Ding Liren, the reigning World Chess Champion, defeated Indian grandmaster D. Gukesh in Game 12 of the FIDE World Championship, bringing the score to 6-6 on Monday, according to the International Chess Federation.
Ding responded effectively to Gukesh’s opening move and secured victory with precise play. Reflecting on his performance during the post-match press conference, Ding said, “Yesterday was a difficult game to deal with, but I tried to maintain my routine and prepare for today. I had coffee and snacks before the game to stay energized. I think I played a solid game and found some good moves.”
Gukesh, analyzing the match, stated, “I was aware of the opening position, but I struggled with the middle game and wasn’t sure about my decisions. Losing this game is not ideal, but with the score tied and two games remaining, there is still an opportunity.”
Game 13 of the series is scheduled for Wednesday, December 11, at 5 PM local time in Singapore, with Gukesh playing as White. Both players will take a rest day on Tuesday before resuming the competition.
