Indian chess sensation D. Gukesh demonstrated remarkable resilience in the second game of the World Chess Championship against defending champion Ding Liren of China. Playing with the black pieces on Tuesday in Singapore, Gukesh managed to recover from his opening-game loss with a composed draw in what was a largely uneventful encounter.
The match followed one of the quieter variations of the Italian opening. Ding, playing with the white pieces, appeared content to maintain his advantage from the first game and did not push aggressively. Gukesh, adhering to solid fundamentals, neutralized his opponent’s advances, and the game ended in a draw via repetition after Black’s 23rd turn.
“Draw with black in the world championship match is always nice, and it’s too early. We still have a long match,” the 18-year-old Chennai-based Grandmaster remarked during the post-game press conference.
Gukesh’s steady performance on Tuesday contrasted sharply with Monday’s opening game, where he struggled to execute his plans effectively. The teenager’s measured approach in Game 2 served as a crucial morale boost as the 14-game showdown progresses.
For Liren, who famously made a series of comebacks to claim victory against Ian Nepomniachtchi in the last World Championship, the cautious approach seemed deliberate. Reflecting on his play, Liren noted, “In the first game, I played something new in the opening, which required a lot of memory. Today, I prepared a lot and tried 1.e4, which is not common for me.”
As the youngest-ever challenger for the world chess title, Gukesh carries the hopes of millions, aiming to become the second Indian after the legendary Viswanathan Anand to claim the crown.
The match is still in its early stages, with 12 games remaining, but Gukesh’s draw in Game 2 signals that he is ready to compete on equal footing with the reigning champion.
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