World Championship Game 6: "I just like playing Chess" - Gukesh
D Gukesh decided to decline a threefold repetition against Ding Liren in Game 6 of FIDE World Championship Match 2024, presented by Google. He wanted to play a few moves and see what happens as he felt that he was not in danger. The Challenger thought that draw was still the most likely result, he wanted to get a long game as there is no game on the following day. Gukesh may not admit that it was a psychological move, one thing is for sure, in this cerebral sport, you have to test your opponent and that is exactly what he did. He did not take a lot of risk. After all it is a mind game which is what he played. Tomorrow is the second rest day. Game 7 starts on Tuesday at 5 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Eng Chin An
"What's the meaning of chill?"
"I knew the position till I played 16...Rb8. I wasn't aware of 17.Nc4. I never really felt in any danger. I thought once I take on c4, I get Qf5. Maybe I am slightly worse, but it should be really hard to convert it with white because you can't really push the queenside pawns that easily, I always have some play on his king. I wasn't really that worried at any point." - Gukesh on his opponent playing fast and his overview of the game.
Sometimes I play white pieces like black. This time, I tried to push for an advantage in the opening. Last time also in Game 6, I won a beautiful game in London. So this time, I wanted to repeat a success. - Ding Liren
Ding Liren - Gukesh: 0.5-0.5
Ding Liren played the London System, just like he did last year against Ian Nepomniachtchi in Game 6. He admitted wanting to repeat the same result.
"I am happy with my position until 20...Qf5. I knew the position was slightly better for White, but in the game I thought for long. 21.Qxc6 Qxe5 22.Qd5 Qe7 23.Qd6 I decided to repeat moves Qg5 24.Qd5 Qe7 25.Qd6 Qg5 26.Qd5 Qh4 this came as a total surprise because I think his queen is not well placed on the kingside, it is better placed on the queenside.
Here, I might have some advantage... You are right, I am slightly better. 30.Qf4 Qa5 31.a3 Qb5 32.Rd4 Qe2 33.R1d2 After Qf3 it was a very hard decision for me. I saw 34.Qg5 Qh1+ I have to go 35.Kc2 and I don't know Rb8. Only the d4-rook is placed well here because if Qa1 I have Rb4." - Ding Liren on his game.
"As I said, I thought I might be slightly worse, I was not even sure fully about if I am slightly worse but I thought it's more likely. Even though I thought that okay with the files open in front of his king. I just thought I always have counterplay. I saw no reason not to take repetition right now. Since he is going for a repetition, I thought I'll make a few more moves. Obviously it's not playing for a win or anything by 26...Qh4, just I wanted to make a few more moves and see what happens. " - Gukesh on declining repetition. He added, "When he played Qd6, it was already clear that he was going for a repetition. So when I played Qe7 for the second time, I had already decided to go Qh4."
"36...Kg7 mainly I was worried about 37.Rd7+ Rf7 38.Rxf7+ Kxf7 39.Rd7+ I think the pawn endgame is lost if I go Re7. I thought this was losing. Maybe I can give the a7-pawn instead of Re7. But I thought that's a bit ugly. Also if I go 37...Kh6 38.Rxa7 I missed that I could start with e3. I missed it, otherwise I would have gone for this. Maybe he can go 37.b4, Kd1, Ke2. 36...Kg7 was my initial instinct but I just missed that e3 was possible. Anyway after e3, I had to find this h5-resource which was a bit tough. After h5 it's just a draw." - The Challenger answered whether he considerd 36...Kg7 instead of e3 which he played in the game.
Photo Gallery
When asked, what are the different things Ding Liren is doing since his win last year in Astana, Kazakhstan. The world champion mentioned that he added one more second this time. We will know the answer in time about who is the new addition to his seconds.
Video Gallery
Replay live stream
Schedule
Every game starts at 5 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST. There is a rest day after every three games.
