Chess - The 2024 World Championship (Game 4 Review)

The likelihood of another draw after each player nabbing a win was quite an expectation. By the premise, it looked like rest day was an eventful part of this preparation for both sides. Given the context of their playing history up against one another, we now scout into a knight opening.

The notation I discuss below belongs solely to game 4 of the 2024 World Championship that recently concluded.

Accuracy is perhaps best viewed in proximity, considered Ding's minuscule edge came with the range of a random pawn.

Ding's position here was nearly as much improvised as it tried to be intellectual. This championship, so far, Game 1 remains his peak performance, with Game 3 as a slip up but not out of form.

Games 3&4 had each other player engrossed in certain deep thinking.

Ding from Game 3

Gukesh from Game 4

Gukesh pioneered the equalized endgame with his active rook and passed pawn, even if it meant some moves until the game was past turn 40, allowing the draw, which itself indulged in a threefold repetition. 

Game 1 was a decisive edge for Ding, even if he doesn't fully acclaim the accuracy.

Game 2 was a draw in threefold repetition, where Ding offered up a rook trade and where Gukesh preferred a positioning of knights if not for the draw.

Game 3 was Gukesh's moment of breakthrough in good improvisation, both since his d4 game against Ding in Tata Steel Masters, January 2023, and Game 1 of this championship. laying emphasis on Ding's A pawn.

The catch, folks, is that with 2 draws, 1 of each was a call made by the other player!