Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh Stuns Ding Liren in World Chess Championship's 11th Round

Singapore, December 8: Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh triumphed over reigning champion Ding Liren in the 11th round of the World Chess Championship, solidifying his position with a 6-5 lead in the 14-game series. Reflecting on his performance, Gukesh attributed his comeback to mental resilience and calculated risk-taking after losing the first game.

Speaking to reporters, Gukesh said, "After losing the first game, I needed to demonstrate mental strength. Dropping the opening game in a World Championship match isn’t ideal, but I managed to recover and play strong chess afterward."

Gukesh had initially fallen behind but leveled the match by winning the third game. The following seven games ended in draws, but his victory in the 11th round has positioned him strongly in the championship battle.

The 17-year-old credited his team's support for helping him regain momentum. "My team played a crucial role in helping me bounce back. I decided to take some risks, which worked in my favor and surprised my opponent," he said.

Gukesh dismissed suggestions that Ding was merely playing for a draw in the 11th game, stating, "I don’t think my opponent was aiming for a draw. In fact, he had better positions at times during the game. In a 14-round match, you can’t plan for tie-breaks early on because mistakes are always possible in chess."

With just three games left, Gukesh’s victory over the Chinese champion has set the stage for an intense finish to the World Chess Championship.