Explained! How Ding Liren's Colossal Blunder Made D Gukesh Youngest World Champion At 18 (Source: PTI)
India's D Gukesh created history by becoming the youngest world champion. The 18-year-old defeated reigning world champion Ding Liren 7.5-6.5 to win the World Chess Championship in Singapore. At one point, it seemed the match would go into the tiebreaker, but a massive blunder from Liren handed the game to the Indian grandmaster. Chess, unlike other sports, doesn't offer many chances. One bad move and it's game over. Gukesh didn't expect Liren to make such a blunder but once the opportunity came, he didn't let it slip away.
Throughout the 14-game series, Ding seemingly had a slight edge over Gukesh, especially when he had his back against the wall. He drew the game 13 on Wednesday from a trickier position but succumbed to pressure when it mattered the most. To everyone's surprise, Ding agreed to swap rooks without noticing that Gukesh would be able to force the bishops off too. Soon after the move, Liren realised that he committed a blunder and gave the winning king and pawn endgame to Gukesh, but it was too late.
Also Read: D Gukesh Creates History After Emphatic Win Over Ding Liren
“I was totally in shock when I realised I had made a blunder. His facial expression told me that he was very happy and very excited. That’s when I realised I had made a blunder. It took me some time to realise it,” narrated Ding at the subsequent press conference. “It was not as dead a draw as yesterday. He had a bishop on the board. He also had a rook, so it was more tricky. I could have done better, but considering my lucky escape in yesterday’s game, it’s fair that I lost in the end. I have no regrets.”
Gukesh reacted to Liren's mistake and said he was surprised by the move, adding that he was delighted when he realised Liren's blunder, calling it the best moment of his life. “When he played rook to f2, I did not realise (that there was a win on the board). I was almost going to play rook to b3. But when I realised it, it was probably the best moment of my life,” smiled an emotional Gukesh.
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