WCC 2024 Round 12: Prescient Ding Makes His Own Destiny

Lichess is providing a live stream for every day of the world championship. Make sure to tune in to our Twitch or YouTube channels for live stream coverage with our hosts GM Felix Blohberger and IM Laura Unuk, joined by a rotating panel of guests. Round 13 starts at 09:00 UTC on Wednesday, December 11.

Today's round was covered by our hosts GM Felix Blohberger and IM Laura Unuk.

The annotations by GM Yannick Gozzoli can be found at the bottom of the article.

Schedule

Stream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tNC63A4qizs

Match Score

Recap

Just as he did in round 12 of last year's world championship, GM Ding Liren was able to bounce back after his round 11 loss. GM Gukesh D did not make any clear blunder in this game; Ding in fact made good use of the inaccuracies and mistakes Gukesh was making and played with a high degree of precision.

Clips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gr9TwDmUaw

More clips at the bottom of the article.

Ding Said He Could, He Has, and He Did

The handshake with Zhu Jing and GM Maurice Ashley in the background
Photo: Eng Chin An

It was telling that Ding, in a must-win situation, chose the English Opening. Given its numerous move order tricks and deep intricacies, opting for the English Opening was a logical choice. The first small surprise came on move 1, when Gukesh responded with 1...e6; previously, he had chosen to respond to Ding's English with 1...e5. Ding went for a kingside fianchetto, hinting at possible Catalan transpositions, as Gukesh played in his customary classical fashion with e6-d5-Nf6. Instead of going for a calmer approach to consolidate his lead, though, Gukesh played the uncompromising 4...d4, gaining space and playing ambitiously for the win.

Ding has played the English Opening and the London System in the match!
Photo: Eng Chin An

A few more normal developing moves followed — perhaps Gukesh's 5...Nc6 without inserting c5 was a little strange, but it is not bad per se —, and Gukesh again chose an accurate and powerful move, 8...e5!.

Ding had to contend with a clever and dynamic opening choice from Gukesh.
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

The next few moves were slow, improving moves made by both sides. Ding brought his rook to the semi-open e-file and played prophylactic pawn pushes, h3 and a3, while Gukesh played h6 and the space-gaining a5.

Slow, improving moves was the name of the game today.
Photo: Eng Chin An

The turning of the point of the game had to be on move 13, when, after another improving move by Ding in 13. Kh2, Gukesh's pieces were all well-placed. However, that can sometimes be a problem as with all the pieces sitting on good squares, one has to decide on a plan that will further improve, or at least not greatly worsen, said pieces' placement. Gukesh went for 13...Rb8, a move that prophylactically protected the b7-pawn, but one which clearly indicated that Gukesh did not see a straightforward long-term plan. Instead, as recommended by the engine, an improving move similar to Ding's 10. Re1, 13...Re8, would have been better. Then, Gukesh could try to play for Nd4 and a later c5.

Some positions are just plan-deficient.
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

Gukesh did end up playing 14...Re8, but by then Ding was able to bring his knight to b5, applying pressure to the c7-pawn, whereafter Ding said he was very optimistic about his chances. After a few good repositioning moves from Gukesh in 15...Bf5 and 16...Nd7, Gukesh revealed in the press conference that he was struggling to find a good plan after Ding's innocuous-looking but surprisingly strong and precise 17. Qd2.

Ding worked hard at the board today.
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

After the inaccurate 17...Bg6, Ding was finally able to play the central pawn break, 18. d4, which he had been delaying because on previous moves it would have led to a slightly worse but potentially tenable position for Black. Gukesh by then realized that after 18...exd4, Ding had the potent 19. Bf4!, which would make Black's position collapse. Gukesh thus had to play 18...e4, a move which, while better than 18...exd4, greatly stifled his pieces.

Ding delaying the d4 pawn break may have been the hidden background decision that won him the game.
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

With the g1-knight repositioning to the f4 square and White's pieces so well placed, in addition to the d1-rook eyeing up the queen on d8, it was very difficult to suggest any improvement for Black. 22...Na5 may have been a better move than Gukesh's 22...Bg5, which allowed the crushing 23. Nf4!!, but, by then, the position must have been lost both objectively and practically speaking.

Caption this photo in the comments!
Photo: Eng Chin An

Ding's conversion was like a symphony of chess pieces — pure coordination and supreme mastery over change. There was one curious moment on move 26, however, when Ding chose the more complicated, but still winning, 26. d5, instead of simply winning the exchange with 26. Na7. Ding revealed in the press conference that he just missed 26. Na7 completely! It has to be said that in such situations, though, Ding's intuition to dismiss 26. Na7 and focus on 26. d5 is, in fact, more of an asset than a weakness.

It was difficult to pinpoint where Gukesh went wrong.
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

The remainder of the moves of course showed a high degree of precision and deep calculation by Ding, but since many other alternatives exist, it is not so necessary to delve into their nuances. For more analysis concerning the remainder of the game and all of its parts, check out the annotations. On move 39, to seal the deal, Ding sacrificed the rook and, with promotion and forced mate coming soon, Gukesh resigned.

And the match is tied!
Photo: Eng Chin An

Annotations by GM Yannick Gozzoli

Press Conference

Gukesh is gracious in defeat.
Photo: Eng Chin An

Ding could not contain his happiness at the press conference.
Photo: Eng Chin An

Some memorable quotes:

GM Ding Liren:

Rapport sent me a file with the name "Strike back" and it happened. And yes my mom gave me confidence. She said I did it last time, I can do it again.

If there is a lucky number for me it's 17. But there's no 17th game in the match.
[17 is my lucky number] because I'm the 17th world champion.

GM Gukesh D:

Bad games happen.

I did get a lot of advice but probably just to take one game at a time and give it my best.

Prediction

Ding: 62.8% | Gukesh: 37.2%
For more on interpreting this graph, check our preview article.

Courtesy of izzie26

More Clips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRZV24rDfKU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3t9sushSK8