Gukesh vs Ding Liren: Tie-breaker looms large as battle resumes tomorrow

The odds are somewhat stacked against challenger D. Gukesh as he and reigning world champion Ding Liren resume their battle on 11 December for the final two games, after their rest day today (10 December, Tuesday).

Tied at 6-6 after dramatic wins for each in the last two matches, there is still little to choose from between the two, as a tie-breaker now looms large to decide the World Championship in Singapore.

This is not to suggest that there can’t be dramatic twists and turns in games 13 and 14, but Ding Liren encountered a similar situation on his way to becoming the world champion last year too. The Chinese won the 12th game against Ian Nepomniachtchi to make it 6–6, then drew games 13 and 14 before beating the latter in the tie-breaker.

‘’I put pressure on my opponent throughout the whole game. I didn’t let it slip like [the] last game,’’ Ding Liren said at the press conference afterwards. 

Meanwhile, Gukesh is also no stranger to such a scenario — he has encountered it at the Candidates, which he won to qualify for the World Championship.

Gukesh lost in the seventh round to Alireza Firouzja. Unlike this loss in game 12, he was in an advantageous position there, but let it slip away. That game too was just before a rest day.

After a stunning win in game 11 in Singapore, Gukesh has been brought back to square one after his loss in the 12th game — but the 18-year-old says he is still satisfied with where the match stands, despite the loss.

Viswanathan Anand, five-time world champion, called it a traumatic loss for Gukesh, saying he felt as if the Indian challenger had been ‘wiped out’ in 12th game, however.

What Gukesh needs to be wary about is the way Ding Liren has often found his mojo in the crunch stages. The Chinese grandmaster, who has not been in the best of form in the build-up to the title game, looked defensive throughout the marathon game — but has now bounced back into contention.

The rest day has come at the perfect time for Gukesh’s camp. It not only gives him enough time to shake off the bad day, but also allows him some more time to prepare for his final classical game with white pieces on Wednesday.

In most games so far with white, Gukesh has caught the title defender by surprise with his openings. So Team Gukesh will now just have to come up with one last big plan.