D Gukesh vs Ding Liren Recreation 8: Gukesh rejects draw earlier than sharing factors with world chess champion

One other World Chess Championship 2024 match resulted in a draw on Wednesday because the scores remained tied between the challenger D Gukesh and the world champion Ding Liren. With
Recreation 8 ending in a draw after 51 strikes, each gamers are presently tied on 4 factors every. The primary participant to achieve 7.5 factors within the 14-game sequence shall be handed the world chess title.

The draw within the World Chess Championship 2024 Recreation 8 was the fifth consecutive draw on the planet title battle
which has a complete prize cash pool of $2.5m (Rs 20.8 crore roughly) and is being performed in Singapore.

D Gukesh vs Ding Liren Recreation 8 Recap

Identical to Recreation 7 in World Chess Championship 2024, Recreation 8 on Wednesday additionally noticed gamers reaching positions the place they may have received the sport however each 18-year-old Gukesh and 32-year-old Liren didn’t capitalize on the probabilities within the middlegame.

The match began with Ding, enjoying with favoured white items, making for a contemporary strategy, opening with 1.c4 for the fourth consecutive recreation. Regardless of going through a dire place and a big time deficit, Liren showcased outstanding resilience, conjuring a superb concept to flee catastrophe. A pricey blunder from Gukesh paved the best way for Ding to grab management, executing his comeback with confidence and precision.

One of many main incidents within the match occurred on transfer 26 when Gukesh missed an opportunity to consolidate his benefit. Within the press convention, he spoke about his choice: “Blocking with 26…Ndc5 (as a substitute of 26…Nac5) appeared bizarre to me. I assumed that my transfer was successful however I missed his key transfer 28.Qe1, when 28…Nxd3 loses to 29.Qc3. If I had noticed this concept then I’d most likely have thought a bit extra. It was a really difficult place and he discovered these concepts in a short time – nice defence by my opponent”.

The middlegame witnessed an intense battle however the endgame was fairly balanced as Ding’s advantageous place was lower down by Gukesh’s ingenuity and combating spirit. The Indian GM as soon as once more rejected a draw provide by threefold repetition earlier than the sport resulted in a draw.

Gukesh had first declined the provide for a draw
within the sixth recreation on Sunday when he opted for 26…Qh4!? and shocked the viewers however after Recreation 8 he mentioned it was a misjudgment on his half.

“This place the place I didn’t repeat, I didn’t assume I used to be in a lot hazard. I all the time thought along with his weak king and my robust pawn on b3, I ought to have play. I assumed possibly I would even have some probabilities. However okay, yeah, it was only a misjudgment of the place,” he mentioned within the post-match press convention.

Ding additionally expressed happiness on securing a draw as he felt he couldn’t have received.

“At this time through the recreation I didn’t realise I used to be successful sooner or later,” he mentioned.

The ninth recreation of the World Chess Championship 2024 will happen on Thursday (5 December) at 5 PM native time in Singapore (2.30 PM IST). Gukesh will play White.

All of the strikes from Recreation 8:

1. c4 e5
2. Nc3 Bb4
3. Nd5 Be7
4. Nf3 d6
5. g3 c6
6. Nxe7 Nxe7
7. Bg2 f6
8. O-O Be6
9. b3 d5
10. Ba3 O-O
11. Rc1 a5
12. Ne1 Re8
13. f4 exf4
14. Rxf4
15. bxc4 Ng6
16. Re4 Na6
17. Nc2 Qc7
18. Nd4 Bf7
19. d3 Ne5
20. Nf3 Nd7
21. Rxe8+ Rxe8
22. Rb1 b5
23. cxb5 Qb6+
24. Kf1 cxb5
25. Bb2 Bxa2
26. Bd4 Nac5
27. Rc1 Bb3
28. Qe1 Be6
29. Qf2 Rc8
30. Be3 Rc7
31. Nd4 Bf7
32. Nc6 Rxc6
33. Bxc6 Qxc6
34. Bxc5 h6
35. Ke1 b4
36. Qd4 Ne5
37. Kd2 Qg2
38. Qf2 Qd5
39. Qd4 Qg2
40. Qf2 Qd5
41. Qd4 Qa2+
42. Rc2 Qe6
43. Qd8+ Kh7
44. Qxa5 b3
45. Rc1 Qd5
46. Qb4 Qg2
47. Qe4+ Qxe4
48. dxe4 b2
49. Rb1 Ba2
50. Rxb2 Nc4+
51. Kc3 Nxb2