World Chess Championship 2024 Game 13 Highlights: Ding Liren Holds D Gukesh To A Draw; Scores Stay Level At 6.5–6.5

Welcome to the live coverage of the FIDE World Chess Championship where India's D Gukesh is challenging the title-holder of China Ding Liren. Get all the live updates right here.

The D Gukesh vs Ding Liren, FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 game 13 is set to start on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, at 2:30 PM IST at the Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore.

We’ll provide all the live updates right here.

But for those who wish to watch it live, the D Gukesh vs Ding Liren FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 match will be streamed on FIDE’s social media handles (YouTube, Twitch), as well as chess.com’s YouTube and Twitch channels. It will not be telecast on any TV channel in India. But you can watch it live here.

The 2024 World Chess Championship match between D Gukesh and Ding Liren will be over 14 classical games. The winner of the match will be declared the World Champion with 7.5 points first. In case it ends in a tie after 14 games, a tiebreak is to be held the day after to declare the winner.

A time control of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves and then 30 minutes in all other moves applies. Each increment to have 30 seconds from move 41.

Results So far

Game 1 - November 25, 2024 - Ding Liren Won

Game 2 - November 26, 2024 - Draw

Game 3 - November 27, 2024 - Gukesh Won

Rest Day - November 28, 2024 - Thursday 

Game 4 - November 29, 2024 - Draw

Game 5 - November 30, 2024 - Draw

Game 6 - December 1, 2024 - Draw

Rest Day - December 2, 2024 - Monday 

Game 7 - December 3, 2024 - Draw

Game 8 - December 4, 2024 - Draw

Game 9 - December 5, 2024 - Draw

Rest Day - December 6, 2024 - Friday 

Game 10 - December 7, 2024 - Draw

Game 11 - December 8, 2024 - Gukesh beat Ding Liren

Game 12 - December 9, 2024 - Ding Liren beat Gukesh

Rest Day - December 10, 2024 - Tuesday 

Game 13 - December 11, 2024 - Wednesday (Today)

Game 14 - December 12, 2024 - Thursday 

Tie-breaks (If needed) - December 13, 2024 - Wednesday

Score line: 6-6

Indian challenger D Gukesh made his way to the Fish Bowl, greeted with thunderous cheers from the crowds. Not much later, Ding Liren followed suit, walking in slightly quicker than usual, though he was still characteristically serene.

Gukesh, very dapperly attired in a sharp deep gray suit and white shirt, bucked his regular habit of waiting until almost the very last minute; he took his seat well seven full minutes before Ding was spotted in the playing arena but was himself greeted by an enthusiastic audience.

Both players have taken their seats, with Gukesh set to play with white and Ding Liren with black. This will be a crucial game, as both players aim to seize the lead and gain an advantage in the battle for the title.

Gukesh, playing white, makes the first move, a classic opening with which every chess player is familiar: e4, moving the king's pawn two squares. Ding, sticking to his strategy from earlier in the match, responds with the French Defense, playing e6.

Gukesh (White) vs Ding (Black)

1. e4 e6

2. d4 d5

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. e5 Nfd7

5. Nce2 c5

6. c3 Nc6

7. a3

Ding is taking his time to consider his next move. At this stage, with so many possibilities, he calculates each one to ensure Gukesh does not take him off guard. While Ding may have the momentum, he cannot afford to let his guard down. He is not going to let Gukesh seize the initiative again. You can almost see the wheels turning in his mind at full speed.

Gukesh is already ahead by 50 minutes, with Ding still deep in thought. The time gap between the two players has now reached 50 minutes.

Gukesh (White) vs Ding (Black)

1. e4 e6

2. d4 d5

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. e5 Nfd7

5. Nce2 c5

6. c3 Nc6

7. a3 Be7

8. Be3 Nb6

9. Nf4 cxd4

10. cxd4 Nc4

11. Bxc4 dxc4

Ding makes his move after a pause, it's b5. That previously overlooked pawn has been in the spotlight lately.

Gukesh (White) vs Ding (Black)

1. e4 e6

2. d4 d5

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. e5 Nfd7

5. Nce2 c5

6. c3 Nc6

7. a3 Be7

8. Be3 Nb6

9. Nf4 cxd4

10. cxd4 Nc4

11. Bxc4 dxc4

12. Nge2 b5

13. O-O O-O

14. Nc3 Rb8

15. Nh5

Nh5 he goes, to set up that Qg4 move and a possible checkmate. Of course, if we can see it, so can Ding, the question is how will he defend that inevitable looking Qg4?

It’s an En Passant

Gukesh takes the f-pawn with en passant, but Ding’s bishop quickly captures it in return. Gukesh spent around 20 minutes deciding on the move, while Ding responded instantly.

Gukesh (White) vs Ding (Black)

1. e4 e6

2. d4 d5

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. e5 Nfd7

5. Nce2 c5

6. c3 Nc6

7. a3 Be7

8. Be3 Nb6

9. Nf4 cxd4

10. cxd4 Nc4

11. Bxc4 dxc4

12. Nge2 b5

13. O-O O-O

14. Nc3 Rb8

15. Nh5 f5

16. exf6(!) Bxf6

17. Qf3 Qe8

18. Nxf8+ Rxf6

19. Qe2 Qg6

20. f3 Rf8

21. Rad1 Ne7

22. Bf4 Rb6

23. Bc7

Ding takes his time here, thinking for about ten minutes before playing Ne7 (especially with the clock ticking down). Gukesh responds immediately with an audacious Bf4. Ding follows up with Rb6, and now Gukesh pursues that rook, searching for an opening on the queenside.

Gukesh has time on his side and it is looking good. He spends a minute on this move but remains a full ten minutes ahead of Ding. Gukesh will aim to maintain the pressure, hoping to force a blunder from Ding under intense time constraints.

Gukesh (White) vs Ding (Black)

1. e4 e6

2. d4 d5

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. e5 Nfd7

5. Nce2 c5

6. c3 Nc6

7. a3 Be7

8. Be3 Nb6

9. Nf4 cxd4

10. cxd4 Nc4

11. Bxc4 dxc4

12. Nge2 b5

13. O-O O-O

14. Nc3 Rb8

15. Nh5 f5

16. exf6(!) Bxf6

17. Qf3 Qe8

18. Nxf8+ Rxf6

19. Qe2 Qg6

20. f3 Rf8

21. Rad1 Ne7

22. Bf4 Rb6

23. Bc7 Rb7

24. Bd6 Re8

25. Bxe7 Rexe7

26. Qe5 a6

27. d5 exd5

28. Qxd5+ Qe6

29. Qc5 Re8

30. Rde1 Qf7

31. Ne4 Rf8

Move No 35 to 40

36. Rfe1 Rxe5

37. Rxe5 h6

38. Qc5 Bd7

39. Ne4 Qf4

40. Re7 Bf5

A quick exchange levels things up. Ding's queen delivers a check, his bishop captures Gukesh's knight, only to be taken out by Gukesh's lone rook. Ding now pauses for a bit of a think.

It seems like Gukesh is determined to take this game all the way to the end. He's now putting pressure on the b-pawn with his rook, maintaining a slight advantage and holding on to whatever edge he still has on the board.

A queen exchange is offered, but Gukesh politely declines. He’s not ready to settle for a draw just yet, though it’s starting to feel like it might be unavoidable at this stage.

Gukesh (White) vs Ding (Black)

1. e4 e6

2. d4 d5

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. e5 Nfd7

5. Nce2 c5

6. c3 Nc6

7. a3 Be7

8. Be3 Nb6

9. Nf4 cxd4

10. cxd4 Nc4

11. Bxc4 dxc4

12. Nge2 b5

13. O-O O-O

14. Nc3 Rb8

15. Nh5 f5

16. exf6(!) Bxf6

17. Qf3 Qe8

18. Nxf8+ Rxf6

19. Qe2 Qg6

20. f3 Rf8

21. Rad1 Ne7

22. Bf4 Rb6

23. Bc7 Rb7

24. Bd6 Re8

25. Bxe7 Rexe7

26. Qe5 a6

27. d5 exd5

28. Qxd5+ Qe6

29. Qc5 Re8

30. Rde1 Qf7

31. Ne4 Rf8

32. Nd6 Rc7

33. Qe5 Qf6

34. Qd5+ Kh8

35. Re5 Re7

36. Rfe1 Rxe5

37. Rxe5 h6

38. Qc5 Bd7

39. Ne4 Qf4

40. Re7 Bf5

41. Qd4 Rg8

42. h3 Qc1+

43. Kf2 Bxe4

44. Rxe4 c3

45. bxc3 Qxa3

46. Kg3 Qb3

47. Re7 a5

48. Rb7 Qc4

49. Qe5 Qc6

50. Qxb5 Qxc3

51. Ra7

A draw by repetition unfolds as checks are made and countered repeatedly. The scores stay level at 6.5–6.5.

The championship remains tied after 13 games! What an incredible defensive effort from Ding Liren. D Gukesh brought the heat with an opening novelty and relentless pressure in a tense endgame, leaving Ding battling both a tough board position and the ticking clock. Yet, the defending champion held his ground with a series of brilliantly accurate defensive moves.

For Ding, it's a huge relief; for Gukesh, a missed opportunity that could have changed everything.

The decisive Game 14, the final classical game of this championship (and possibly the last overall), kicks off tomorrow at 2:30 PM IST.

Gukesh (White) vs Ding (Black)

1. e4 e6

2. d4 d5

3. Nc3 Nf6

4. e5 Nfd7

5. Nce2 c5

6. c3 Nc6

7. a3 Be7

8. Be3 Nb6

9. Nf4 cxd4

10. cxd4 Nc4

11. Bxc4 dxc4

12. Nge2 b5

13. O-O O-O

14. Nc3 Rb8

15. Nh5 f5

16. exf6(!) Bxf6

17. Qf3 Qe8

18. Nxf8+ Rxf6

19. Qe2 Qg6

20. f3 Rf8

21. Rad1 Ne7

22. Bf4 Rb6

23. Bc7 Rb7

24. Bd6 Re8

25. Bxe7 Rexe7

26. Qe5 a6

27. d5 exd5

28. Qxd5+ Qe6

29. Qc5 Re8

30. Rde1 Qf7

31. Ne4 Rf8

32. Nd6 Rc7

33. Qe5 Qf6

34. Qd5+ Kh8

35. Re5 Re7

36. Rfe1 Rxe5

37. Rxe5 h6

38. Qc5 Bd7

39. Ne4 Qf4

40. Re7 Bf5

41. Qd4 Rg8

42. h3 Qc1+

43. Kf2 Bxe4

44. Rxe4 c3

45. bxc3 Qxa3

46. Kg3 Qb3

47. Re7 a5

48. Rb7 Qc4

49. Qe5 Qc6

50. Qxb5 Qxc3

51. Ra7 Qe1+

52. Kh2 Qb4

53. Qxb4 axb4

54. Rb7 Ra8

55. Rxb4 Ra2

56. Kg3 Kh7

57. Rb5 Kg6

58. f4 Kf6

59. Kf3 Rc2

60. g3 Rc3+

61. Kg4 Ra3

62. h4 Rc3

63. Rb6+ Kf7

64. f5 h5+

65. Kf4 Rc4+

66. Kf3 Rc3+

67. Kf4 Rc4+

68. Kf3 Rc3+

DRAW!

That's all for today. Now, we gear up for the most crucial match tomorrow, which could very well be the decider. With scores tied at 6.5, the first player to reach 7.5 will claim the crown. If neither wins tomorrow, the championship will head into tie-breakers.

Join us tomorrow at the same time for all the action. Until then, take care and goodbye.