In a surprising turn of events, the reigning Chinese champion Ding Liren triumphed in Game 1 of the 14-game World Chess Championship against India’s teenage prodigy D Gukesh. The intense match took place at the Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, where Ding claimed victory after 42 moves.
Walking into the arena after a 304-day drought in classical games, Ding faced his young opponent, who was already seated in his gaming chair. The two players, having chosen their chairs from seven options provided by the organizers, commenced the game with a handshake. Ding’s unwavering focus kept him glued to his chair for nearly four hours, culminating in his win after move 41.
Gukesh, playing with White, found himself in a losing position with 30 minutes left on his clock but no viable moves to salvage the game. Ding’s mastery in placing his opponent in a difficult position was evident as he secured a 1-0 lead in the match. This win marks Ding’s third classical victory with Black against Gukesh and the first decisive Game 1 result since Viswanathan Anand’s 2010 match against Veselin Topalov.
At the post-match press conference, Ding expressed his relief and satisfaction. “It’s been a long time since I won a classical game,” he said. “I anticipated Gukesh might be nervous and chose an unusual strategy that paid off.”
The game opened with Gukesh choosing the King’s pawn, countered by Ding’s French Defense. Despite his initial confidence, Gukesh’s rare knight maneuver, 6. Nce2, led to a time-consuming 27-minute deliberation by Ding early on. Gukesh’s rapid 10.g4 move and subsequent confident pacing contrasted with Ding’s careful calculation.
However, the momentum shifted as Ding, despite lagging by 50 minutes on the clock, executed a series of brilliant moves, particularly 18. Nb2. This move activated his Queen and created pressure on Gukesh’s position. A critical misstep by Gukesh, retreating his Queen to e1, further compounded his difficulties.
As Gukesh struggled with time management, needing to make eight moves in under two minutes, the game slipped away. By move 40, the position was untenable for Gukesh. Meanwhile, Ding, composed and relaxed in the players’ lounge, reflected on his new approach of staying at the board instead of retreating to the lounge.
Gukesh, visibly disappointed, acknowledged his nerves and mistakes, but remained hopeful for the rest of the match. “I was nervous, but I started well. It was not my best game, but we have a long match ahead,” he remarked.
Ding’s victory in Game 1 sets the stage for an exciting championship, with 13 more games to go. His resilience and experience shone through, reminding the world of the grit that defines a true champion.
