D Gukesh Vs Ding Liren Highlights, World Chess Championship: Game 7 Ends In A Draw

The game 7 ends in a draw. Not what the doctor ordered for Gukesh, after having a slight advantage.

A fighting draw for the Chinese who makes sure the World Championship will still be tied at 3.5-3.5 after the seventh round.

Game 1 - November 25, 2024 - Ding Liren beat Gukesh

Game 2 - November 26, 2024 - Round ended in a draw

Game 3 - November 27, 2024 - Gukesh beat Ding Liren

Rest Day - November 28, 2024 - Thursday 

Game 4 - November 29, 2024 - Round ended in a draw

Game 5 - November 30, 2024 - Round ended in a draw

Game 6 - December 1, 2024 - Round ended in a draw

Rest Day - December 2, 2024 - Monday 

Game 7 - December 3, 2024 - ??

Where to watch the D. Gukesh vs Ding Liren World Chess Championship 2024 game 7?

The World Chess Championship 2024 match between Gukesh and Ding will be streamed on FIDE social media handles (YouTube, Twitch), Chess.com social media handles (YouTube, Twitch) etc.

Gukesh said he did not feel any real danger during the sixth game.

“I knew this position till Rb8 (Black’s 16th move) and even though I did not know (the next) I thought maybe I am slightly worse but it should be really hard to convert it with white because you cannot push the queen side pawns easily and I always have play on his king.

"I wasn’t really that worried at any point," Gukesh said in the post-game conference.

Asked to compare the world championship with other strong events, Gukesh said, “It’s probably the toughest event in chess, obviously there is more at stake but other than that its just a very interesting and long match against a very strong opponent, and at the end of the day we are still playing chess.

"It has been good so far, I still can improve my play, there are a lot more games, considering I was trailing after the first game I am happy to be here, it is too early," Gukesh remarked when asked if he was satisfied with his play thus far.

Both players are at the chess table. We will have the ceremonial moves first then the main game will get underway.

Gukesh starts with Nf3 and Ding responds with d5.

A rapid move from Gukesh. The Indian completes five moves inside a minute.

1. Nf3 d5 

2. g3 g6

3. d4 Bg7

4. c4 c6

5. Bg2 Nf6 

6. O-O O-O

The next move is 7 Re1

The Chinese is still thinking for his seventh move. D Gukesh has already played his rook to e1 in his last move.

1. Nf3 d5

2. g3 g6

3. d4 Bg7

4. c4 c6

5. Bg2 Nf6

6. O-O O-O

7. Re1 dxc4

8. e4 Bg4

9. Nbd2 c5

1 Nf3 d5

2 g3 g6

3 d4 Bg7

4 c4 c6

5 Bg2 Nf6

6 O-O O-O

7 Re1 dxc4

8 e4 Bg4

9 Nbd2 c5

10 d5 e6

11 h3 Bxf3

12 Bxf3

Gukesh takes back the extra pawn from the Chinese GM with his knight to do a c4 move but before that the Chinese makes a vital move - Knight bd7 - the prime move for that position.

1. Nf3 d5

2. g3 g6

3. d4 Bg7

4. c4 c6

5. Bg2 Nf6

6. O-O O-O

7. Re1 dxc4

8. e4 Bg4

9. Nbd2 c5

10. d5 e6

11. h3 Bxf3

12. Bxf3 exd5

13. exd5 Nbd7

14. Nxc4 b5

15. Na3 Qb6

Gukesh has spent 31.7% of his total time with his eyes closed during Game 7 of the FIDE World Championship. The 18-year-old currently has almost an hour more on the clock: 1h36 against 41 minutes.

"I don't like his time management, to be honest, because for me, the less time I have on the clock, the more stressful it is. And especially when you don't have increment, it's very scary, but Ding is used to doing that. He speeds up. When he is in this rapid time control, he speeds up."

1. Nf3 d5
2. g3 g6
3. d4 Bg7
4. c4 c6
5. Bg2 Nf6
6. O-O O-O
7. Re1 dxc4
8.e4 Bg4
9. Nbd2 c5
10. d5
11. h3 Bxf3
12. Bxf3 exd5
13. exd5
14. Nxc4 b5
15. Na3 Qb6
16. Bf4
17. Qd2 Rd8

18-year-old Gukesh has played c4 and has used up 18 minutes 30 seconds for that!

The current world champion has used over 95 mins and has less than 25 mins to make his next 20 moves to reach the all-important 40th move.

1 Nf3 d5
2 g3 g6
3 d4 Bg7
4 c4 c6
5 Bg2 Nf6
6 O-O O-O
7 Re1 dxc4
8 e4 Bg4
9 Nbd2 c5
10 d5 e6
11 h3 Bxf3
12 Bxf3 exd5
13 exd5 Nbd7
14 Nxc4 b5
15 Na3 Qb6
16 Bf4 Rfe8
17 Qd2 Rad8
18 Nc2 Nf8
19 b4 c4
20 Be3 Qa6

Ding Liren starting to crumble under pressure. He has 16 mins to make 15 moves and does a full pawn move on the board. But the Indian, with white pieces on board, has 40 mins for his 20 moves.

After using over 20 minutes, Gukesh finally manages to find the best move in this position -- rook to a5.

Chinese GM plays Qd3 which is a mistake but Gukesh makes a Qf4 and is even a far bad move at this point. However, the white has a better position. But the clock situation looks almost adjacent on both sides.

"So bad black playing today. Everything wrong from some point, seemingly, and slow in addition. Sorry for Ding, he is a good player normally,but this is just kindergarten. I don't use computer help but after Bc3 for example doesnt seem great for him," posted Kramnik on X.

Phew! Just before the time ran out, Ding Liren plays king to e5 on the board. It is not the best move and the Indian will need to capitalise from here.

Gukesh has gone past the 40-move time control, thus earning himself a bonus of 30 more minutes on the clock. The 18-year-old celebrates it by walking off to his private lounge.

And the Chinese GM makes his next move. He is down to seven seconds on the clock before the 40th move and receives 30 more mins.

Susan Polgar points out that Ding Liren had made an inaccuracy on move 40. "Ding played inaccurately on his 40th move. Now Gukesh is in control again. It will be difficult to hold again. The h pawn may prove deadly," she posted. 

16 mins and counting for the Chinese GM who looks in a bad position to hold his position. Gukesh, on the other hand, looks solid.

Ding has played f6 and it’s Gukesh’s turn to ponder on his next move.

1 Nf3 d5
2 g3 g6
3 d4 Bg7
4 c4 c6
5 Bg2 Nf6
6 O-O O-O
7 Re1 dxc4
8 e4 Bg4
9 Nbd2 c5
10 d5 e6
11 h3 Bxf3
12 Bxf3 exd5
13 exd5 Nbd7
14 Nxc4 b5
15 Na3 Qb6
16 Bf4 Rfe8
17 Qd2 Rad8
18 Nc2 Nf8
19 b4 c4
20 Be3 Qa6
21 Bd4 Rxe1+
22 Rxe1 Qxa2
23 Ra1 Qb3
24 Ra3 Qb1+
25 Kg2 Rd7
26 Ra5 Qb3
27 Ra3 Qb1
28 Ra5 Qb3
29 Rxb5 Qd3
30 Qf4 Qxc2
31 Bxf6 Qf5
32 Qxf5 gxf5
33 Bxg7 Kxg7
34 Rc5 Ng6
35 Rxc4 Ne5
36 Rd4 Nc6
37 Rf4 Ne7
38 b5 Kf6
39 Rd4 h6
40 Kf1 Ke5
41 Rh4 Nxd5
42 Rxh6 Nc3
43 Rc6 Ne4
44 Ke1 f6
45 h4 Rd3

Ding Liren has played an incredible defence and has somehow managed to fight in this game after being behind. The chances of a draw are far more than that of Gukesh winning from here now.