World Chess Championship :D Gukesh buried his face into his hands, unable accept how quickly the momentum shifted during the first match of the World Chess Championship versus Ding Liren.
The World Chess Championship started with promise. The 18-year old strutted into the arena, nicknamed "the fishtank", a soundproof room with mirror glass to prevent players from hearing outside noises or looking out. He exuded the confidence of a youngster. He took control of the game in just a few moves. The day ended in a mad dash to avoid losing time, and then with a resignation of white pieces after 42 moves.
Ding Liren tried to surprise him by using the French Defence. It was like a Hail Mary, playing too early in a World Chess Championship.
But Ding was not without his reasons. "Because this was his first match, I thought he would be nervous at the beginning. Ding said, "I tried to play a game that I hadn't played in a while. The Chinese GM used the French Defence against Ian Nepomniachtchi in a loss.
Gukesh was able to deal with Ding Liren’s trick without any difficulty. Ding spent 27 minutes considering his move after the seventh. It was strange to have to think for so long and hard, when it was he who was trying to take the initiative.
Gukesh was already in a significant lead on the clock by the time Ding had made his seventh move. He spent less than a minute making seven moves. Ding used over half an hour. "I clearly surprised him in his opening. Gukesh said later, "I was playing some really good chess."
Caution is advised
Gukesh was reckless on the 10th move. His pawn in the g-file raced to g4 abandoning any plan to protect his king on the corner of the king's side. Plan was to push Ding's pawn in the e-file with a quick f5 pawn move. Ding had already lost 48 minutes by this point.
The first games in the World Chess Championship should be tepid draws. This is a chance to gauge the current confidence and form of your opponent. Grandmasters will throw a few blows to test the opponent's jaw, just like prize fighters.
Not Gukesh. He chose to enter the game without his guard up, daring his adversary to throw a Haymaker. This game looks already complicated. It's a little out of control. It was too much for a Game 1", said Xie, a former Chinese women's champion who was in Singapore to watch the event.
The situation was about to become more complex. Gukesh let Ding's Knight plant itself on b2, allowing it to create mayhem in his back ranks. Ding's Queen jumped onto d3, next to Gukesh, on the 21st Move. However, the knight on the b2 protected her. Gukesh committed a grave error at that point, as he retreated his queen from e1 to d3, just after slipping behind the clock in the game for the first.
This move forced his most powerful piece to a corner. Ding's pieces began to smell blood when they were in the 'fishtank. A rook moved to attack an unprotected knight. A bishop scurried past Gukesh’s defensive line. Ding's pieces took positions to launch a coordinated attack on Gukesh king.
Gukesh had already scrambled by the time he made his 33rd move. To avoid running out of time, he needed to make seven moves within 45 seconds. He was able to make his 40th move in the last second of the clock. He had to give up two moves later because Ding already had three pawns. China's world champion leads the best of 14 contest 1-0.
Ding has now won two classical games against Gukesh. Both with black pieces.
It is the first match since the 2010 World Chess Championship that has finished with a winner. Gukesh may find some comfort in the world championship of 14 years ago. Viswanathan, his mentor, had lost the opening game to Veselin Topolalov. Anand won the title despite this. Gukesh will now try to follow in the footsteps of Anand, after following his example for many years.
0 comments:
Post a Comment