Ding Liren Fights Back as World Chess Championship Shifts in India's Favor

The highly anticipated Game 5 of the World Chess Championship is just hours away, as India's D Gukesh takes on China's Ding Liren to reclaim the lead. The match is currently tied at 2-2, with the Indian prodigy looking to take advantage of his opponent's struggles in the previous games.

In yesterday's Game 4, Ding Liren played an unorthodox opening with the first move being 1.Nf3, in a bid to surprise his opponent. However, India's Gukesh remained calm and composed throughout the game, responding precisely to Ding's moves and neutralizing his advantage. The two world chess powers ultimately agreed to a draw after three-fold repetition in a rook ending.

Ding Liren acknowledged that he had underestimated his opponent, saying, "I tried to surprise my opponent, but my advantage was very small. He was able to neutralize my initiative, and the game was balanced." Ding attributed his relatively poor performance to a rest day taken after the previous round's loss in Game 3.

Gukesh, on the other hand, was satisfied with his performance in yesterday's draw, which he claimed it wasn't entirely new for him. "It wasn't a completely new line for me, although it was a bit of a surprise," Gukesh explained. He attributed India's momentum to his ability to stay focused and adapt to Ding Liren's moves, stating that there had been chances throughout the game where he could have pressed harder.

The chess community is abuzz with anticipation as Gukesh will assume the white piece in today's match, looking to capitalize on his opponent's earlier overconfidence. The Indian player expressed confidence in his ability to capitalize on any mistakes made by Ding Liren. "With White, it's all you can expect in a match."

You can follow the live blog of this crucial Game 5 right here for instant updates and insights into the world of chess.