The World Chess Championship 2024 has begun in Singapore with an eventful and historic battle between India‘s 18-year-old prodigy, Dommaraju Gukesh, and reigning world champion Ding Liren of China. FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich has described it as a “battle between the Indian tiger and the Chinese dragon“ and, indeed, this 14-game match has made world-wide headlines as the two would go for the highest prize in chess.

A Historic Encounter in World Chess Championship

The tournament of World Chess Championship:

 marks the first time that two players from Asia will compete in the World Chess Championship. The impetus to make history is all the greater for Gukesh, who will be only 18 when he plays, while Ding has the chance to silence his critics and solidify his position at the top after a relatively poor show since his elevation as world champion in 2023.

Gukesh is the favorite in the match, ranked No. 5 in the world with a classical rating of 2783, while Ding is ranked No. 23 with a rating of 2728. Ding has said he’s not feeling his best lately, but he’s extremely experienced.

Gukesh Journey of becoming a Challenger to World Top 5 in World Chess Championship

The youngster, mentored under the tutelage of five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand, has been quite impressive for his age. According to Anand, Gukesh‘s composure at crucial moments was evident during his performances in the Candidates Tournament and the Chess Olympiad, which hinted at being ready for the world arena. He has played a very important role in moulding Gukesh‘s career by helping him connect with top coaches like Grzegorz Gajewski and has also provided support through the Westbridge Anand Chess Academy.

For his approach to the championship, Gukesh said,
“My job is pretty clear: go to every game as the best version of myself and play the best moves. If I do the right things, I‘ll have all the chances in the world.”

Ding Liren: The Underdog with a Champion‘s Spirit in World Chess Championship

The 17th world champion, Ding Liren, became the first Chinese player to hold the title defeating Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2023. Since then, his journey has been turbulent. Personal struggles and a lack of competitive play have raised questions about his form.

Ding admitted to preparing for the match for only three weeks, whereas normally the preparation period for world championship contenders is measured in months. Still, he is not to be underestimated as he possesses several decades of experience at the top. TOP ||
Both sides have recruited the best ancillary support for the title. Gukesh was mentored by Paddy Upton, a well-known mental conditioning coach who had helped India win the 2011 Cricket World Cup and had guided the hockey team to an Olympic bronze medal earlier this year. Upton helped Gukesh balance being respectful to his opponent with believing in one’s own capacity.

Ding, on the other hand, has been low-key about his preparation, but has brought a small team of seconds to Singapore to help out with strategy and analysis.

Game 1: The Stage is Set in World Chess Championship

The championship match started with Gukesh playing the first game with white, giving him a slight edge much like serving first in tennis. Demis Hassabis, CEO of DeepMind Technologies and a recent Nobel laureate, made the ceremonial first move for Gukesh, lending a hand to this prestigious event.

The time control for the games is 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, followed by 30 minutes for the rest of the game starting from move 41, with a 30-second increment per move from that point. This change, introduced to make games more exciting for fans, has been met with mixed reactions from the players.

What’s at Stake?

The first player to score 7.5 points will be considered world champion. If both players are on the same score after 14 games, the match will enter tiebreaks, played at faster time controls. This has always been a format that favors those with great rapid and blitz skills, an area in which Gukesh admits he needs improvement.

“I love classical games more since it will give more high–class chess,” Gukesh said in a pre-tournament press conference. “Rapid and blitz are more exciting to the fans, but classical chess can offer deeper play.”
Former world champion Magnus Carlsen weighs in on Gukesh‘s strengths, declaring him to be a “mystery” because of his superior classical games compared to his rapid– and blitz ratings. Said Carlsen:
When I speak with Gukesh after the games, he considered stuff that I didn‘t even think of. He just calculates nonstop, which pretty much works well in classical chess.

While hoping that Gukesh may do well for India, Viswanathan Anand urged not to underestimate Ding. “You must keep concentration on your own moves and not get diverted by the opponent‘s form.“

The Players‘ Rooms

The playrooms are pretty simple within the playing venue: There is just two chairs, a table with refreshment and a television showing the real game situation. This simplicity helps the players concentrate more on the match without any extraneous distraction.

A Clash of Titans

The World Chess Championship of 2024 promises to be a skirmish between two brilliant players. Dubbed the clash of the Indian tiger and the Chinese dragon, it symbolizes the growing prominence of Asia in the world of chess.

As the first game unfolds, fans worldwide eagerly watch to see whether Gukesh can make his dream of becoming the youngest world champion a reality, or Ding Liren can continue on to defend his title and shut all the critics up.

Stay tuned for more updates from this historic event!