In the first game of the Chess World Championship, Ding Liren defeated Gukesh Dommaraju
In the first round of the 2024 World Chess Championship, Chinese Ding Liren defeated Indian Gukesh Dommaraju. The reigning World Champion secured victory with the black pieces on the 42nd move.
This marks Ding’s first win in classical chess since January 27, 2024. The last time the first game of the World Championship ended in a win was in 2010. When Viswanathan Anand lost to Veselin Topalov but eventually became champion.
Gukesh is ranked fifth in the FIDE rankings with a rating of 2783, while Ding holds the 23rd position with a rating of 2728.
From November 25 to December 13, the world’s strongest chess players will compete for the World Champion title. A total of 14 games are scheduled. And if no winner is determined, an additional game will be played.
In 2023, Ding Liren claimed the World Champion title by securing victory in the fourth round of the tiebreak. He is the only Chinese chess player to have achieved this milestone.