In a thrilling comeback at the FIDE World Championship in Singapore on Monday, defending champion Ding Liren of China defeated India’s Gukesh Dommaraju in Game 12, leveling the score to 6-6.
After a challenging loss in Game 11 on Sunday, Ding faced a daunting situation, trailing 6-5 with only three games remaining in the match. Undeterred, the world champion initiated Game 12 with the English Opening—the second time he has employed this strategy in the competition.
Gukesh responded by steering the game towards a Queen’s Gambit Declined setup, but Ding deftly transitioned into a Reti system with a kingside fianchetto. The intense battle remained balanced through the middlegame, with both players exhibiting patience and strategic depth.
The turning point came when Gukesh targeted Ding’s backward pawn on d3. Anticipating the move, Ding struck back with a powerful 18.d4, seizing control of the center. Capitalizing on his central pawns and the advantage of his pair of bishops, Ding began to dominate the board.
Despite losing two pawns, Gukesh fought to find a defensive solution but ultimately could not halt Ding’s momentum. The victory not only tied the overall score but also showcased Ding’s resilience under pressure.
“Yesterday was a difficult game to deal with, but I tried to continue with my normal routine and be refreshed for this important game,” Ding shared after his win. “Today I had a cup of coffee before the game, which helped me feel much more energetic, and also, I had some snacks to maintain my energy levels for the critical moment. I think I played a very good game and found some good moves.”
Gukesh remained optimistic despite the loss. “In the second half of the match, I had chances in many of the games,” he told reporters. “Today was obviously a bad game, but I wouldn’t draw too much from it. Bad games happen. But if you look at the second half overall, I think we are both playing better than the first half. 6-6 is overall the fair result, but since I was leading after yesterday, it is a bit disappointing to lose this game.”
The championship now hangs in the balance, with both players eager to secure the title in the remaining games. Fans worldwide are eagerly watching this intense showdown between two of chess’s brightest stars.
