Mon Nov 25 19:57:05 UTC 2024: ## Defending Champion Ding Liren Wins Opening Game Against Gukesh in World Chess Championship
**Singapore, November 25, 2024** – Defending world champion Ding Liren of China defeated Indian challenger D Gukesh in the opening game of the World Chess Championship held in Singapore. This marks the first decisive result in a World Championship opening game since 2010, when Viswanathan Anand played Veselin Topalov.
Playing with black pieces, Ding Liren weathered an aggressive opening from the 18-year-old Gukesh, who employed an unexpected king pawn push. While Gukesh initially held a significant time advantage, Ding Liren expertly navigated the opening and middlegame, eventually launching a counterattack that overwhelmed the Indian Grandmaster.
Gukesh resigned on move 42, conceding the game after facing time pressure in the endgame. He attributed the loss to a tactical oversight, acknowledging the challenging nature of the match and praising Ding Liren’s strong performance. “It was a tactical oversight by me,” Gukesh said. “It can happen; it’s a long match. About my opponent’s form, I expected nothing else. I expected the best version of him, and we have a long match ahead, so it’s only more exciting now.”
The victory is a significant boost for Ding Liren, whose form had been questioned in the lead-up to the championship. His strong performance in the opening game suggests a determined title defense against the young and rising star Gukesh. The match continues.
First Piper 