In a flip of occasions on the World Chess Championship, challenger D Gukesh of India suffered a setback in opposition to defending champion Ding Liren of China. Liren’s victory within the 12th sport levelled the match rating on Monday.
Gukesh, the 18-year-old prodigy, had held a one-point lead after securing his second win of the match on Sunday, breaking a streak of seven consecutive attracts. Nevertheless, Liren’s win the next day introduced the match again to a fair keel.
With two video games remaining within the 14-round classical time management format, each gamers at the moment are tied at 6 factors every. They’re nonetheless 1.5 factors away from clinching the title.
The ultimate two video games are scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday, following a relaxation day on Tuesday.
Whatever the end result of Wednesday’s sport, the match will proceed to the total 14 video games. A tiebreaker, consisting of shorter period video games, is probably going wanted to find out the last word winner.
Liren, 32, gained the opening sport, whereas Gukesh emerged victorious within the third sport. The second sport and video games 4 by ten resulted in attracts.
Liren’s victory within the 12th sport marked his first win with the white items. Gukesh’s preparation appeared much less efficient in comparison with his efficiency within the earlier 11 video games.
The sport started with an English opening by Liren. Surprisingly, Gukesh opted for a place that led to a reversed Benoni protection.
Gukesh struggled to generate counterplay within the middlegame as Liren performed normal growing strikes. By the 15th transfer, Liren held a slight benefit, regardless of having much less time on the clock. A central breakthrough appeared imminent, giving him a spatial benefit.
Gukesh’s 17th transfer additional weakened his place, permitting Liren to realize the specified central break. 5 strikes later, one other error by Gukesh gave Liren a big benefit.
Liren’s central pawn superior to the sixth rank on the 27th transfer, dealing a near-decisive blow. Gukesh was compelled to sacrifice two pawns.
Including to Gukesh’s troubles, a rook invasion loomed massive. The sport concluded with a tactical maneuver by Liren, sacrificing a rook to pressure checkmate. The sport resulted in 39 strikes.
Gukesh’s efficiency in his remaining sport with the white items, after the remaining day on Tuesday, will likely be essential.
Liren demonstrated his resilience and tenacity. His second victory within the match was extra one-sided in comparison with the opposite intently contested video games.
Within the earlier World Championship match in opposition to Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia, Liren staged a number of comebacks earlier than in the end claiming the title.
