If a draw can be a sign of supremacy, D Gukesh produced one on Friday. In Game 4 of the World Chess Championship match against Ding Liren, the Indian defended with pomp and black pieces to force a stalemate which makes the score 2-2 in the 14-game contest. Gukesh never looked in discomfort and created a situation early on which made it hard for white to penetrate.
This was a big game in Singapore after a day of rest. The players had traded a win apiece and played out a draw in the last three rounds. Coming off a win in Game 3 with white, Gukesh’s primary task was to hold his position and not to concede. He did that with poise and assurance. Experts also pointed out that the Chinese defending champion was not as proactive as he could have been, although the official Fide website said that both players achieved 100% accuracy in their moves.
“Ding’s unambitious play with the white pieces is achieving very little,” posted Hungarian Grandmaster and noted commentator Susan Polgar on her X handle. “Gukesh successfully navigated around an opening surprise. Ding needs to do more with the white pieces in future games. He got almost nothing in both white games. It seems that Ding got what he wanted, a slow pace strategical game with no risks. Gukesh also got what he wanted, eliminate a black game.”
In such a long duel, defending with black is important . Gukesh had said this himself after getting it in the second game, when he was trailing by a point. To be able to do it again with a reasonable amount of comfort should mean a lot for the 18-year-old. He was never cornered and rather, tried to ask questions towards the end, until the draw was agreed upon after 42 moves. As Polgar pointed out, Ding was rarely in a position to put his rival under pressure.
“It wasn’t a completely new line for me, although it was a bit of a surprise,” said Gukesh after the game. “I was playing over the board from early on. I think I reacted well enough, neutralising his edge. It was a solid game and even towards the end, I had some chances to press better. With black, it’s all you can expect in a match.”
If this game is about mental strength, other than all the other attributes that a contest of this magnitude calls for, Gukesh has shown the right attributes so far. Considering his age and the fact that his opponent is a 32-year-old reigning world champion, he was always going to be the underdog. After having lost the first game with white from a good position, he has shown courage by bouncing back and staying even.
This might make things tougher for Ding when he starts defending with black pieces in Round 5 on Saturday. The momentum he seemed to have gained after the victory on the opening day seems to have dissipated. Gukesh is back in this and in a convincing manner.
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