World Chess Championship: Ding Liren loses third game on time against Gukesh

World Chess Championship: Ding Liren Loses Third Game to Gukesh on Time

In a rare occurrence in classical chess, world champion Ding Liren lost the third game of the World Chess Championship against Gukesh on time. Ding, known for his incredible games in faster time controls as well, fell three moves short of getting additional time on his clock.

The game took a dramatic turn in the middle game when Ding made a reckless move, pushing his light-squared bishop to c2 in an attempt to capture an unprotected pawn on b3. However, this move backfired as the bishop got trapped on b2, similar to a game played by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik against Arjun Erigaisi.

Gukesh, seizing the opportunity, set a cunning trap for Ding, leading to the eventual downfall of the world champion. Despite Ding’s attempts to save his bishop, Gukesh’s strategic moves left him in a precarious position both on the board and on the clock.

As the game progressed, Ding found himself in a time scramble, falling behind his opponent by an hour at one point. With just seconds left on his clock, Ding struggled to make the required moves, ultimately losing the game to Gukesh.

The intense battle on the board and the time pressure faced by Ding added to the excitement of the match. Both players now head into the first rest day of the championship with a level score, setting the stage for more thrilling encounters in the days to come.

Chess enthusiasts and experts are eagerly awaiting the next games in the World Chess Championship, as the competition between Ding Liren and Gukesh promises to deliver more intense and strategic gameplay.