The straw that broke the camel's back- Game 14

Ding mentioned on the previous day that the last round game would not be a short draw. Going by this it was clear that Ding would try and maintain small pressure as he did in game number 12, but not overtly taking any too many risks. The general opinion of most of the commentators were also that Ding was a favorite in the faster time control as he is more of an intuitive player than Gukesh and also his record as a rapid and blitz player was better than Gukesh's. Magnus even felt that Ding should perhaps choose 1.e4 as in the second game and steer the game to a forcing draw as he himself did in the last classical game against Karjakin in 2016!

Balancing on a tightrope - Game 13

After a long last back to 1.e4 to try and break down the French. This was a very tough fight, where Gukesh had Ding on the ropes, but Ding dodged defeat like a magician! At some point Ding could have played more positively and not just for equality, by sacrificing the exchange. This would have resonated confidence to continue from the last game, however Ding seems to have gone back to defensive mindset as he was in many of the earlier games. But at the very end, he found mighty good resources to defend the game by balancing on a tight rope despite time pressure. 

The potential of potential - game 12

Ding produced one of his best when pushed to dire straits. He played such a controlled game where there was never a chance for Black to completely equalize the game at all. I do not remember him having done it in his match against Nepo too. Though his game six win against Nepo was a great game, but even there Nepo had some chances to equalise at several points in the game, even though some where hard to find. In this game Ding used the potential energy to great effect. His pieces seemed to have more potential than his opponent, and this was the single most important factor in deciding the game.

Preparation and Mind games - game 11

 After a rather eventless draw in the 10th game, this game was turbo charged. Gukesh showed intent to surprise Ding, even with a not an entirely theoretical acceptable opening surprise with the White pieces. His opening surprise cost Ding about an hour on the clock, but Ding played perfectly acceptable moves and, in an attempt, to cash in on the time advantage Gukesh played a couple of moves which not only entirely lost his advantage he was also in a very risky position strategically speaking. To classical players it even looked his position was close to hopeless! Clearly a question of nerves. After that Ding starts playing in maximalist style, which he has not done in this match. He had every chance to retain a slight better position without any risk but decided against it. But after a few moves he turned pessimistic after he countered a surprise from Gukesh who fought on valiantly. And the final time pressure phase led to an abrupt collapse. Fatigue is kicking in with there being three games in a row before rest day and all the tension of the score. Apart from this psychology and mind games play a very unique role! We are in for a extremely interesting end of the match, as Ding is capable of recovery, as he showed last time. 

Calm before the storm - Game 10

In connection with the last game, this was perhaps also the game where the equilibrium was not disturbed at all, or rather even tried to! Ding perhaps got a very very slight edge or atleast a pleasant position from the opening. But he resolutely avoided creating any sort of imbalance and allowed the game to drift to a draw rather easily maintaining the deadlock in the scores!

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 e6 4. e3 c5 5. Be2!? Bd6 6. dxc5 Bxc57. c4!?

White has transposed the game from London to a Queen's Gambit Declined.

 O-O 8. O-O Nc6 

Catalan solidity - Game 9

Gukesh surprised Ding with the Catalan, a mainstream line that Ding himself is an expert on with White. Despite a slightly lesser played idea in the Catalan, avoiding b2-b3. But there were only a couple of interesting moments in the game.

In this position after Black's 11 th move White went for

12.Rac1 Rfd8 13. b4!? 

instead of 13.b3

13.... c5!

This came after a lot of thought, but clearly the most critical move, and an easy one for Ding

14. bxc5 bxc5 15. Qb2!? 

15.... Nb6

Hikaru suggested that 15... Qb6 was the easiest way to equalise.  16. Nb3 dxc4 17. Ba5 Qb5 18. Bxd8 Rxd8 19. dxc5 Bxc5

 16. Ba5 dxc4 17. Nxc4 

Bxf3!? 

After deep thought Ding chooses a position which might be a trifle worse,but is nevertheless solid. He did not choose a line that concretely lead to equality, as he missed a particular move on the 19th turn.

17... Nxc4 18. Rxc4 Qxa5 19. Qxb7 Nd7!  was the slightly awkward move one had to foresee to force the equality. Ding admitted that he missed this move. 20. dxc5 Rab8 21. Qc6 Rbc8 

18. Bxb6 axb6 19. Bxf3 Ra6 

This was the last interesting moment of the game. White went for a forcing approach with

20. Qb5?! 

The forcing move gives up the advantage, perhaps White could keep the pressure with a very minute advantage with 20. Ne5 Bf8 21. Kg2 or 21.e3 or even 20. e3!? 

20... Rxa2 21. Nxb6 Qa7!  admittedly Gukesh missed this idea after which Ding equalizes 

 22. Qb1 Rb8 23. dxc5 Ra6=  

Ding completely equalised and the game was drawn after 54 moves.

the discussed game as a replyable link

Hypermodern Spirit - Game 8

Playing nonstandard positions have given rise to the most fighting positions in this world championship.

There were several interesting moments in the 8th game, which White played in true hypermodern spirit after encountering a very early novelty by Gukesh. He played f6, to bolster the centre and then setup an e5-d5 pawn duo in the centre. Ding apparently moved d3 (either of the centre pawn) as late as move 19!! The earlier record belonged to Euwe in game 18 of the 1935 World Championship against Alekhine played d3 also in an English opening on the 14th move.

Great Wall of China - Game 7

 "Ding is still standing and is difficult to push him over" - Anish Giri

Game 7 was going to mark the halfway mark of the World Championship, and it proved to be one of the best and hard-fought games with twists and turns almost until the very end! First up Gukesh came up with a fundamentally new concept and started to put pressure on Ding on the clock. Then with the pressure of a looming time pressure, Ding went for a forcing continuation and was slowly getting outplayed and Gukesh was increasing his advantage methodically. But Ding is not a World champion for nothing, he fought valiantly giving his heart out! And started throwing obstacles along Gukesh's path. Eventually Gukesh also landed in time trouble and by move 39 perhaps had lost lion's share of his advantage. But Gukesh made one last tricky move and uncharacteristically Ding erred on the move 40m thereby giving Gukesh the advantage back in the second time control phase. This part of the game, Gukesh is being criticized for missing the win. I feel this is unfair, while it is very painful to miss a winning chance to secure the lead for the first time in this World championship, it was nevertheless not easy from practical terms. 

Drawing at one's own bidding- Psychology in play - Game six

A long theoretical line, albeit an obscure one happened with Ding returning to his all-time favourite first move of the Queen Pawn. Gukesh settled into a long thought and the general consensus was Ding has put him under pressure both in the position and on the clock. But as it turned out Ding too thought for a long time once he encountered a new move and then offered a repetition of moves. And Gukesh decided to spurn the repetition even though it felt that he was worse objectively. This led to a lot of discussion of psychology and mind games and various other non-chess ideas! I get a feeling that after the loss in the third game, Ding had put a temporary break to going for unclear complications even if it seems to favour him and instead try to outplay Gukesh in simple positions. 

Let us delve in to the game and see, how it turned out. 

Equilibrium - the beauty of chess - Game 5

"Chess is a game of equilibrium"- William Cluley

Gukesh's White games have been the most interesting ones in this World Championship match. It is perhaps because he is playing more daring chess and Ding also plays his part. When Ding starts with White, he keeps the game pretty quiet and in control. The daring of youth is essential perhaps to provide fireworks to the spectators!