 "Vladimir Kramnik on Ding Liren's blunder and D Gukesh's World Chess Championship win: 'End of chess as we know it'")
Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik was far from impressed with the quality of chess that was played during the 2024 World Chess Championship match between India’s D Gukesh and China’s Ding Liren. On Thursday, Gukesh defeated Liren 7.5-6.5 in Singapore to clinch a historic World Championship title.
D Gukesh wins 2024 World Chess Championship | Complete list of winners till date
“No comment. Sad. End of chess as we know it,” Kramnik wrote on “X” after Gukesh’s win.
No comment. Sad. End of chess as we know it
— Vladimir Kramnik (@VBkramnik) December 12, 2024
Ding, who played with white pieces on Thursday, made a blunder which eventually led to his defeat. His blunder came in the 55th move, when he moved his rook from f4 to f2. That led to the two rooks being exchanged. Not long after, the bishops were also exchanged which seemingly was the final nail in the coffin.
By this moment, Gukesh had two pawns along with his king, whereas Liren had just one pawn with his king. Kramnik termed Ding’s blunder as “childish”. “Never yet WC title was decided by childish one move blunder," Kramnik wrote.
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More ShortsNevet yet WC title was decided by childish one move blunder
— Vladimir Kramnik (@VBkramnik) December 12, 2024
Another former world champion, Garry Kasparov, lauded Gukesh but also defended Ding. “The level of play was quite high, at least equal to the previous match. Ding showed great resistance. As for the blunders, which world championship, or world champion, was without them? I had my share, and recall the double blunder in Carlsen-Anand 2014, g6. Matches take a toll," Kasparov wrote on “X” in a thread.
The level of play was quite high, at least equal to the previous match. Ding showed great resistance. As for the blunders, which world championship, or world champion, was without them? I had my share, and recall the double blunder in Carlsen-Anand 2014, g6. Matches take a toll.
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 12, 2024
“Gukesh was well-prepared and the player who played the best won the match. His victory caps a phenomenal year for India. Combined with Olympiad dominance, chess has returned to its cradle, and the era of “Vishy’s children” is truly upon us! India is a nation with an unlimited pool of human talent, combined with the freedom to explore and develop it. The future is bright not only in chess. The summit has been reached and now the goal must be to raise it even higher for the next ascent. Congratulations again. Upward," the six-time champion continued.
Gukesh was well-prepared and the player who played the best won the match. His victory caps a phenomenal year for India. Combined with Olympiad dominance, chess has returned to its cradle and the era of "Vishy's children" is truly upon us!
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 12, 2024
“Gukesh impressively surmounted every obstacle and opponent in his path, especially considering his age, and nothing more can be asked. My thoughts on the historical world championship lineage with Magnus (Carlsen) outside are known, but that is not the story today,” opined Kasparov.
My congratulations to @DGukesh on his victory today. He has summitted the highest peak of all: making his mother happy!
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 12, 2024
Gukesh became the youngest-ever world chess champion at 18 years old . He broke Kasparov’s record from 1985, when the Russian GM had become the then-youngest winner at 22 years of age. “By the way, just noticed a coincidence that 12/12, today is the 40th anniversary of one of my world championship milestones, winning my first game against Karpov in our first match in 1984, game 32! First step in salvaging my dignity in that one,” stated the 61-year-old.
Btw, just noticed a coincidence that 12/12, today is the 40th anniversary of one of my world championship milestones, winning my first game against Karpov in our first match in 1984, game 32! First step in salvaging my dignity in that one!
— Garry Kasparov (@Kasparov63) December 12, 2024
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