Gukesh shocks Ding in finale, wins title!

2024 World Chess Championship: Game 14
Thursday, 12 December 2024

Gukesh wins world title after Ding blunders

While Gukesh Dommaraju was considered the favorite in the match, there were serious doubts going into the 14th game. The teenager came off of a devastating loss and champion Ding Liren would have the white pieces. If the game would be a draw, Ding would have been considered the stronger rapid player so there was a sense of urgency.

Today’s game followed a critical path out of what could be considered a Reverse Grunfeld, and while the game had an interesting jumble of pieces zipping around the board, the game started to liquidate and the following positions ensued.

Looks drawish, but Ding got a bit too insistent on the draw and gave up a pawn to settle for the draw. As the game continued, it appeared that the match was headed for tiebreaks. Ding beat Ian Nepomniachtchi in rapid tiebreaks to claim the title.

In that match he had to play some “cold-blooded” moves including one where he bravely pinned his own rook. However, tragedy struck in this game when Ding offered a trade of rooks with 55.Rf2?? It took awhile for Gukesh to see it, but the fans (with the help of the eval bar) started going wild.

This was the moment Ding Blunders and in a moment all was over for him.
Claps for Ding too, played really well.
Go Gukesh Go?#GukeshDing #ChessChampionshippic.twitter.com/OmkOT2HBjv

— Ayush Raj (@ArjAyush) December 12, 2024

The range of emotions you go through when becoming the 18th World Chess Champion. @DGukesh ??

Photos: Eng Chin An pic.twitter.com/0MHaS9St1Y

— ChessBase India (@ChessbaseIndia) December 12, 2024

“At the first moment, I didn’t see that I was winning. When I realized that I was winning, it was the best moment of my life.”

~Gukesh Dommaraju

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