World Championship Game 9: A high quality battle
The ninth game was a high quality one where neither player gave an inch to their opponent at FIDE World Championship Match 2024, presented by Google. Both players agreed to the fact that precise play was observed from both sides. A perfect chess game is draw. So that is what happened today. With five more games to go, neither player wants to think about tie-breaks, or even to the idea of having tie-breaks before the Classical match. According to Gukesh, it doesn't make sense as one can win the tie-breaks then draw all Classical games to win the match. That certainly takes away the excitement instead of generating more. Tomorrow is a rest day. Game 10 starts on Saturday 7th December at 5 p.m. local time, 2:30 p.m. IST. Photo: FIDE/Maria Emelianova
Precise play
"I think it was just a very precise game from both my sides. Maybe I had some edge after 16.Ba5, maybe 20.Qb5 was a bit too fast. I thought this Qb5 was working concretely but I think 20...Rxa2 21.Nxb6 Qa7 and 22...Rb8 was very precise. 23.dxc5 Ra6 24.Qb5 Bxc5 after that I guess I didn't play precisely but it should be a draw." - D Gukesh's impression on Game 9.
"It means we are at a same strength. No one is clear better at this match. So it's going to be tough to win." - Ding Liren after the conclusion of nine games
"So far it's been a very interesting match. A few missed chances for me and a few missed chances for him. We have both shown fighting spirit and some entertaining chess. Five more exciting games to go." - D Gukesh.
I think generally it was a high quality game - Ding Liren
Gukesh - Ding Liren: 0.5-0.5
D Gukesh opted for 1.d4 for the second time in this match, after winning Game 3 with 1.d4. However, this time we saw a Catalan opening.
"I held out pressure out of the opening. I know this was played by Giri. He always has some ideas in the opening. I just forgot which was the line I checked. I was thinking c5 must be played, otherwise he has c5 and the structure is very diverse for Black. 13...c5 after that I think White is slightly better. 14.bxc5 bxc5 Here he can also take with the pawn 15.dxc5 Qxc5 just slightly better for White. This came as a surprise. I have many moves Rab8, Qb6. I don't like 15...Rab8 16.Qa1 my queen doesn't have a good square... 15.Qb2 Nb6 16.Ba5 dxc4 17.Nxc4 after the game my second told me that I can actually take here Nxc4 18.Rxc4 Qxa5 19.Qxb7 this is what I missed when I played Nb6. Here I calculated 19...Bf8, Nd5 and Kf8 but not Nd7 would have kept the game going. Black is not worse at all. I think generally it was a high quality game." - Ding Liren's overview of the game.
"I considered both 19.Ne5 and e3. It should give a small edge I think. Yeah 19.Ne5 I thought he can go Bf8. I should have done this or e3. When I played 20.Qb5 I just missed this idea, that he can go 21...Qa7 and 22...Rb8. There were lot of tricks in the position but somehow it's just working concretely for Black. Maybe 19.Ne5 is the right way but anyway it should be equal with precise play." - The Challenger shared his thought on whether he considered 20.Ne5 instead of Qb5 which he played in the game.
Photo Gallery
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.