Sports

Ding Liren Accused Of Losing World Championship To Gukesh ‘Deliberately’

Russian Chess Federation President Andrei Filatov has accused China’s Ding Liren of deliberately losing the final game of the World Chess Championship to India’s D Gukesh. The decisive match was played in Singapore, where Gukesh became the youngest-ever world champion at 18. Ukrainian chess coach Peter Heine Nielsen highlighted a report from a Russian news agency quoting Filatov, who urged FIDE to investigate the matter.

“The result of the last game caused bewilderment among professionals and chess fans,” Filatov stated. “The actions of the Chinese chess player in the decisive segment are extremely suspicious and require a separate investigation by FIDE. Losing the position in which Ding Liren was in is difficult even for a first-class player. The defeat of the Chinese chess player in today’s game raises a lot of questions and looks like a deliberate one.”

The controversy stems from the 14th and final game of the championship, which was poised for a draw. Under intense time pressure, Ding made a crucial misstep in a tense endgame. His attempt to mobilize his king and rooks for a draw backfired, leading to a simplification of the position that favored Gukesh. With more active pieces and a superior pawn structure, Gukesh secured victory.

Kramnik Critiques the Championship’s Quality

Former world champion Vladimir Kramnik joined the criticism, expressing disappointment over the quality of play. He described Ding’s blunder as “childish” and lamented the standard of the match.

In his reaction on social media, Kramnik stated, “No comment. Sad. End of chess as we know it.” He further added, “Never yet has a WC title been decided by such a childish one-move blunder.”

Kramnik also criticized earlier games in the championship, notably Game 6, calling it “weak.” He remarked, “Frankly, I am very disappointed by today’s game (Game 6). Even Game 5 was not extremely high level, but today it was really — for a professional — it was really weak play from both players. It’s a very disappointing level.”

Gukesh’s Historic Achievement

Despite the criticisms, Gukesh’s win marks a historic moment for Indian chess, solidifying his place as the youngest world champion and bringing new attention to the sport in India. While the debate over the championship’s quality continues, Gukesh’s achievement stands as a milestone in his young career.

anirudh

Recent Posts

World’s Oldest 3D Map, Dating Back 20,000 Years, Found In Cave Near Paris

A groundbreaking discovery in the Ségognole 3 cave near Paris revealed what may be the…

11 mins ago

California Governor Suspends Environmental Laws To Speed Up Rebuilding After Devastating Wildfires

California Governor Gavin Newsom declares key environmental laws suspended to rebuild faster in wildfire areas.…

26 mins ago

Elon Musk’s Influence Looms Over Canadian Politics Amid Trudeau’s Resignation

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to step down as leader of the Liberal Party…

34 mins ago

UK Must Stand Behind Trump’s Economic Sanctions On Iran: Report

A report calls on the UK to back Donald Trump's maximum economic sanctions on Iran,…

46 mins ago

Techie Sparks Debate Over ₹3.6 LPA Starter Salary: Is It Acceptable?

A techie's statement that a starting salary of ₹3.6 LPA is acceptable for graduates from…

56 mins ago

Meghan’s Netflix Show Delayed Due To LA Wildfires: Check Out The Possible New Date

The devastating wildfires in Los Angeles have delayed Meghan Markle's Netflix series, which was earlier…

1 hour ago