D Gukesh on rejecting early draw against Ding Liren in World Chess Championship 2024 final: I just like playing chess

D Gukesh opened up on why he rejected an early draw against defending champion Ding Liren in the sixth game of the grand finale of the World Chess Championship 2024. The teenager, quite remarkably, rejected an early draw by declining a threefold repetition, giving himself a chance to beat Ding.

But in the end, after 46 moves, Gukesh could only fetch a hard-fought draw in the sixth game. Ding had won the opening game before Gukesh drew level with a win in the third. The second, fourth, fifth and sixth games ended in draws. After the third successive draw in the six-game series, both players need 4.5 more points to come up trumps.

Despite Ding having the upper hand, Gukesh rejected the early draw, making the game even more complicated. The sixth game highlighted the mental and strategic prowess of both players, with Ding growing more confident as the match progressed, despite the even score. “I just like playing chess!” Gukesh said about his decision to reject the draw.

Ding, initially taken aback by Gukesh’s aggressive style, eventually opted for a more practical approach, trading queens and crucial pawns to stabilize the position. However, Gukesh managed to hold firm and secure a draw. With eight games still to play, the championship is set for a thrilling conclusion, as both players look to seize every opportunity in this tightly contested match.

The Moves in Game 6

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 c5 5.c3 Bd6 6.Bb5+ Nc6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.Qa4 0–0 10.Qa3 Ne4 11.Nfd2 e5 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxc5 Qg6 14.Nd2 Qxg2 15.0–0–0 Qxf2 16.dxe5 Rb8 17.Nc4 Be6 18.Rd2 Qf3 19.Re1 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 Qf5 21.Qxc6 Qxe5 22.Qd5 Qe7 23.Qd6 Qg5 24.Qd5 Qe7 25.Qd6 Qg5 26.Qd5 Qh4 27.Red1 g6 28.Qe5 Rbe8 29.Qg3 Qh5 30.Qf4 Qa5 31.a3 Qb5 32.Rd4 Qe2 33.R1d2 Qf3 34.Kc2 Qxf4 35.exf4 f5 36.h4 e3 37.Re2 Re7 38.Kd3 Rfe8 39.h5 gxh5 40.Rd5 h4 41.Rxf5 Rd7+ 42.Kc2 Kg7 43.Rg2+ Kh8 44.Re2 Kg7 45.Rg2+ Kh8 46.Re2 Kg7. Game drawn.