FIDE World Chess Championship 2024

The FIDE World Chess Championship is here. From becoming the youngest Grand Master of his time to becoming the youngest World Championship challenger, GM Dommaraju Gukesh has come a long way. He is challenging the reigning World Chess Champion GM Ding Liren for the title of World Chess Champion.

Format of World Chess Championship 2024

The games will be played in classical format with a little tweak. Both players will start with 2 Hours for the first 40 moves without increments and then 30 minutes will be added to their time with a 30-second increment on each move.

There will be 14 games played between them. A win will award 1 point and a draw will award .5. The first player to achieve 7.5 points will win the game.

Schedule of World Chess Championship 2024

A Rest Day is scheduled after every 3 game days.

Venue of World Chess Championship 2024

The games will be played in Singapore, Equarius Hotel at Resorts World Sentosa.

Players of the World Chess Championship

GM Ding Liren: 

Chinese Grand Master Ding Liren is the reigning World Chess Champion. He became the World champion after beating Russian Grandmaster Ian Nepomniatchi in 2023 which was the 17th edition of the World chess championship. GM Ding Liren holds the record for 2nd longest Undefeated streak and has a healthy record against his challenger GM D Gukesh.

Ding is well known for his safe positional chess, although, in recent times, his form isn't so good. He took a very long break from classical chess after winning the world chess championship and his return didn't impress the chess world much. In Olympiad as well his performance wasn't his best. Nevertheless, Ding is not an easy opponent for anyone. he is always considered a dark horse and can reach into his element at any moment to display his best game. His second, GM Richard Rapport has a reputation for being a very creative player and in the last World championship has proved very instrumental in bringing new ideas on the board. 

GM Dommaraju Gukesh

The Indian GM D Gukesh, was the youngest GM of his time and has become the youngest World champion challenger. His entry into the FIDE Candidate was legitimate but controversial. He won the FIDE candidate 2024 to challenge GM Ding Liren's reign.

GM D Gukesh is known for his excellent calculation. He has surprised the likes of Former world champion Magnus Carlsen with his skill in calculation. He is a very safe and solid player. Among the two, despite having a poor record against Ding, Gukesh is considered as favorite to win the world championship, especially because of the recent performance from Ding where as he is in his prime. He won the individual Gold medal on board 1 in the Chess Olympiad 2024 to propel India to the top spot. We are expecting a very tough fight from him in this world championship.

Games of World Chess Championship 2024:

Game 1:

Coming from a poor form and despite GM D Gukesh surprising Ding out of the opening. Ding took his time and played his best game to beat Gukesh with black pieces.

Game 2:

Ding has come back in form after winning the first classical game in a while and straight when it mattered the most. In Game 2 he got white pieces and all eyes were on Gukesh, on how he will respond. But Gukesh is known for his comebacks and he went on to draw the game. Although the position wasn't dead as per former world champion GM Magnus Carlsen, both players decided to go back with a draw. While Ding went back being in the lead, the next day was a crucial one, where Gukesh will have white pieces again to make things even.

Game 3:

All eyes were on Gukesh, on what he would bring on the board, to level up the score. Gukesh decided to start the game with 1.d4, which was his main weapon. The game started with QGD and very soon, the position was very wild. Ding was able to solve all the problems until, he blundered to let Gukesh trap his light square bishop, and from there, it was all Gukesh, making all the best possible moves, showing why he is considered a comeback champion and a calculation genius. Both players went into the rest day. Gukesh was happy to even the score whereas Ding must have taken a sore taste as he lost the lead, But the tournament has just started and many games are yet to be played.

Game 4:

After a loss with black pieces and losing the lead, Ding surprised against with a fresh opening idea, but the chess world didn't like it as although less played but the position was very easy for black to equalize. Both players played safe to agree on a draw.

After Game 4 the score is equal with both players having 2 points each, on 30th Nov Gukesh again will have white pieces and as per his nature, we expect that he will be eyeing a decisive match.