Chess - The 2024 World Championship (Game 5 Review)
I had a hunch that Ding could use his experience to his discretion in this championship. But my, oh my, do I feel sorry for him, to see a draw in the apparently clearly won position. No overstating of course. Ding is clearly not out of form based on his positioning, but some kind of pressure still keeps him back from his peak stance in 2018. I was almost going to start this post saying that blogging alongside the conclusion of each game, on a Saturday and Sunday, doesn't particularly mean rest day for us viewers.
The notation I discuss below belongs solely to game 5 of the 2024 World Championship that recently concluded.
The comments thread bounced suggestions like Ding made a mistake in Game 3 where Gukesh exploited the advantage and won. Here, with GM Gukesh D slipping with GM Ding Liren's deceiving knight, he managed to draw, not lose. Perhaps Gukesh could eventually push for game point.
I wouldn't lean towards it, considering that in the 2023 World Championship GM Ding Liren equaled GM Ian Nepomniachtchi and secured the win with the tiebreakers.
Now, on a side note, in between today's game, Mike Klein had an interview with GM Viswanathan Anand, who preferred to be "gonna lie about that, and that and alright, a few more"
Now, on a side note, in between today's game, Mike Klein had an interview with GM Viswanathan Anand, who preferred to be "gonna lie about that, and that and alright, a few more"
Mike: Do you cook his (Gukesh's) meals?
Vishy: For his sake, I hope not. *Giggles*
Did Vishy really lie, or just keep things subtle since his Cook-Off with Ding in 2018 (if I recall correctly) that Ding supposedly won?
Back to the reigning Chess champion, who seemed unlucky today to miss out on a well deserved win. Ding can find broader opportunity that suits his current formulating. Gukesh can just as well emerge triumphant, but so far it has mostly been improvising from him. Given his exceptional record of being a candidate at age 18, I wish he does head towards the path of World Champion soon enough. 2024, despite Ding's slump outside of taking on Gukesh, still seems like Ding's year, provided the context of this championship involves just both players, and said GMs behind their preparation.
Gukesh mentioned that playing e4 again depended on the game, and maybe the mood.
As a clinging onto expert level player myself, considering my rating lingers between 1700-1800 and sometimes drops to 1600s and makes a comeback, somehow I related to Ding Liren's unfortunate drop in world ranking. Then again, he's Ding Liren. I'm just me. In 2022 and 2023, I couldn't find nearly as much time to write blog posts on here, partly due to life in general being a mixed wave of things.
Maybe GM Garry Kasparov was onto something about this championship not being a real event of its kind. I won't quote him on that. Ding gave us the best Game 1 in years. Gukesh is bringing his element of surprise just about sooner than one might expect.
On we go to Game 6, a number, given the likes of Fischer Vs Spassky, or Carlsen Vs Nepomniachtchi, proves large scale in anticipation.
