two games. The 32-year-old Liren had won the opening game before Gukesh emerged victorious in the third game. The second and the fourth to 10th games were drawn.
Irrespective of what happens in the next game on Wednesday, the match will go the distance (14 games) and more likely there will be tiebreaker -- where games are of shorter duration -- to determine the winner.
With all square and the shadow of a tiebreaker looming large, one of the most prominent voices in the game of chess and a certified legend, Susan Polgar, explained how they should approach the last lap.
"Gukesh: Keep the pressure and steer the games towards sharper and more dynamic positions, like in game 11."
"Ding: Keep the pressure but keep the game towards a more positional and static position, like in game 12," Polgar wrote on social media.
Pitfalls to avoid:
- Get into time pressure. This would be bad for both sides as blunders can happen with little time on the clock and no increments (until move 41).
- Think about the playoff and become impulsive.
- This match is far from being decided for either player, suggested Polgar.
Who holds the edge?
Norwegian GM Magnus Carlsen has already stated that the 2024 World Chess Championship has reached a point where India’s D Gukesh is no longer a favourite. “We have finally arrived at a point where Gukesh is not a favourite in this match anymore. We have a pure 50-50 match at this point,” Carlsen said on the Take Take Take app.
Meanwhile, Mehmet Ismail — a PhD in economics from Maastricht University and a lecturer at King’s College, London, who makes predictions for big-ticket chess events — has put the odds on 50-50. In a chat with theindianexpress.com, he said, “At this stage of the World Championship match, it is more relevant to assess the players’ performance during the match itself rather than focusing on their pre-match form. While Ding appeared vulnerable before the event, he has demonstrated his ability to win games and defend challenging positions. Gukesh, on the other hand, has proven to be fearless, consistently pressing in equal positions. Given their current performances, both in terms of scores and move quality, the players have equal chances of winning the title outright.”
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