Countdown to FIDE World Championship 2024: D Gukesh vs Ding Liren
In just 50 days, D Gukesh from India will vie for the ultimate title against the world champion Ding Liren in the FIDE World Championship 2024. This highly anticipated match stems from Gukesh's recent remarkable performances, particularly his contribution in winning India its first-ever gold medal at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest.
Gukesh's form has been impressive, securing 9 victories out of his previous 10 matches at the Olympiad, including a significant win over USA's Fabiano Caruana. His stunning performance escalated his live rating to 2794.1, earning him the position of the world no.5. His performance was rated at 3056 ELO, qualifying it as one of the greatest performances in the history of chess tournaments.
Ding, however, has been struggling to find his footing. His last match victory in the classical format transpired at Tata Steel Masters in January, where he bested the Dutch player, Max Warmerdam. Though he subdued Gukesh in the same championship, they ended up in a draw in their subsequent match in the Sinquefield Cup. His recent performance at the Olympiad was underwhelming with seven draws and one loss.
Although Gukesh is in soaring form it must be noted that his young age could pose a challenge in handling the pressure of the world championship match - a high-pressure situation that Ding has proven he can navigate successfully. Ding had managed a sensational victory in last year's world championship against Ian Nepomniachtchi after enduring four nerve-wracking tie-breaks, and even weathered a major crisis during the championship.
As the face-off in Singapore from November 25 onwards draws near, the focus now rests on how Gukesh will tackle the high-stakes game and whether he could dethrone the seasoned champ. Despite the recent downturn in Ding's form, the conclusion of the match remains unpredictable and the world awaits eagerly for the upcoming chess spectacle.
