World Chess Championship: Gukesh Secures Draw with Black; Ding Maintains Lead at 1.5-0.5
Gukesh Dommaraju held a solid draw with the black pieces against Ding Liren in game two of the 2024 World Chess Championship. Ding leads the 14-game match 1.5-0.5.
Chess
In game two of the 2024 FIDE World Championship, Ding Liren introduced the first novelty of the match, but Gukesh Dommaraju defended solidly, resulting in a 23-move draw by repetition. This earned Gukesh his first half-point in the match. He expressed satisfaction with the outcome, stating, "Today was a good day," and looks forward to game three with the white pieces. The match score stands at 1.5-0.5 in Ding's favour, with up to 12 classical games remaining.
Game three is scheduled for Wednesday, November 27, at 4:00 a.m. ET / 10:00 CET / 2:30 p.m. IST / 5:00 p.m. local time in Singapore.
Key Highlights:
- Opening Surprises: Ding opted for 1.e4, deviating from his usual 1.d4, and introduced 9.a5 as a new idea, which created early pressure.
- Middle Game Dynamics: While Ding's opening was promising, he struggled with some follow-up plans, allowing Gukesh to stabilise.
- Draw Outcome: Both players were satisfied with the draw—Ding for maintaining his lead and Gukesh for neutralising an early deficit.
Match Overview:
The first to 7.5 points wins the title in a 14-game series.
Prize pool: $2.5 million, with $200,000 for a win. If tied 7-7, rapid playoffs will determine the champion.
Where to Watch:
Live broadcasts are available on Chess.com/TV, Chess24's Twitch and YouTube channels, and GM Hikaru Nakamura's Kick stream, with expert commentary by GM Judit Polgar, GM Daniel Naroditsky, and others.
Both players are preparing for an intense game three, with Ding anticipating an aggressive approach from Gukesh as the challenger aims to equalise.
