The 2024 World Chess Championship is heating up as reigning champion Ding Liren and his challenger D Gukesh go head-to-head in Singapore. After six games in the best-of-14 series, the score is tied at 3-3, with none of the players gaining a clear advantage. Gukesh, the favourite to win due to his red-hot form, faces a tough challenge from Ding, who has shown strength despite being viewed as the underdog.
Championship format and current standings
The championship follows a straightforward format: the first player to reach 7.5 points wins. If the score is tied at 7 after 14 games, tie-breakers will determine the winner. With six games completed, both Ding and Gukesh have 3 points each, leaving them with 8 games remaining to decide the champion. The next game is scheduled for Saturday, followed by a rest day on Monday, with the final game slated for December 12, and a tiebreaker on December 13 if needed.
What does Gukesh need to do?
Currently, Gukesh needs 4.5 more points from the remaining 8 games to reach the 7.5-point mark and secure the title. This means he will need to score at least 1.5 points from the next three games before the rest day on Monday. Gukesh’s strategy so far has been to play aggressively, and this approach has yielded both a win and a series of draws. Ding’s experience, however, has kept the pressure on, making it harder for Gukesh to dominate.
The next few rounds will be crucial. If Gukesh can win one or two games in the upcoming rounds, he will put himself in a strong position. The tie-breaker, if it happens, will test both players’ nerves and ability to handle high pressure. To sum up, Gukesh must keep up his aggressive style and aim for crucial wins in the upcoming rounds to clinch his first World Chess Championship.
