2024 Ding Liren - Gukesh, Third Week

Last week's post, 2024 Ding Liren - Gukesh, Second Week (December 2024), on the World Championship taking place in Singapore ended with the score '+1-1=5 after the seventh game' (3.5 for each player). That was the half way point for the 14 scheduled regulation games. Since that post, five more games have been played. Here are the daily reports published by FIDE:-

• 2024-12-04: The most exciting game of the match ends in a draw (worldchampionship.fide.com; g.08)
• 2024-12-05: The calm after the storm (ditto, also following links; g.09)
• 2024-12-07: Ding hits a brick wall as match stands at 5-5 (g.10)
• 2024-12-08: Ding cracks under pressure and Gukesh takes the lead (g.11)
• 2024-12-09: Ding Liren takes down Gukesh D and ties the match (g.12)

All reports continued to be signed 'IM Michael Rahal', now with the mention of 'Singapore' after his name. Adding those five games to the seven played previously gives:-

+1-1=5 after the 2nd week
+1-1=3 during the 3rd week
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+2-2=8 after the 12th game

That's where this blog will pick up for the next post with two regulation games to be played. This week's featured photo shows the official commentators at work.

'Round 11 Howell, Houska, Hou'
GM David Howell, IM Jovanka Houska, GM Hou Yifan
Photo: FIDE / Maria Emelianova

Howell and Houska have commentated on every game. Former Women's World Champion GM Hou Yifan was their guest for an extended interview during the 11th game. According to my page World Chess Championship for Women (m-w.com), Hou Yifan first won the title in 2010, then defended it three times before retiring while still reigning champion.