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Ding Liren strikes first, defeats Gukesh with black in game 1!

Dramatic start of the World Chess Championship 2024, as Ding Liren stuns Gukesh with the black pieces in game 1. In just a few hours Ding Liren left all experts, pundits, and statisticians jaw-dropped by playing solid, yet aggressive chess, while keeping his composure and taking the chances.

The game started with a French defense and Gukesh played the aggressive g4 early on, showing strong preparation for the match. The Indian player blasted moves on the board, while Ding Liren was taking his time. In a rich position with lots of possibilities, Ding Liren created counterplay on the queenside.


After move 20, Ding Liren forced his opponent to find series of precise moves and Gukesh missed the computer suggestion 22.g5, and even blundered with 22.Qe1. With the eval bars of Stockfish and Leela jumping to -2.81, the world started screaming “surprise” and “this is over”


But this is the World Championship and anything can happen. Ding Liren blundered with 27.fxe6 (instead of …Bxe6) and suddenly the game was in the equal zone again. Yet, just a few moves later, Gukesh returned the blunder by missing 30…Qc5 and from then on Ding Liren proceeded to close the game All details on Gukesh – Ding: Preview / Schedule / Live / More: Opening ceremony, Press conference, and Drawing of colors Social networks: Twitter/X / Facebook

Reminder: the only two decisive games between Gukesh and Ding Liren went in favor of Ding Liren. Both were with the black pieces and both in Tata Steel (replay them here). History repeats right at the start of the World Chess Championship 2024!

Stay tuned for the full report and video analysis


Timeline of the World Chess Championship

15.08.2024 FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 is in Singapore
16.08.2024 Record in target: Between 100 and 200 million have followed the match Anand – Carlsen on TV every day
25.08.2024 World Chess Championship 2024 and Judit Polgar’s prophecy
12.09.2024 World Chess Championship 2024 is sponsored by Google
15.09.2024 Ding Liren considers Gukesh the favorite for the World Chess Championship 2024
17.09.2024 PH Nielsen: Ding Liren is favorite for the match with Gukesh
24.09.2024 World Chess Championship 2024 tickets are on sale
28.09.2024 India win double gold at the Chess Olympiad
28.09.2024 Gukesh wins individual gold medal
06.10.2024 Ding Liren – Gukesh 2024 – the game that did not happen
22.10.2024 Ding Liren considers the favorite for the World Chess Championship 2024
23.10.2024 Gukesh about the World Chess Championship chances
24.10.2024 Anish Giri about the World Chess Championship
25.10.2024 Happy birthday to Ding Liren
09.11.2024 Gukesh coach: Ding Liren’s bad form ‘does not matter so much’
10.11.2024 Garry Kasparov is the youngest World Chess Champion, Gukesh has a chance to surpass that
16.11.2024 Magnus Carlsen, “Gukesh is significant favorite for World Chess Champion 2024” (VIDEO)
17.11.2024 FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 experts predictions – Gukesh or Ding Liren
18.11.2024 Nielsen, “Ding – Gukesh is NOT the first World Championship
19.11.2024 Gukesh – Ding predictions, Carlsen’s take (take, take)
20.11.2024 Arjun Erigaisi, “Gukesh should focus, Ding Liren is not in good shape”
21.11.2024 Gukesh vs Ding Liren, how and where to follow live the World Chess Championship 2024
21.11.2024 2024 World Chess Championship – the chess table of Gukesh and Ding
22.11.2024 The opening ceremony of Gukesh – Ding in Capitol Theatre
23.11.2024 Google doodle for the World Chess Championship 2024