World Chess Championship 2024 Game 13 Highlights, D Gukesh vs Ding Liren: Game 13 ends in draw, scores tied at 6.5-6.5

It was a 5-hour long match today and here’s how everything transpired.

Game 13 of the World Championship ended in a draw: Gukesh and Ding are now tied at 6.5-6.5 going into the final game tomorrow! https://t.co/wJvooFiQ5a #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/krMf18Bruz

— lichess.org (@lichess) December 11, 2024

One more game to go tomorrow. Whoever wins Game 14 will win the Championship. In case of a draw, tiebreakers will be played on Friday.

Here’s a look at the final board position.

All the moves from Game 13 which ended in a draw:

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e5 Nfd7
5. Nce2 c5
6. c3 Nc6
7. a3 Be7
8. Be3 Nb6
9. Nf4 cxd4
10. cxd4 Nc4
11. Bxc4 dxc4
12. Nge2 b5
13. O-O O-O
14. Nc3 Rb8
15. Nh5 f5
16. exf6 Bxf6
7. Qf3 Qe8
18. Nxf6+ Rxf6
19. Qe2 Qg6
20. f3 Rf8
21. Rad1 Ne7
22. Bf4 Rb6
23. Bc7 Rb7
24. Bd6 Re8
25. Bxe7 Rexe7
26. Qe5 a6
27. d5 exd5
28. Qxd5+ Qe6
29. Qc5 Re8
30. Rde1 Qf7
31. Ne4 Rf8
32. Nd6 Rc7
33. Qe5 Qf6
34. Qd5+ Kh8
35. Re5 Re7
36. Rfe1 Rxe5
37. Rxe5 h6
38. Qc5 Bd7
39. Ne4 Qf4
40. Re7 Bf5
41. Qd4 Rg8
42. h3 Qc1+
43. Kf2 Bxe4
44. Rxe4 c3
45. bxc3 Qxa3
46. Kg3 Qb3
47. Re7 a5
48. Rb7 Qc4
49. Qe5 Qc6
50. Qxb5 Qxc3
51. Ra7 Qe1+
52. Kh2 Qb4
53. Qxb4 axb4
54. Rb7 Ra8
55. Rxb4 Ra2
56. Kg3 Kh7
57. Rb5 Kg6
58. f4 Kf6
59. Kf3 Rc2
60. g3 Rc3+
61. Kg4 Ra3
62. h4 Rc3
63. Rb6+ Kf7
64. f5 h5+
65. Kf4 Rc4+
66. Kf3 Rc3+
67. Kf4 Rc4+
68. Kf3 Rc3+

Draw! Game 13 ends in a draw! The Championship is now tied at 6.5-6.5.

Over 20 moves have been made since the extra time was added and a new sheet has been provided to the players to record their moves. It’s been a long match but difficult to see how white can win here.

As per chess.com, almost all of the matches with this board position have ended in a draw.

Queens are exchanged by both the players as they collect a Pawn each.

The last 6 moves:

50. Qxb5 Qxc3
51. Ra7 Qe1+
52. Kh2 Qb4
53. Qxb4 axb4
54. Rb7 Ra8
55. Rxb4 Ra2

How the tables have turned! The draw can come anytime but Liren, who was trailing all this while, can also attempt for a win. The lack of time, however, can be an issue. Gukesh currently has just nine minutes.

Current position on the board after 49 moves are completed by both players.

40. Re7 Bf5
41. Qd4 Rg8
42. h3 Qc1+
43. Kf2 Bxe4
44. Rxe4 c3
45. bxc3 Qxa3
46. Kg3 Qb3
47. Re7 a5
48. Rb7 Qc4
49. Qe5 Qc6

It’s difficult to see how Ding loses the match from here. The Chinese GM had done really well here after the eval bar gave a significant advantage to Gukesh after 25 moves were done.

All the moves since bonus time was added:

40. Re7 Bf5
41. Qd4 Rg8
42. h3 Qc1+
43. Kf2 Bxe4
44. Rxe4 c3
45. bxc3 Qxa3
46. Kg3 Qb3
47. Re7 a5
48. Rb7

Gukesh loses a Knight on e4 before capturing the black Bishop with his Rook. Also, Pawn capture for both players. Gukesh also loses a Pawn a3 with Ding taking it with his black Queen.

Last few moves:

40. Re7 Bf5
41. Qd4 Rg8
42. h3 Qc1+
43. Kf2 Bxe4
44. Rxe4 c3
45. bxc3 Qxa3
46. Kg3

Ding has done very well so far, to stay in the game and it seems like the match is heading towards a draw.

41. Qd4 Rg8
42. h3 Qc1+

40. Re7 Bf5

And extra time has been added to both players’ quotas.

The last nine moves:

30. Rde1 Qf7
31. Ne4 Rf8
32. Nd6 Rc7
33. Qe5 Qf6
34. Qd5+ Kh8
35. Re5 Re7
36. Rfe1 Rxe5
37. Rxe5 h6
38. Qc5 Bd7
39. Ne4 Qf4

We are close to getting bonus time.

Ding defends by taking Rook to f8 and the computer feels it’s a solid move. Gukesh is not looking very happy, maybe he miscalculated something.

Excellent play from Gukesh as he takes Rook to e8 forcing black Queen to go to f2 from e3 followed by Gukesh playing Ne4.

Ding has responded with Re8 on his 29th move. Gukesh is on the clock now and while he has over 16 minutes to go, Ding only has 8 left.

Moves are flying here as both players capture a Pawn each. One mistake and the game can end here for Ding.

Last few moves:

27. d5 exd5
28. Qxd5+ Qe6
29. Qc5

Did you think Ding would take Q to d5? We thought at least but Ding has opted for a6. Gukesh has some thinking to do here.

Ding has 15 moves to make in about 15 minutes! He lost Game 3 on time and wouldn’t want to repeat that today. We can see a lot of quick moves coming up.

Gukesh captures the Knight with his white Bishop (Bxe7) but Ding responds by using the Rook for Rexe7. Gukesh pushed his Queen forward on the next move to e5.

Black Rook goes to B7 to threaten the white Bishop on c2 followed by Gukesh playing Bd6. The next move from Ding is Re8.

All the moves so far:

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e5 Nfd7
5. Nce2 c5
6. c3 Nc6
7. a3 Be7
8. Be3 Nb6
9. Nf4 cxd4
10. cxd4 Nc4
11. Bxc4 dxc4
12. Nge2 b5
13. O-O O-O
14. Nc3 Rb8
15. Nh5 f5
16. exf6 Bxf6
7. Qf3 Qe8
18. Nxf6+ Rxf6
19. Qe2 Qg6
20. f3 Rf8
21. Rad1 Ne7
22. Bf4 Rb6
23. Bc7

No wonder Ding went for N67 on his 21st move to defend his King while Gukesh plays Bf4. The computer likes it a lot.

The reply from Ding is Rb6 followed by Gukesh pushing his white Bishop to c7.

The 21.Rad1 from Gukesh has left Ding with another big decision here. GM Peter Leko feels the black pieces are in bad shape. He fears the worst is possible for Ding.

Queens have exchanged positions again with Ding’s queen coming to g6. Meanwhile, the Chinese GM has also taken Rook back to f1.

Last few moves:

19. Qe2 Qg6
20. f3 Rf8
21. Rad1

Gukesh spends some time thinking about his next move, 21 minutes to be exact. He finally moves exf6, whereas Ding Liren only spends 16 seconds in moving Bxf6.

Gukesh uses en passant to take the black Pawn that was on f5 as he moves his Pawn to f6. Ding captures the pawn with black Bishop.

Guksh is stuck on the clock right bow after Ding went for f5 which in all honestly was a good move, allowing the Chinese GM to get an extra piece in the middle of the board. Ding is chilling in the restroom.

Wow! This game is so unique. It’s not Qd4 but Nh5 that Gukesh opts for and look at the structure! Gukesh lost a lot of time in the last few moves but he still has over 30 minutes advantage over Ding.

Ding’s latest move is f5.

As predicted it’s Nc3 from Gukesh while Ding responds with a Rb8. Qd4 could be Gukesh’s next move. What do you think?

All the moves so far:

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e5 Nfd7
5. Nce2 c5
6. c3 Nc6
7. a3 Be7
8. Be3 Nb6
9. Nf4 cxd4
10. cxd4 Nc4
11. Bxc4 dxc4
12. Nge2 b5
13. O-O O-O
14. Nc3 Rb8

Gukesh has been on the clock for a while now, losing over 11 minutes. One possibility is Nc3 which will also free up his white Queen.

Gukesh has already built his attack and got pieces in the middle, while Ding is still pretty deep on his own side. The structure currently favours Gukesh for sure.

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e5 Nfd7
5. Nce2 c5
6. c3 Nc6
7. a3 Be7
8. Be3 Nb6
9. Nf4 cxd4
10. cxd4 Nc4
11. Bxc4 dxc4
12. Nge2 b5
13. O-O O-O

Nge2 is on the board by Gukesh after losing  Bishop and Ding responds with b5. Gukesh is back on the clock. He has over 45 minutes advantage there.

Gukesh takes the bold step and uses his white Bishop to capture the black Knight on c4. Ding responds by capturing the Bishop with his pawn which was on d5.

Some natural moves here as both players make a Pawn capture each on d4 before Ding plays black Knight to c4. No quick reply from Gukesh which means he is out of his prep. Let the game begin.

It’s Nb6 from Ding. He took quite a while for the move and Gukesh quickly replies with Nf4.

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e5 Nfd7
5. Nce2 c5
6. c3 Nc6
7. a3 Be7
8. Be3 Nb6
9. Nf4

Isn’t Short Castle the most obvious move here? Probably yes, but things are never as simple as they look. Ding is clearly not happy with 8.Be3, however, he is losing a lot of time. Now 45 minutes behind Gukesh.

With 7…Be7 and 8.Be3, we have a completely new position on the board.

A chess novelty here from Ding as he goes Be7 after a3 by Gukesh. This is quite logical as Ding is looking to come out. Gukesh replies with Be3.

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e5 Nfd7
5. Nce2 c5
6. c3 Nc6
7. a3 Be7
8. Be3

Ding is still on the lock after Gukesh played a rare 7.a3 move.

7.a3 is quite rare. Any idea how rare? The 7.a3 was first played by Frank Marshall in 1927. Gukesh’s idea is to have a variation for which Ding is not prepared but only time will prove how effective it is going to be. Ding is losing time on clock currently, already around 10 minutes behind Gukesh.

The moves are flying here! It’s a French Defense opening followed by Classical, Steinitz Variation.

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e5 Nfd7
5. Nce2 c5
6. c3 Nc6
7. a3

Gukesh has opted for a French defense opening, the same as Game 1. We are in for a thrilling battle.

Opening moves:

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Nf6

As always, Gukesh is meditating ahead of Game 12, probably trying to remember his preparation.

As always, Gukesh is meditating ahead of Game 12, probably trying to remember his preparation.

Here’s how Ding stunned Gukesh and made a comeback in the World Chess Championship 2024. He took just 39 moves to win Game 12.

Ding with the comeback! 😮 Gukesh resigned in a hopeless position before mate! 6-6 with only 2 more games to play in the World Championship! https://t.co/H6twdJmLHu #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/8z1kQ1MJH2

— lichess.org (@lichess) December 9, 2024