WCC 2024 Round 4: Ding and Gukesh Play a Perfect Game

Lichess is providing a live stream for every day of the world championship. Make sure to tune in to our Twitch or YouTube channels for live stream coverage with our hosts GM Felix Blohberger and IM Laura Unuk, joined by a rotating panel of guests. Round 5 starts at 09:00 UTC on Saturday, November 30.

Today's round was covered by our hosts, GM Felix Blohberger and IM Laura Unuk. Round 5 will be covered by our host IM Laura Unuk and guests GM Levon Aronian and GM Mathew Sadler, with GM Nils Grandelius joining as a guest for later rounds.

The annotations by GM Maxime Lagarde can be found at the bottom of the article.

The match schedule can be found here.

Stream

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BkqX1sXzIqo

Recap

GM Ding Liren surprised GM Gukesh D by playing a rare variation of 1. Nf3 which resembles a reverse Queen's Indian Defense. Ding had some chances during the game but both he and Gukesh were playing superbly accurately, a game which in fact ended with 100% accuracy — perfect chess is indeed most likely a draw.

Clips

Director of Operations at Lichess, Theo Wait, asked Ding and Gukesh about their time management strategies:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESh_h2Y7vOU

More clips at the bottom of the article.

100% Accuracy Game

Five-time world champion and Indian chess icon Viswanathan Anand responds to White's first move and looks on at the new generation of talent he was integral in building
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

Four-time women's world champion Xie Jun makes Ding's first move
Photo: Eng Chin An

Game 4 started off normally enough with 1. Nf3, but already Ding's 2. e3, and more so his 3. b3, signaled that he both wanted to avoid the well-trodden paths of opening theory and to surprise Gukesh with some deep preparation in a rare line.

The battle is underway
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

By playing 3...Bf5, Gukesh counteracted Ding's reverse Queen's Indian Defense with a reverse London System, after which Ding responded with a typical idea in the QID with 5. Ba3 — one that certainly looks strange, though.

Ding looks on
Photo: Eng Chin An

Gukesh then was posed a difficult question: how will he castle in the long-term if he can't push the e-pawn? Gukesh had an ingenious answer as he played the innocuous-looking 5...Nbd7: he wanted to capture on f8 with his knight, undeveloping it.

Gukesh in deep thought
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

Despite Gukesh's protracted plan, Ding had little chances to make use of his lead in development as Black's position remained solid and White's pieces were not well poised to attack. The next turning point of the game occurred on move 11 when Ding decided to go for an ambitious plan with 11. b4, aiming to gain space on the queenside.

Ding walking around as Gukesh writes down his move
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

Both sides continued to play "perfectly", playing well to the demands of the position, and Gukesh found another accurate move with 13...Ne5!, which always kept the option of a later f4 on the table for White.

Gukesh had to find some very accurate plans today
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

After more queenside play, Ding had a chance to place some pressure on Gukesh with 16. Ba6 and f4 as a follow-up, but as he revealed in the press conference, he wanted to consolidate today and not risk too much.

Gukesh has become famous for popping his collar
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

Instead, after 16. Nf3, a lot of pieces were soon traded and a queen and rook endgame was reached.

Ding came up with a very intriguing opening idea today
Photo: Eng Chin An

Both sides could have perhaps squeezed more out of the position, but as it stood, more liquidation occurred and the game was eventually drawn.

The customary signing of the scoresheets
Photo: Maria Emelianova / Chess.com

Annotations by GM Maxime Lagarde

To view the annotation with all the symbols displayed, open the study directly here.

Press Conference

A lot of smiles at today's press conference
Photo: Eng Chin An

Some memorable quotes:

GM Gukesh D on who he'd like to play if he could time travel: "I think Fischer. He's someone I really admire and I think it would be cool to play a game against him."

GM Ding Liren on who he'd like to play if he could time travel: "I think my pick would be Mikhail Tal to play some games with."

GM Ding Liren on playing similarly to Petrosian-Tal, Curacao 1962: "No I think the idea was proved by modern engines rather than old games."

Prediction

Ding: 30.5%; Gukesh: 69.5%

It's interesting that the draw decreased Ding's chances slightly, despite Ding being a tiebreak favorite; the reason is that today's game was a White game for Ding.

For more on interpreting this graph, check our preview article.

More Clips

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Asa3tQ9Y8Fs