Chess Crown Up for Grabs: Ding vs. Gukesh
The 2024 World Chess Championship in Singapore sees the youngest challenger in the history of chess face the first Chinese absolute chess champion.
The FIDE World Championship 2024 match is the first in 138 years to feature two contestants from Asia, the reigning World Champion Ding Liren from China and challenger Gukesh Dommaraju from India competing for the title and a prize fund of US$2.5 million.
The match features a landmark title sponsorship from Google, and it is the first time a global technology leader has partnered with the FIDE World Championship.
The World Championship Match will be held at Resorts World Sentosa (RWS) in Singapore, an integrated resort globally renowned for its world-class hospitality.
RWS will provide the perfect backdrop for the high-stakes match, offering a distinctive blend of diverse leisure and entertainment options. The playing hall is located in Equarius Hotel, a 5-star hotel with stunning views of the surrounding rainforest canopies.
Meet the Champion
Following a series of Women's World Chess Champions, Ding Liren became the first Chinese grandmaster to claim the ultimate crown for his country. At 32, he's had an impressive string of victories but now faces the formidable task of defending his title against a rising star.
Ding, born in 1992 in China, discovered chess at age four and quickly rose through the ranks. He became a Grandmaster in 2009 and led China to gold at the Chess Olympiad in 2014 and 2015. In 2022, he finished second at the Candidates Tournament, earning a spot in the World Championship.
In 2023, Ding beat Ian Nepomniachtchi at the World Chess Championship in Astana, Kazakhstan, becoming the first Chinese player to become the absolute World Chess Champion. Despite facing personal challenges and taking a break in 2024, he returned to compete in major tournaments, showing his resilience and commitment to the game.
Learn more about the Champion
Meet the Challenger
At just 18 years old, Indian chess prodigy Gukesh D is making history as the youngest challenger in the World Championship. Ranked #5 in the world, he's on the verge of breaking the 2800 rating mark, captivating chess enthusiasts with his rapid rise.
Gukesh Dommaraju, born in 2006 in Chennai, quickly rose through the chess ranks, becoming an International Master in 2018 and a Grandmaster in 2019. He gained global attention by winning gold at the 2022 FIDE Chess Olympiad and surpassing the 2700 ELO mark.
In 2023, Gukesh overtook Viswanathan Anand as India’s top-rated player and secured a spot at the 2024 Candidates tournament. In April 2024, he became the youngest-ever challenger for the World Champion title and led India to their first-ever team gold at the 45th Chess Olympiad.
Learn more about the Challenger
14 Games to Glory
The World Championship match is a grueling 14-game battle, each with a standard time control, meaning games can last for hours. If the score is tied, rapid tie-breaks with shorter time limits will be played.
Ding Liren: "Gukesh is a favourite in the World Championship Match. He also has a higher rating than me. I have dropped a lot since last year, but I will fight my best to try to overcome the rating difference."
Ding about the fact that media says Gukesh is a huge favourite judging by both players' recent games: “I like the fact that the media are saying this and the feeling of being the underdog. I’ll then surprise them.”
Gukesh D: "I don't really buy into these things that people say about the match. I'm sure he'll be coming to the match with the right spirit and he'll be trying his best. My approach is to treat every game with the utmost respect and energy and give it my best."
Modern Chess Set (2022) by Stev BonhageInternational Chess Federation (FIDE)
World Championship Hub
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https://worldchampionship.fide.com
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