The highly anticipated World Chess Championship clash between reigning champion Ding Liren and teenage challenger Dommaraju Gukesh took a surprising turn in game 5, as the Chinese grandmaster admitted to missing a golden opportunity to press home his advantage and take a decisive lead in the match.
In a stunning post-game revelation, Ding conceded that after some quick checks, he realized he “had some advantage which I didn’t realize, so there is something to improve.” This rare moment of candor from a world champion midway through a title match underscores the magnitude of the missed chance.
Champion’s Conundrum
Ding’s self-critical assessment sheds light on a recurring issue that has plagued him throughout 2024 – a curious inability to convert advantageous positions into victories. As the champion himself put it:
“Today, after some quick check(s) I had some advantage which I didn’t realise, so there is something to improve.”
– Ding Liren
While the honesty is refreshing, it raises serious concerns for Team Ding. How could the world champion’s in-game evaluation be so far off from the actual position on the board? This misjudgment seems to have led to an overcautiousness, a reluctance to prolong games and grind out wins, and an eagerness to accept early draws – a point highlighted by none other than Magnus Carlsen after game 2.
Gukesh’s Great Escape
For the 18-year-old Gukesh, game 5 served as yet another wake-up call, despite his impressive composure in navigating a treacherous position. The Indian prodigy’s puzzling opening choice had already raised eyebrows, but a blunder on move 23 – opting to capture Ding’s bishop with a pawn instead of his rook – left him in serious trouble.
Gukesh later admitted he was deeply concerned about a potential attack from Ding’s rook on the queenside, which could have left him in an irredeemable position. Remarkably, this is precisely the continuation Ding failed to spot, as he retreated with his bishop on move 29, essentially offering a draw.
Pressure on the Champion
While the scores remain level with Ding having played one game less with the white pieces, the pressure is mounting on the champion to make something happen. His games with white so far have been characterized by solid but drawish positions, a trend that may need to change if he hopes to defend his crown.
“The results are not ideal because I had some chances in some games to lead by some points, and it’s even,” Ding acknowledged.
Gukesh’s Mixed Signals
For the challenger, game 5 exemplified both his greatest strengths and most glaring weaknesses. His defensive resilience and ability to maintain his composure after a mistake were on full display. However, the fact remains that in two of his three games with the white pieces, Gukesh has made potentially catastrophic errors in the middlegame.
With Ding seemingly content to play for draws as black, the onus will be on Gukesh to generate winning chances with white. He cannot afford any more slips. As the match enters its second half, the chess world waits with bated breath to see if the young challenger can rise to the occasion, or if the champion’s experience will ultimately prove decisive.
