A stunning blunder from Ding Liren in Game 11 of the World Title Match has left Gukesh Dommaraju on the brink of claiming the world chess championship. The error came amid intense mutual time pressure, giving the 18-year-old Indian challenger a crucial win and a 6-5 lead with just three games remaining.
This unexpected turn of events has placed Gukesh in a historic position, within striking distance of breaking Garry Kasparov’s record as the youngest-ever undisputed world champion. The game started with fireworks as Gukesh, playing as White, opened with 1 Kf3, and Ding responded with 2…d4, leading to a sharp and unbalanced Reti opening. Gukesh felt confident about the line, believing his preparation would surprise Ding and give him an advantage.
Ding, the reigning world champion, spent over 38 minutes on his response to 4 e3, and another 22 minutes on his fifth move, which led him to fall significantly behind on the clock. The position after seven moves appeared unique, with both players deep in thought, a clear sign of the complexity of the World Title Match.
As the game continued, Gukesh joined Ding under time pressure, taking over an hour on his 11th move. However, Ding’s blunder came on move 28, when he played 28…Qc8??, failing to notice Gukesh’s immediate opportunity. Gukesh seized the moment, playing 29 Qxc6, and Ding, visibly shaken, quickly offered a handshake and left the playing hall.
The result has left Gukesh with a solid chance of claiming the World Title Match, needing just one more win to secure victory. He now leads 6-5 with three games remaining. If Ding can level the score to 7-7, tiebreak games with faster time controls will be played. Ding has experience in such situations, having come from behind to win the title in 2023 after a similar predicament against Ian Nepomniachtchi.
The World Title Match continues at Resorts World Sentosa, where Gukesh is just one step away from becoming the youngest world champion in chess history.
