this world chess championship (WCC) is at a tantalizing juncture. Chinese world champion Lin Diren draws seventh consecutive mid-match draw with Indian challenger D Gukeshmight lead the casual observer to believe that the duel was woefully lacking in excitement and aggression. But over the past two weeks, experts have continued to point out that there are many secrets hidden behind it.
While they acknowledge that this is arguably the most humane championship match in the Classic format, there is still an element of unknown lurking, although the format does suggest that Ding will pull Gukesh towards his preferred tie-break “endgame”.
As it stands now, with two games left, how Gukesh emerges from this net and emerges in the stunning colors expected of him will be the biggest concern for Indian fans. Remember, if the score remains tied after 14 games (either a tie or a win for each player), the game will proceed to a quick tie-break scheduled for Friday.
Will chess players be extremely cautious during the last two classic matches on Wednesday (Gukeshbai) and Thursday (Dingbai)? Because one mistake may determine the outcome of the game. Who could control their nerves better in the tie-break? As this brain battle between a Chinese emperor and an Indian prince reaches its climax, there are more questions than answers.
Do past trends in WCC play provide the answer? TOI took a look…
Last two games with the same score (since 2000)
2006: 2-2. The last two games were tied. Kramnik defeated Topalov in the tiebreaker.
2010: 2-2. The 11th game was a draw. Anand defeated Topalov with black in the 12th game and defended the championship.
2012: 1-1. Both sides ended in a draw. Anand defeated Gelfand in a tiebreaker.
2016: 1-1. Both sides ended in a draw. Carlsen defeated Karjakin in a tiebreaker.
2018: 0-0. Both sides ended in a draw. Carlsen defeated Caruana in a tiebreaker.
2023: 3-3. Both sides ended in a draw. Ding defeated Nebo in a tie-break.
Summary: Only Anand Topalov’s match had a decisive result. Other games enter tie-breaks.
In the 2000, 2004, 2008, 2013, 2014 and 2021 games, either the score was tied before the last two games or the game ended in one or more classic games.
Is losing five games too many?
although Ding Liren Although he has bounced back, he has lost five games so far in his WCC career – three against Nepo last year and two against Gukesh in the ongoing tournament (the third and fourth games). eleven games). Both world champions before Magnus Carlsen (since 2000) had to relinquish their crowns after losing five games in their WCC careers. Carlson lost just two of 56 WCC games and lost his right to compete last year.
Kramnik: After beating Kasparov undefeated in 2000, Kramnik lost two games to Leko in the winning campaign in 2004. His days in the crown were numbered when he lost to Anand.
Anand: Lost one game each against Kramnik in 2008 and Gelfand in 2012. Apart from two games against Topalov in 2010, Anand lost the fifth game in Chennai. Carlson, this was his fifth WCC game (2013). He never recovered from falling behind 0-1 and ultimately lost the game 0-3 with two games left. In other words, if Ding Junhui can defend his title, he will become the first defending player to lose five games in his career at the World Championships since 2000.
0-1, 1-1, 2-1, 2-2
Gukesh led in the decisive four games, trailing in the first, tying in the third, leading in the 11th, and forcing an equalizer in the 12th. In the past 60 years of WCC competition history, only Anand (versus Topalov in 2010), Leko (versus Kramnik in 2004) and Kasparov (versus Karpov in 1985) have experienced this sequence. Anand and Kasparov went on to win, while Kramnik retained the title as defending champion because there was no tiebreak provision.
Trailing in WCC competition since 1995, launches fightback in next game
1995: Anand wins G9, Kasparov wins G10.
2006: Topalov G9, Kramnik G10.
2010: Topalov wins G1, Anand wins G2
2012: Gelfand G7, Anand G8
2014: Carlsen G2, Anand G3
2023: Nepo wins G5, Ding G6
2024: Gukesh G11, Ding G12
(All wins above are through white pieces)
Summary: With the exception of Anand in 2014, players who hit back immediately win the game.
