Gukesh’s out of syllabus move makes him World Chess Championship favourite

By Siddharth Vishwanathan,

The 11th game of the World Chess Championship between Gukesh and Ding Liren seemed to be heading towards a routine draw. The chess engines showed no clear advantage for either player, and the cautious play of the first 10 games suggested that neither competitor would risk taking the initiative. Ding spent nearly an hour making just four moves, while Gukesh took over 60 minutes to calculate a single move.

When Gukesh finally moved his pawn to a4—a decision that came after more than an hour of deliberation—he left the board for a brief six-minute break, returning refreshed and composed. The game still appeared destined for a draw until move 25, when Gukesh stunned Ding with a masterstroke: moving his knight to a1. This “out-of-syllabus” move threw Ding off balance, forcing him to spend seven critical minutes to respond. The resulting time pressure would soon prove disastrous for the Chinese Grandmaster.

As Gukesh’s knight advanced from a1 to c5, the pressure on Ding mounted. Under duress, Ding faltered, blundering with his queen to c8. Four moves later, Ding resigned, and Gukesh claimed a pivotal victory, taking a 6-5 lead in the World Chess Championship with just three games remaining. At only 18, Gukesh stands on the brink of history, but with three intense rounds left, the challenge is far from over.

Gukesh’s Knight Move: A Signature Masterclass

The audacious knight move to a1 was classic Gukesh—bold, creative, and game-changing. While it caught Ding off guard, hindsight reveals it was a strategy Ding should have anticipated. Gukesh showcased a similar brilliance earlier this year at the Budapest Chess Olympiad. In a gripping encounter against China’s Wei Yi, Gukesh wielded just two knights against a rook, delivering an endgame masterclass that secured one of the most memorable victories of his career.

The a1 knight move now looms large as Ding faces a daunting challenge in the remaining games. Yet, history suggests this is when Ding is at his most dangerous.

Can Ding Liren Stage Another Comeback?

Gukesh must stay vigilant. In the 2023 World Chess Championship, Ding famously overcame a deficit against Ian Nepomniachtchi, winning Game 12 in just 38 moves to force a tiebreak, where he clinched the title in dramatic fashion.

For Gukesh, the path to victory is narrow, and the pressure is immense. Game 12, followed by a rest day, will test his resilience and ability to maintain momentum. If he succeeds, Indian chess could celebrate its first-ever World Champion. The dream is closer than ever, but the next three games will determine if Gukesh can bring it home.