World Chess Championship 2024: Gukesh clinches victory in game 11 after Ding Liren’s blunder

Gukesh D defeated reigning World Chess Champion Ding Liren in Game 11 of the 2024 World Chess Championship, taking a crucial 6-5 lead in the series with only three games remaining. The decisive moment came when Ding Liren, under intense time pressure, blundered a piece, forcing him to resign.

Both players were in a high-stakes time scramble during the game. Ding Liren had more than 8 minutes to make 16 moves, while Gukesh had just under 15 minutes for his next 15 moves. Gukesh’s preparation paid off as he spent over an hour on his 11th move, while Ding Liren was already deep into his time trouble, having used up much of his first hour on just a few moves.

The game saw Gukesh choose the Reti Opening, catching Ding off guard. This move put the world champion in a difficult position, as he burned valuable time on early moves. By the eighth move, Gukesh had gained a time advantage of over an hour, setting the stage for Ding’s critical mistake.

With Gukesh’s victory, the 2024 World Chess Championship is now poised for a dramatic conclusion. Both players are tied at 5 points each heading into Game 11, but Gukesh’s performance today has put him in a commanding position with just three games left to play. Tie-breaks could still be a possibility, but Gukesh would prefer to seal the title in classical format, as Ding holds a slight advantage in rapid chess.

Chess legend Susan Polgar highlighted the significance of time management in this game, stating, “The moment Ding realized he blundered and Gukesh saw the hanging knight was pivotal. Time pressure has always been a formula for blunders and this mistake could make history for Gukesh.”

As the series heads into its final stretch, Ding Liren must now go all out to retain his title, knowing any further mistakes could cost him the crown.