World Chess Championship 2024 Game 14 Highlights, D Gukesh vs Ding Liren: D Gukesh crowned youngest world chess champion

Game 1 (25 November) – Ding Liren beat D Gukesh (Ding leads 1-0)

Game 2 (26 November) – Draw (Ding leads 1.5-0.5)

Game 3 (27 November) – Gukesh defeats Ding (Scores ties 1.5-1.5)

Game 4 (29 November) – Draw (Scores tied 2-2)

Game 5 (30 November) – Draw (Scores tied 2.5-2.5)

Game 6 (1 December) – Draw (Scores tied 3-3)

Game 7 (3 December) – Draw (Scores tied 3.5-3.5)

Game 8 (4 December) – Draw (Scores tied 4-4)

Game 9 (5 December) – Draw (Scores tied 4.5-4.5)

Game 10 (7 December) – Draw (Scores tied 5-5)

Game 11 (8 December) – Gukesh defeats Ding (Gukesh leads 6-5)

Game 12 (9 December) – Ding beats Gukesh (Scores tied 6-6)

Game 13 (11 December) – Draw (Scores tied 6.5-6.5)

Game 14 (12 December) – Gukesh defeats Ding (clinches title with 7.5-6.5 scoreline!)

“Whatever words I have is not enough for my parents. Both my parents right from the start – the dream was bigger for them than for me. They are both sports lovers – they did not get the chance to pursue their passion in their youth. When I was born they decided to support me in whatever I chose. They went to such lengths to support me – when I look back at it it’s just crazy. I can’t thank them enough. My whole journey – it’s not just for me but for them. I love them both.”

“In my career, I can’t say I have made personal sacrifices. But my parents… the most sacrifices have been done by my parents, by my family friends. We were not well-off – my parents had to face a lot of financial struggles. I did not realise it then, but my parents did a lot. There were times when we were running out of money and my parents friends helped out.”

In the press conference after Game 14, Gukesh reveals the following individuals worked on his campaign: Grzegorz Gajewski, Radoslaw Wojtaszek, Pentala Harikrishna, Vincent Keymer, Jan-Krzysztof Duda, Jan Klimkowski, Paddy Upton.

While it was public knowledge that mental conditioning coach Paddy Upton was working with Gukesh ahead of the World Championship as well as during the tournament, the exact details of his team was kept under the wraps.

Youngest world champions in the history of chess:

D Gukesh 18y-8m-14d

Garry Kasparov (in 1985) 22y-6m-27d

Magnus Carlsen (in 2013) 22y-11m-24d

Mikhail Tal (in 1960) 23y-5m-28d

Anatoly Karpov (in 1975) 23y-10m-11d

“Actually, when he played Rf2, I didn’t realise, I was almost going to play Rb3 but then I saw that his bishop is actually getting trapped and after Ke1, I have Ke5 and the pawn ending which is winning. When I realised, it was probably the best moment of my life”

When Ding played 55.Rf2?
Gukesh shares his thoughts!#DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/0gBxHJvcNh

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 12, 2024

“It took me a while to realised I blundered… I think I played my best tournament in the year.

“I could be better, but considering yesterday’s luck, it’s a fair result to lose in the end. I have no regrets… Thank you. I will continue to play.”

D Gukesh hardly showed any emotions throughout the World Championship in Singapore, but couldn’t hold back his tears after his dramatic victory over Ding in Game 14!

Stunning emotions as Gukesh cries after winning the World Championship title! #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/E53h0XOCV3

— chess24 (@chess24com) December 12, 2024

Understandable reaction from the Russian Grandmaster after the dramatic turn of events in the last three moves of a game that appeared headed towards a draw.

What?????

— Vladimir Kramnik (@VBkramnik) December 12, 2024

Garry Kasparov was 22 when he defeated fellow Russian GM Anatoly Karpov in 1985 to be crowned the youngest world champion.

Gukesh has broken Kasparov’s record today by four years:

🇮🇳 Gukesh D is the YOUNGEST WORLD CHAMPION in history! 🔥 👏 pic.twitter.com/MYShXB5M62

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 12, 2024

Gukesh has tears in his eyes after Ding, whose body language wears a defeated look right after his blunder in the 55th move, raises the white flag in surrender. The Indian GM had maintained a poker face for the better part of the World Championships, but cannot reign in the emotions when the crown finally lands on his head!

Ding’s blunder proves too costly for him in the end as Ding, who had just 10 minutes left on the clock compared to over an hour for Gukesh, resigns after his 58th move with the Indian retaining a pawn advantage over him!

Here’s what the board looks like at the end of Game 14!

The game was heading towards a draw when Ding decided to offer his rook up in his 55th move by placing it at f2, which turns out to be a potentially Championship-deciding blunder! Gukesh promptly gobbles it up with own rook!

Ding and Gukesh opt for a pawn exchange along g4, after which the Indian is leading two pawns to one. Gukesh then gives Ding a check after moving his rook to d2, forcing the current title holder to retreat his king diagonally by one square. Ding returns the favour by moving his rook to b6, forcing a similar retreat from his opponent’s king.

Here’s what the last five moves look like:

46. fxg4 hxg4
47. Rb4 Bf7
48. Kf2 Rd2+
49. Kg1 Kf6
50. Rb6+ Kg5

Ding decides to move his bishop to safety at b7 after a threat from Gukesh’s rook. The Indian responds by moving his king to g5. Both players move a pawn in their 45th moves.

Move-by-move recap so far:

1 Nf3 d5
2 g3 c5
3 Bg2 Nc6
4 d4 e6
5 O-O cxd4
6 Nxd4 Nge7
7 c4 Nxd4
8 Qxd4 Nc6
9 Qd1 d4
10 e3 Bc5
11 exd4 Bxd4
12 Nc3 O-O
13 Nb5 Bb6
14 b3 a6
15 Nc3 Bd4
16 Bb2 e5
17 Qd2 Be6
18 Nd5 b5
19 cxb5 axb5
20 Nf4 exf4
21 Bxc6 Bxb2
22 Qxb2 Rb8
23 Rfd1 Qb6
24 Bf3 fxg3
25 hxg3 b4
26 a4 bxa3
27 Rxa3 g6
28 Qd4 Qb5
29 b4 Qxb4
30 Qxb4 Rxb4
31 Ra8 Rxa8
32 Bxa8 g5
33 Bd5 Bf5
34 Rc1 Kg7
35. Rc7 Bg6
36. Rc4 Rb1+
37. Kg2 Re1
38. Rb4 h5
39. Ra4 Re5
40. Bf3 Kh6
41. Kg1 Re6
42. Rc4 g4
43. Bd5 Rd6
44. Bb7 Kg5
45. f3 f5

GM David Howell, who’s commentating on the World Championship with IM Jovanka Houska on the official FIDE broadcast, makes an interesting observation on Ding’s body language today:

"Ding, he's eyeballing Gukesh a lot. Whenever Ding is going into these long things, it's as if he is verifying his analysis by Gukesh's facial expressions. Strange! Gukesh has a poker face; how do you read him?" - GM David Howell #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/grlgs2qn3n

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) December 12, 2024

Gukesh has a massive time advantage over Ding after completing his 40th move, with more than an hour at his disposal compared to his opponent, who has a shade under 30 minutes.

Ding, meanwhile, decides to retreat his king back to the first rank. Two moves later, he decides to threaten Gukesh’s rook at e6 by moving his light-squared bishop to d5. The 18-year-old Chennai native shifts his rook to the adjacent square, turning the tables in the process.

Ding initially bides his time by aimlessly moving his rook around, and is later forced to move his bishop to f3, right next to his king, after a threat from Gukesh’s rook. The Indian GM then decides to move his king diagonally by one square to h6.

Here’s a move-by-move recap of the game so far:

1 Nf3 d5
2 g3 c5
3 Bg2 Nc6
4 d4 e6
5 O-O cxd4
6 Nxd4 Nge7
7 c4 Nxd4
8 Qxd4 Nc6
9 Qd1 d4
10 e3 Bc5
11 exd4 Bxd4
12 Nc3 O-O
13 Nb5 Bb6
14 b3 a6
15 Nc3 Bd4
16 Bb2 e5
17 Qd2 Be6
18 Nd5 b5
19 cxb5 axb5
20 Nf4 exf4
21 Bxc6 Bxb2
22 Qxb2 Rb8
23 Rfd1 Qb6
24 Bf3 fxg3
25 hxg3 b4
26 a4 bxa3
27 Rxa3 g6
28 Qd4 Qb5
29 b4 Qxb4
30 Qxb4 Rxb4
31 Ra8 Rxa8
32 Bxa8 g5
33 Bd5 Bf5
34 Rc1 Kg7
35. Rc7 Bg6
36. Rc4 Rb1+
37. Kg2 Re1
38. Rb4 h5
39. Ra4 Re5
40. Bf3 Kh6

Looks like the Indian still is hopeful of getting a result in the last minute despite Leela Zero predicting a 96.5 chance of the game ending in a draw.

Ding is forced to move his king forward by a square. Gukesh then decides to bring his rook closer to the opponent’s king in Move 37.

1 Nf3 d5

2 g3 c5

3 Bg2 Nc6

4 d4 e6

5 O-O cxd4

6 Nxd4 Nge7

7 c4 Nxd4

8 Qxd4 Nc6

9 Qd1 d4

10 e3 Bc5

11 exd4 Bxd4

12 Nc3 O-O

13 Nb5 Bb6

14 b3 a6

15 Nc3 Bd4

16 Bb2 e5

17 Qd2 Be6

18 Nd5 b5

19 cxb5 axb5

20 Nf4 exf4

21 Bxc6 Bxb2

22 Qxb2 Rb8

23 Rfd1 Qb6

24 Bf3 fxg3

25 hxg3 b4

26. a4 bxa3

27. Rxa3 g6

28. Qd4 Qb5

29. b4 Qxb4

30. Qxb4 Rxb4

Gukesh decides to capture Ding’s pawn on b4, which sets off a queen exchange in which he captures Ding’s most powerful piece with his rook.

Ding decides to move his a pawn by two squares, placing it right next to Gukesh’s b pawn that’s on the same rank. The Indian GM then decides to capture Ding’s a pawn by En Passant – a special move that allows a pawn to capture a rival pawn that has moved by two squares in its first move by moving it into the vacant square behind it.

Ding takes his light-squared bishiop all the way to f3, which is followed by a pawn exchange on g3. The Indian GM then moves his b-file pawn forward to the fourth rank.

After getting his knight captured by Gukesh’s pawn, Ding decides to return the favour by moving his light-squared bishop to c6, knocking the Indian’s corresponding piece off the board.

Gukesh isn’t done though. He opts for a bishop exchange next up, with Ding’s queen capturing Gukesh’s piece on b2. Both players decide to move their rooks next up – Gukesh one square to his left to b8 and Ding to d1. Gukesh also decides to march his queen forward to b6.

1. Nf3 d5

2. g3 c5

3. Bg2 Nc6

4. d4 e6

5. O-O cxd4

6. Nxd4 Nge7

7. c4 Nxd4

8. Qxd4 Nc6

9. Qd1 d4

10. e3 Bc5

11. exd4 Bxd4

12. Nc3 O-O

13. Nb5 Bb6

14. b3 a6

15. Nc3 Bd4

16. Bb2 e5

17. Qd2 Be6

18. Nd5 b5

19. cxb5 axb5

20. Nf4 exf4

Ding decides to have his knight gallop all the way to d5 and is one move away from giving Gukesh’s king a check, although the Indian GM has enough pawns protecting the piece at the moment. He responds with b5, which leads to a pawn exchange in Move 19.

Ding then decides to take his knight back to f4, only to have it captured by Gukesh’s pawn.

Gukesh responds by placing his dark-squared bishop next to Ding’s retreating knight. The Chinese GM decides to put his corresponding bishop on guard duty behind the guard. Gukesh decides to move his pawn to e5, forming a diagonal line that goes all the way to a1.

Ding decides to move his queen forward by a square to d2, to which Gukesh brings his light squared bishop to e6.

The AI win prediction currently is favouring Ding (28.5 per cent) over Gukesh (15.5 per cent), with a 56 per cent chance of the game ending in a draw. Ding was leading by over 40 per cent at one point, but has lost some ground in his last couple of moves.

Gukesh responds by moving his pawn along the a file to the sixth rank.

Meanwhile, both players are a bit low on accuracy so far today, with Ding and Gukesh currently on level terms at 97.8 per cent.

Gukesh consumes 13 minutes before retreating his bishop to safety (b6). And it’s Ding’s turn to go into a state of deep thought after the latest move.

Ding Liren starts off with Nf3! Are we doing to see a repeat of the ‘Reti Opening’ in Game 11, which Gukesh had won?

The board loses a pair of knights inside the first 10 moves, with Gukesh capturing Ding’s piece on d4 in his seventh move and losing his own to the white queen in the corresponding move.

Gukesh decides to threaten the queen by moving his other knight to c6.