D Gukesh made a quick comeback in the World Chess Championship match against Ding Liren. The Indian won the third game with white pieces to draw level in the contest. The Chinese had won the first game and the second was drawn. Following Wednesday’s result in Singapore, the players head into the first rest day with the score in the 14-game match reading 1.5-1.5.
Ding fell under time pressure early on and succumbed to it in the end. He took too much time to ponder his moves and that proved decisive. At one stage towards the close, he needed to make four moves in five seconds. Gukesh was in a similar spot in the opening game, when he just about made the time control and resigned soon after. This was Gukesh’s first-ever win against Ding.
This was a massive boost for the 18-year-old Indian, who is the youngest-ever challenger for the world crown. Another defeat would have meant disaster for him and a draw would have kept the defending champion in the lead. For Gukesh to stay alive in this match, a win in this round was essential and he showed no signs of nerves in achieving it.
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“Ding did NOT survive the clock or the board! Completely self inflicted! Gukesh was calm and fully took advantage of Ding’s mental collapse. Score is tied up at 1.5-1.5. Tomorrow is day off. Ding needs to regroup while Gukesh can build on his momentum,” wrote Hungarian Grandmaster and noted chess commentator Susan Polgar on her X (formerly Twitter) handle.
It was important for Gukesh to remain positive after losing the first game. He came out well prepared and wasted little time in making his moves. He was clear about what he wanted to do. On the other hand, Ding looked flustered and his body language seemed to suggest that he was under pressure. He made the precise moves initially, but spent a lot of time in the process.
“I don’t think Ding can hold this,” Polgar had posted on X when the game was going on. “He is literally paralysed mentally. He has to make 10 moves to get to move 40 but he is wasting more than half his time in this one move. There is no increment until move 41.”
When the game got over and Ding’s clock ran out, the players had made 37 moves.
Also Read: Gukesh trails Ding Liren in summit clash after second game ends in draw