The World Chess Championship 2024 – Gukesh vs Ding Liren is set to take place between November 25 and December 13, 2024, in Singapore. This event will feature a match between the reigning world champion, Ding Liren from China, and the challenger, Gukesh Dommaraju from India, to determine who will be the World Chess Champion 2024.
As 32 days remain to the World Chess Championship 2024, the sentiment barometer is leaning towards Gukesh being favorite. We already know who Ding Liren considers the favorite for the World Chess Championship 2024 But does Gukesh think about this himself?
World Chess Championship 2024 timeline
15.08.2024 FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 is in Singapore
16.08.2024 Record in target: Between 100 and 200 million have followed the match Anand – Carlsen on TV every day
25.08.2024 World Chess Championship 2024 and Judit Polgar’s prophecy
12.09.2024 World Chess Championship 2024 is sponsored by Google
15.09.2024 Ding Liren considers Gukesh the favorite for the World Chess Championship 2024
17.09.2024 PH Nielsen: Ding Liren is favorite for the match with Gukesh
24.09.2024 World Chess Championship 2024 tickets are on sale
28.09.2024 India win double gold at the Chess Olympiad
28.09.2024 Gukesh wins individual gold medal
22.10.2024 Ding Liren – Gukesh 2024 – the game that did not happen
Gukesh is challenger yet considered by many favorite for the World Chess Championship 2024
Gukesh has shown remarkable performance in recent tournaments, particularly his win at the 2024 Candidates Tournament and the double gold medal at the Chess Olympiad 2024. At just 17 years old, Gukesh represents the new wave of chess talent with fresh ideas and a less predictable style of play. His youth brings an element of unpredictability, which can be advantageous in a championship match. His ambitious play, willingness to push boundaries, and innovative strategies have caught the attention of everyone. Note: a win today at ECC might bring him above 2800 ELO
There is an ongoing narrative around Gukesh’s stoic demeanor during games and this psychological aspect might contribute to why he’s seen as a favorite. Ding Liren, despite being the reigning champion, has had periods out of the game, including a break after his world title win due to health issues. This, combined with Gukesh’s recent ascendance sways public and expert opinion towards Gukesh as the ‘hot favorite’.
But what does Gukesh himself think about the World Chess Championship 2024?
“I don’t really buy into these things that people say about the match,” say Gukesh. “I’m sure Ding Liren will be coming into the match with the right spirit and he’ll be trying his best. My approach is to treat every game with the utmost respect and energy and give it my best” He added, “I’m glad that people say that I am expected to win, and in general, I’m happy with my form. But it doesn’t really add any pressure. I think it’s just the pressure of playing in the World Championship. But there is no additional pressure by what people are saying. I just want to play a good game in every round and see what happens,” says Gukesh for Firstpost.
This is not the only time Gukesh has publicly acknowledged Ding Liren’s capabilities, suggesting he’s not underestimating his opponent. Ding’s experience as a world champion includes having navigated through high-pressure situations before, which is a factor Gukesh respects but also sees as a challenge to overcome with his own strengths.
