World Chess Championship 2024: Ding Liren secures draw vs D Gukesh in Game 13, final game could decide title winner

D Gukesh did everything possible but could not force a result as Game 13 against Ding Liren in the ongoing World Chess Championship 2024 ended in a draw on Wednesday (11 December). The World Chess Championship 2024 is now tied at 6.5-6.5 with one more game to go.

“It’s fitting that the match goes to the last game, because we’ve both showed a lot of fighting spirit and played some very entertaining chess,” Gukesh said after Game 13. “Quite excited for Game 14. I will try to do my best.”

Game 14 between 32-year-old Ding and India’s Gukesh will be played on Thursday (12 December) and the winner of the final game will secure the world chess title.

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The reigning world champion Liren of China will have an advantage over 18-year-old challenger Gukesh in Game 14 as the Chinese Grandmaster will be playing with the favoured white pieces and make the opening move.

Tiebreakers will be played on Friday (13 December) if Game 14 ends in a draw.

Gukesh vs Ding Game 13 Recap

Gukesh, playing with white pieces, opted for 1.e4 opening, the third time in the World Chess Championship 2024, while Ding once again went for French Defense. The Indian GM made a blistering start and played a rare 7.a3 before a near-novelty 8.Be3. This forced Liren to spend 37 minutes on his response: 8…Nb6.

Gukesh tightened the screw on the match with 22.Bf4! before Ding opted for an unassertive 23…Rb7, allowing the Indians to take control of Game 13. However, his decision to for 25.Bxe7 and black’s reply of 25…Rexe7 released the pressure from Ding.

The game though was once again in Gukesh’s favour as Ding decided to pull back the queen (30…Qf7?!) instead of capture on e1.

“I thought that after 24 Bd6 I should have a quite nice advantage, which probably was the case, but I couldn’t see a knockout blow. Maybe there wasn’t one,” Gukesh said.

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Applause breaks out after Ding Liren survived a thriller against Gukesh and the scores are still tied going into tomorrow's final classical game! #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/G5OD1v9flG

— chess24 (@chess24com) December 11, 2024

The biggest moment of the match came when Ding pulled off 31…Rf8 when any other move would have backfired. This resulted in a scenario where Gukesh could not find a decisive opening in a rook endgame.

The game eventually ended in a draw after 69 moves and lasted 5 hours and 6 minutes.

So far both players have won two games each in the $2.5 million World Chess Championship 2024. While Ding won Game 1 and Game 12, Gukesh bounced back with victories in Game 3 and Game 11. Nine games have ended in a draw.

D Gukesh vs Ding Liren Game 13 ends in draw: All the moves

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e5 Nfd7
5. Nce2 c5
6. c3 Nc6
7. a3 Be7
8. Be3 Nb6
9. Nf4 cxd4
10. cxd4 Nc4
11. Bxc4 dxc4
12. Nge2 b5
13. O-O O-O
14. Nc3 Rb8
15. Nh5 f5
16. exf6 Bxf6
7. Qf3 Qe8
18. Nxf6+ Rxf6
19. Qe2 Qg6
20. f3 Rf8
21. Rad1 Ne7
22. Bf4 Rb6
23. Bc7 Rb7
24. Bd6 Re8
25. Bxe7 Rexe7
26. Qe5 a6
27. d5 exd5
28. Qxd5+ Qe6
29. Qc5 Re8
30. Rde1 Qf7
31. Ne4 Rf8
32. Nd6 Rc7
33. Qe5 Qf6
34. Qd5+ Kh8
35. Re5 Re7
36. Rfe1 Rxe5
37. Rxe5 h6
38. Qc5 Bd7
39. Ne4 Qf4
40. Re7 Bf5
41. Qd4 Rg8
42. h3 Qc1+
43. Kf2 Bxe4
44. Rxe4 c3
45. bxc3 Qxa3
46. Kg3 Qb3
47. Re7 a5
48. Rb7 Qc4
49. Qe5 Qc6
50. Qxb5 Qxc3
51. Ra7 Qe1+
52. Kh2 Qb4
53. Qxb4 axb4
54. Rb7 Ra8
55. Rxb4 Ra2
56. Kg3 Kh7
57. Rb5 Kg6
58. f4 Kf6
59. Kf3 Rc2
60. g3 Rc3+
61. Kg4 Ra3
62. h4 Rc3
63. Rb6+ Kf7
64. f5 h5+
65. Kf4 Rc4+
66. Kf3 Rc3+
67. Kf4 Rc4+
68. Kf3 Rc3+