Ding Liren Faces Challenge from 18-Year-Old D Gukesh in World Chess Championship Match
Singapore, November 23 - The wait is almost over for chess enthusiasts around the world as the highly-awaited 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship match between reigning champion China's Ding Liren and challenger India's 18-year-old sensation D Gukesh is set to begin on November 25 at Equarius Hotel in Resorts World Sentosa, Singapore.
Ding, who was crowned world champion for the first time after beating Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi in a marathon match in 2023, faces an unprecedented challenge from a teenager who has been steadily improving his game over the past year to earn a spot at the highest level. Gukesh's rise to fame began when he won the Candidates tournament in Toronto earlier this year, becoming the youngest-ever winner of the prestigious tournament and also the youngest challenger in the World Championship.
The match will be played to a best-of-14 games format, with tiebreakers to be used if needed. The players will earn 1 point each for victory and 0.5 points for draw, with a score of 7.5 enough to claim the championship title. If the scores remain tied after 14 games, rapid and blitz matches with faster time controls will be played to break the deadlock.
Gukesh, currently ranked world no. 5, has been flying high over the past year, making significant improvements in his ratings and performances in big tournaments. His impressive form saw him overcome top players like Fabiano Caruana, Hikaru Nakamura, and Ian Nepomniachtchi, and he also won an individual gold at the 2024 Chess Olympiad. In contrast, Ding has struggled to regain his form since becoming world champion, with his rating currently standing at 2728.
"I know my performances haven't been up to my usual high standards," Ding said in a statement to FIDE. "But when one player starts to hit their stride, how the opponent reacts depends on their experience and how they handle the situation at the moment." Gukesh, who has been open about handling pressure through experience, expressed his excitement for the new challenge: "It's always a privilege to play for India at such a high level, and I enjoy the experience. I think how I handle pressure is mostly through experience."
The match will be live-streamed on FIDE's YouTube and Twitch channels, with ESPN India also providing a live blog to track each game. The total prize money for the championship match stands at USD 2.5 million, with each player receiving USD 200,000 for every game they win.
As the stage is set for one of the greatest matches in chess history, fans around the world are eagerly anticipating the clash between Ding Liren and D Gukesh. Will the reigning champion be able to defend his title against a young and hungry challenger? Only time will tell as the world waits with bated breath for the results of this epic showdown.