BENGALURU: On the night of his crushing Game 11 loss to D Gukesh, Ding Liren's Hungarian second Richard Rapport sent him a file titled 'strike back'. Ding made the words come alive on the board in Game 12, on Monday.
A day after the reigning world champion crumbled, blundered, lost and fell behind in the match, he played a flawless game to equalise the World Championship score 6-6, ahead of the final two classical games.
At this point two questions remain a mystery - where this World Championship is headed and which version of Ding will show up for the remaining two games. Both players will have one game each with the White pieces. Tuesday is a rest day.
Ding, playing White, opened with 1.c4 in Game 12, and Gukesh seemed to switch up his opening and slid his king's pawn by one square (1.e6) instead of two (1.e5). The Indian went for a slightly more ambitious setup with Black putting a pawn on d4 as early as move 4. Ding played a couple of thoughtful moves like 10...Re1 and 12...h3 and the prophylactic 13...Kh2 that improved White's position bit by bit. Gukesh seemed to dither, unsure of a concrete plan to improve his pieces and to prevent White from breaking open the centre.
This story is from the December 10, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Noida.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December 10, 2024 edition of Hindustan Times Noida.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Are you aware of the culprit that's Spinal Muscular Atrophy?
There's no bigger joy for a parent than seeing one's toddler healthy, crawling and ready to walk.
Rupali Ganguly on stepdaughter's claims: It affects me
Actor Rupali Ganguly has broken her silence on the recent controversy involving her and stepdaughter Esha Verma after the latter called her \"toxic\" and \"abusive\".
Dharmendra summoned by Delhi court in Garam Dharam Dhaba cheating case
THE COMPLAINANT SAID HE WAS APPROACHED IN 2018 TO OPEN A FRANCHISE OF THE RESTAURANT IN UTTAR PRADESH
Sunny Deol confirms Ramayana role, says it will be like Avatar
A day after actor Ranbir Kapoor confirmed his role as Shri Ram in filmmaker Nitesh Tiwari's Ramayana, actor Sunny Deol has become the next cast member to acknowledge his involvement in the two-part franchise.
Payal scripts history, bags twin Golden Globes nods
Payal Kapadia has scripted history at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards by becoming the first Indian director to be nominated in the Best Director-Motion Picture category.
Change in the air as India get ready for Brisbane test
The final nets session in Adelaide gives indications of possible changes in line-up after the pink-ball Test loss
At business end, it's important for Gukesh to be himself
After the twists and turns in the World Chess Championship Games 11 and 12, the match has now come to a very unpredictable juncture.
Manu Bhaker looks to ease back into action at National shooting
NEW DELHI: India's Paris Olympics medallists will be back in action at the Senior National Shooting Championships starting on Wednesday.
Ministry, SAI to introduce franchise national leagues
NEW DELHI: In a first-of-its-kind initiative, the Sports Ministry and Sports Authority of India (SAI) have decided to organise franchise-based professional national leagues in several key sports disciplines at the grassroots and developmental levels.
Restoring inflation-growth balance key task for new guv
MUMBAI: Restoring the growth-inflation balance will be the most important task ahead for the new Reserve Bank of India Governor Sanjay Malhotra as he takes charge on Wednesday, said the outgoing Governor Shaktikanta Das.
