Singapore, Dec 2: Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh and reigning champion Ding Liren are set to break their streak of three consecutive draws as they prepare to clash in the seventh round of the World Chess Championship on Tuesday. Both players have maintained an even pace throughout this gripping contest.
Gukesh, at just 18 years old and the youngest challenger ever for the title, has been labeled as the favorite by many chess analysts, yet he has struggled to truly showcase his skills, often relying on Liren to play cautiously or to make errors in promising positions. Both competitors currently have three points each.
After losing the first game while playing white, Gukesh bounced back in the second match, which served as a confidence booster as Liren played passively, leading to an easy draw.
Gukesh did take the win in the third game, capitalizing on a miscalculation from Liren who had once again appeared to be in a better position.
Their fourth matchup saw Gukesh maintain a solid position as Liren opted for an unconventional opening, resulting in yet another draw.
It became apparent that Liren was relying on Gukesh to make mistakes at this juncture.
The fifth game showcased Gukesh’s fight for dominance, but he pushed too far, creating threats in the endgame. Yet again, Liren overlooked opportunities, resulting in a draw.
The sixth game is historically significant in many championship matches, and once more, it did not disappoint the fans.
In the previous World Championship, Liren had triumphed over Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia in the sixth game, and in 1972, Bobby Fischer famously defeated Boris Spassky in a match still cherished by chess enthusiasts today.
Gukesh passed on an early draw through repetition and found himself in a precarious position.
Nevertheless, as the position remained complicated, Liren chose not to take risks in the ensuing queen and rook endgame, marking the fourth draw of the match out of six games.
In terms of openings, Liren has opted for three distinct moves with his white pieces, while Gukesh has consistently approached the game with a Classical style, using only the King and Queen’s pawns to commence.
“So far, I feel it’s been good, but I think I can still enhance my play. There are many more games ahead, and considering I was trailing after the first game, I am satisfied to be where I am. It’s still early,” remarked Gukesh when asked about his performance after the sixth game.
On Tuesday, Gukesh will play with the white pieces.
With the way the matches have unfolded, the landscape remains unclear, and currently, no player stands out as the favorite.
Gukesh has embodied his usual ambitious nature, while Liren has displayed aggression only when absolutely necessary, frequently missing critical opportunities.
The next three games, where Gukesh will play two matches with white and one with black, represent a prime opportunity for him to gain an advantage in the match and apply pressure on Liren.
Up until now, Liren has exhibited superior defensive skills during the opening phases and will likely wish to maintain this trend.
The game is scheduled to start at 2:30 PM IST. (PTI)
