D Gukesh vs Ding Liren Game 12 Highlights, World Chess Championship 2024: Ding beats Gukesh in Game 12, levels score 6-6

Here’s an interactive video on all the moves that were made today before Gukesh was forced to resign on Move 39.

Ding with the comeback! 😮 Gukesh resigned in a hopeless position before mate! 6-6 with only 2 more games to play in the World Championship! https://t.co/H6twdJmLHu #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/8z1kQ1MJH2

— lichess.org (@lichess) December 9, 2024

All the moves from Game 12 as Ding beats Gukesh:

1. c4 e6
2. g3 d5
3. Bg2 Nf6
4. Nf3 d4
5. O-O Nc6
6. e3 Be7
7. d3 dxe3
8. Bxe3 e5
9. Nc3 O-O
10. Re1 h6
11. a3 a5
12. h3 Be6
13. Kh2 Rb8
14. Qc2 Re8
15. Nb5 Bf5
16. Rad1 Nd7
17. Qd2 Bg6
18. d4 e4
19. Ng1 Nb6
20. Qc3 Bf6
21. Qc2 a4
22. Ne2 Bg5
23. Nf4 Bxf4
24. Bxf4 Rc8
25. Qc3 Nb8
26. d5 Qd7
27. d6 c5
28. Nc7 Rf8
29. Bxe4 Nc6
30. Bg2 Rcd8
31. Nd5 Nxd5
32. cxd5 Nb8
33. Qxc5 Rc8
34. Qd4 Na6
35. Re7 Qb5
36. d7 Rc4
37. Qe3 Rc2
38. Bd6 f6
39. Rxg7+

Here’s a look at the final board position as Ding beats Gukesh in Game 12 to level the scores 6-6.

What a comeback from Ding! This is clearly his best performance so far in this Championship and he beats Gukesh comfortably after 39 moves to level the score 6-6.

The moves are flying now as we have only four minutes left for both players in first time control.

The last four moves:

34. Qd4 Na6
35. Re7 Qb5
36. d7 Rc4
37. Qe3 Rc2

Ding takes the Pawn on e4 and retreats the white Bishop to g2. Also, Ding moves Knight to d5 and Gukesh captures that Knight with his black Knight. Ding captures that black Knight with his Pawn. More pieces traded. The moves from Gukesh have come at a very quick pace. He looks down but is trying to exert pressure.

Last eight moves:

27. d6 c5
28. Nc7 Rf8
29. Bxe4 Nc6
30. Bg2 Rcd8
31. Nd5 Nxd5
32. cxd5 Nb8
33. Qxc5 Rc8
34. Qd4

Okay, it’s not Na7 from Ding but d5 which was the other possibility, Gukesh replies with Qd7. Ding is not looking to collect the pieces but to finish the match.

Wow! Nb8 has been played by Gukesh which means the Rook on c8 is there for taking. The next move from Ding can be Na7.

It seems like Bg5 was a big blunder from Gukesh and Computer and GM Giri seems to agree. He could have played Ne5. Ding’s Nf4 has been attributed as a great move by the Computer, however, Knight is taken out with the black Bishop, followed by the Chinese GM pushing out that Bishop with his white Bishop. Qc3 is the last move played by Ding.

Last few moves:

22. Ne2 Bg5
23. Nf4 Bxf4
24. Bxf4 Rc8
25. Qc3

Bg5 is on the board from Gukesh and the computer is not impressed. The evaluation bar is strongly now in Liren’s favour. He leads by almost 1 point.

Can Gukesh script a comeback from here?

Yes, it’s Bf6 from Gukesh. Also, Gukesh is now behind the clock by a little over two minutes.

Gukeesh goes for Nb6 after Ding opts for Ng1 with his white pieces. You can see that Ding is sensing his win and is also looking at Gukesh at times, sort of asking questions with his body language about how he is planning to defend from here.

1. c4 e6
2. g3 d5
3. Bg2 Nf6
4. Nf3 d4
5. O-O Nc6
6. e3 Be7
7. d3 dxe3
8. Bxe3 e5
9. Nc3 O-O
10. Re1 h6
11. a3 a5
12. h3 Be6
13. Kh2 Rb8
14. Qc2 Re8
15. Nb5 Bf5
16. Rad1 Nd7
17. Qd2 Bg6
18. d4 e4
19. Ng1 Nb6
20. Qc3

“Gukesh is an optimistic fighter, so maybe he can pose resistance,” Giri says on Commentary.

LIVE board position:

After Ding’s Qd2, Gukesh takes his black queen to g6 followed by d4 from the world champions. We were expecting d4 a long time back but it has come finally. Liren is in a good position now. Take a look at the board:

Due to strong preparation and a quick start in the opening game, Gukesh still enjoys a time advantage of over 10 minutes over Ding but he is losing time soon.

Current position:

The gameplay and position of both players are pretty deep and inward at the moment but white has an edge, the commentators are claiming. The last move is Qd2 by Ding and the computer likes it. The eval bar is slightly in his favour at the moment.

Take a look at all the moves so far and the live board position after Move 16 from both players.

1. c4 e6
2. g3 d5
3. Bg2 Nf6
4. Nf3 d4
5. O-O Nc6
6. e3 Be7
7. d3 dxe3
8. Bxe3 e5
9. Nc3 O-O
10. Re1 h6
11. a3 a5
12. h3 Be6
13. Kh2 Rb8
14. Qc2 Re8
15. Nb5 Bf5
16. Rad1 Nd7

Ding is in form today! Creating a strong symmetry in the middle game and he is chilling in the restroom. The way he is standing, one of those proper meme materials.

Ding goes Nb5. It was a move that even the computer was suggesting. Ding’s accuracy today is 99, .3 better than Gukesh’s. The current board position indicates that Ding has the advantage here.

Tables have turned now and Ding’s white pieces are enjoying a strong position now. Gukesh has taken a lot of time on his last two moves and comes up with Re8 after Ding goes Qc2.

After some intense deliberation and time taking, Gukesh goes for Rb8 which is quite an interesting choice. GMs Giri and Peter Leko are equally stumped.

While we have different opinions, GM Anish Giri feels that Gukesh is in a spot of bother here. “His (Gukesh) position has peaked. He has no moves and the current situation is bad,” he said in the commentary.

All the moves so far:

1. c4 e6
2. g3 d5
3. Bg2 Nf6
4. Nf3 d4
5. O-O Nc6
6. e3 Be7
7. d3 dxe3
8. Bxe3 e5
9. Nc3 O-O
10. Re1 h6
11. a3 a5
12. h3 Be6
13. Kh2

Gukesh replies to h3 from Ding with be6 and the world champion moves Kh2 next. Not sure if Kh2 is a good move because it allows the black pieces to co-ordinate. Maybe he could have gone for d4, but we will know soon about its impact.

Gukesh replies to h3 from Ding with be6 and the world champion moves Kh2 next. Not sure if Kh2 is a good move because it allows the black pieces to co-ordinate. Maybe he could have gone for d4, but we will know soon about its impact.

Ding took ages to move a3 and would have hoped for a break but Gukesh was quick to go a5. Ding back on the clock and he is over 35 minutes behind the Indian GM.

h6 on the board by Gukesh after some deliberation. Will Ding try to capture it with his white Bishop. Here’s a live view of the board position after Move 10.

1. c4 e6
2. g3 d5
3. Bg2 Nf6
4. Nf3 d4
5. O-O Nc6
6. e3 Be7
7. d3 dxe3
8. Bxe3 e5
9. Nc3 O-O
10. Re1 h6

Gukeesh has opted for the short castle on Move 9 followed by Re1 by Ding which is the last move. Gukesh on the clock right now and he has an over 20 minutes advantage.

1. c4 e6
2. g3 d5
3. Bg2 Nf6
4. Nf3 d4
5. O-O Nc6
6. e3 Be7
7. d3 dxe3
8. Bxe3 e5
9. Nc3 O-O
10. Re1

Ding responds by capturing the pawn on e3 with his ark-coloured Bishop. e5 is the last move by Gukesh, forcing Ding to once again think hard. Ding is 20 minutes behind on the clock.

1. c4 e6
2. g3 d5
3. Bg2 Nf6
4. Nf3 d4
5. O-O Nc6
6. e3 Be7
7. d3 dxe3
8. Bxe3 e5

First Pawn exchange as Gukesg takes the white Pawn on e3. Will Ding return the favour? He is on the click now and looks tensed.

1. c4 e6
2. g3 d5
3. Bg2 Nf6
4. Nf3 d4
5. O-O Nc6
6. e3 Be7
7. d3 dxe3

Gukesh looks super prepared here as moves are flying from both corners.

1. c4 e6
2. g3 d5
3. Bg2 Nf6
4. Nf3 d4
5. O-O Nc6
6. e3 Be7

Ding opts for c4 English Opening followed by e6 Agincourt Defense by Gukesh on first move with black pieces.

Mr. Zhu Jing from the Chinese Embassy is the special guest for today’s ceremonial move. The players are ready.

After saying D Gukesh was “no longer a favourite” in the World Championship on Friday, world No 1 Magnus Carlsen decided to direct his barbs towards reigning champion Ding Liren after his defeat inside 29 moves in Game 11 on Sunday.

“We’ll see if Ding has any fight in him. Will Ding crumble now? I think that’s most likely the most likely scenario. Whether he will put any pressure on Gukesh, whatsoever? Hard to say. Kinda doubt it. Gukesh has been very good at neutralising Ding with black pieces. Maybe Ding will put in a shift in the two white games remaining. But I am not optimistic on his behalf,” Carlsen said on the Take Take Take app on Sunday. ( **READ MORE** )