The 2024 World Chess Championship remains evenly balanced as Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju played to a gripping 46-move draw on Sunday, leaving the score tied at 3.0 points after six games. The match concluded the first week of the 14-game series.
Defending champion Ding, with the white pieces, started strong, pushing the 18-year-old Indian challenger on the defensive. However, Gukesh staged a remarkable recovery, navigating the game into a dramatic double-rook endgame with scattered pawns. The contest ended after a threefold repetition of moves, lasting over four hours.
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In a bold decision, Gukesh declined an earlier chance for a draw despite being in a challenging position. He explained, “I thought there was still a lot of play left and didn’t see much danger for me,” expressing his preference for a longer game. Meanwhile, Ding admitted to missing opportunities to capitalize on his advantage, saying, “That’s something I need to improve in the coming games.”
The series opened with Ding claiming victory in game one, breaking a 28-game winless streak in classical chess. Game two ended in a draw, followed by Gukesh’s victory in game three after Ding lost on time. Games four, five, and six all resulted in draws, underscoring the intense competition.
With 14 games scheduled, the first player to reach 7.5 points will be crowned champion, with tiebreaks in case of a draw. At 18, Gukesh has made history as the youngest player to compete in the World Chess Championship, aiming to surpass Garry Kasparov as the youngest undisputed world champion. Despite the current tie, Gukesh remarked, “We are not even halfway through the event,” signaling a challenging road ahead.
