Ding Liren vs. Gukesh D: Top Games Leading to the 2024 World Chess Championship
With the 2024 World Chess Championship just around the corner, the excitement is palpable as Ding Liren prepares to defend his title against the rising star, Gukesh Dommaraju. In our previous blog, we explored the historical significance of this matchup, delved into expert predictions, and examined the playing styles of both participants. If you haven't read it yet, be sure to catch up on all the insights here to get a full picture of this special championship match.
In this blog, we take a closer look at the brilliance of both contenders by analyzing one key game from each player, complete with grandmaster annotations from GM Zaven (2554). Let's find out what makes both Ding and Gukesh such formidable opponents in this historic World Championship clash.
Photos by Michal Walusza and Anna Shtourman respectively / FIDE Chess Olympiad 2024
The Best Game of Ding Liren
We start with one of the most impressive wins of the reigning World Champion, Ding Liren. In this 2017 encounter from the Chinese team chess championship, Ding faces Bai Jinshi. This game reveals a side of Ding that might surprise those familiar with his positional prowess.
While mostly known for his solid and methodical approach, you will see that Ding also possesses a sharp tactical side. His ability to calculate quickly and deeply allows him to find tactical masterpieces time and again, completely dismantling the defenses offered by his opponent. This game exemplifies just how dangerous he can be when the situation calls for it.
Bai Jinshi (2585) vs Ding Liren (2759), 0-1, China Team Championship 2017
The Best Game of Gukesh Dommaraju
Next, we turn to Gukesh Dommaraju, the young and dynamic challenger known for his sharp play and aggressive style. Gukesh was in excellent form during the 2024 Chess Olympiad, and this game against Fedoseev stood out as one of the highlights of the event.
As much of the game unfolded in the endgame, one might expect it to evolve into mostly positional play. However, Gukesh remained true to his dynamic approach, finding sharp continuations that are uncommon in long endgames. This beautiful win is a prime example of the creativity and youthful energy that fans expect to see from Gukesh in the upcoming championship match.
Vladimir Fedoseev (2692) vs Gukesh D (2764), 0-1, Budapest Chess Olympiad 2024
With the historic nature of the 2024 World Chess Championship and the contrasting playing styles of Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju, this championship is set to provide fans with unforgettable moments. To experience every move up close, Chessify offers a live broadcast with exclusive 130 MN/s Stockfish 17 analysis. Be sure to follow this exciting clash on our livestreaming page.