World Championship Game 5: Gukesh survives a mild scare
Ding Liren got himself a good opportunity to push for a win against D Gukesh in Game 5 of FIDE World Championship 2024 presented by Google. However, he could not find the correct plan to make the best out of his protected passed pawn on d3. Instead, he opted for an incorrect one by putting his bishop in the wrong diagonal. It became a virtual draw offer which both players realized. The world champion needed to find Rc8-c5 plan which would have made things difficult for his opponent. Gukesh for the third consecutive game with the white pieces played g4 and showed that he is ready to take risks. Since he got away with a draw in this game, it will only boost his confidence going further in the match. Game 6 starts tomorrow at 5 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/En Chin An
An expected French Defence
"I think it's still early to say, not even close to halfway mark. Considering I was the trailing the match after the first game, it's nice to be here but yeah, there are a lot more important games to come. I am just trying to play one game at a time and give my best." - Gukesh when asked how satisfied he is with his performance in the match so far. The world champion answered the same question, "Results are not the ideal one because I have some chances in some games. I had lead at some point and even today after some rook check, I had some advantage which I didn't realize. So there is something to improve in the next round."
I just try to play my best but somehow I settle for a draw. - Ding Liren
Gukesh - Ding Liren: 0.5-0.5
Ding Liren opted for French Defence for the second time in this match. Gukesh deviated from his first game and opted for the Exchange variation. Since the world champion had already played this opening. So it is obviously one of the things that team Gukesh expected. He was prepared till 9...Kxe7. This endgame is covered by Anish Giri in his Chessable course where he mentioned the game is fine after 8...Qe7. The world champion mentioned that he is unaware of the course but he agrees with Giri's notion on the resultant endgame.
Gukesh for the third consecutive game with the white pieces in this Match played g4. His opponent thought that it was the only way to play.
"Here maybe he should have played 19.Ne5 Bxe5 20.dxe5 Nd3 21.Bxd3 cxd3 22.Re3 Nc4 23.Rd3 Nxb2 24.Rxd5 Bxg4 25.Rb5 Nd1 I was considering this variation. I was very surprised to see 19.g5 over the board." - Ding Liren
"Once I saw 23...Nd3, I realized I just blundered 23.dxe5?? I didn't know how bad it was really, but of course I should have played 23.Rxe5. It would have been a draw anyways but 23.dxe5 Nd3 I kind of just hallucinated here. Nd3 I saw, but somehow I underestimated that he can go Rc8 I just have trouble holding my position after 23...Nd3 24.Bxd3 cxd3 25.b3 Rc8. My position is almost collapsing." - Gukesh on whether he realized 23.dxe5?? was a blunder. "I was a bit annoyed that I didn't play 23.Rxe5 but honestly during the game I thought, it should always be quite holdable because I have some squares. Surely unpleasant but I was pretty confident that I will hold it." - The Challenger added.
"I knew that I should be slightly worse after 29...Bh5 but I thought with an active rook, I should be able to hold. Actually a few moves earlier, I was not sure about my position.
First of all I was not sure about 25...Nc4. I don't know why my opponent did not play Be6 after 25...Nc4 26.Nxc4 dxc4 27.Re4 Be6 28.Rd4 Rc8 I was very worried about this position. Then after 27...Bc6 I was already quite relieved. After 28...Bxf3, 29...Bc6 that was just a draw offer." - Gukesh on his feelings about 29...Bh5 which his opponent did not play.
"I didn't see the idea Rc8, Rc5 and move the king to the kingside like some kind of Berlin pawn structure. I didn't realize that it's a big advantage for me." - Ding Liren answered why he didn't play Be6.
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Every game starts at 5 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST. There is a rest day after every three games.
