Defending champion Ding Liren of China started his 2024 World Chess Championship campaign with a commanding victory over India’s Gukesh Dommaraju in Singapore on Monday.
Playing with the black pieces, Ding surprised his opponent with a rare French Defense after Gukesh opened with his king pawn (e4). Ding’s strategic play on the queenside soon gave him a significant advantage.
While Ding remained fully focused at the board, Gukesh, 18, took several breaks during the game. His aggressive attack on the kingside began to falter as he misplayed crucial moves in the middle game, allowing Ding to tilt the balance in his favor.
After four intense hours, Ding secured a decisive win, marking the first time since 2010 that the opening game of a World Championship match ended so conclusively. “This was his first World Championship, and he might have been nervous, so I played something unusual,” Ding said after the match.
Gukesh acknowledged his missteps, saying, “Obviously it was not a great game by me. It all depended on the alertness. I think it was just a tactical oversight.”
Ding will play with the white pieces in the second game on Tuesday, as the battle for the title continues.
Reference(s):
Ding Liren defeats Gukesh Dommaraju in World Chess Championship opener
cgtn.com
