Gukesh strikes back, records his first classical win over Ding

The Indian teenager and Chinese world champion Ding Liren are tied on 1.5 points after Game 3, going into the first rest day

- Susan Ninan

As early as move 13 of Game 3, Ding Liren fell behind an hour on the clock, shifting in his chair, visibly uncomfortable at the position in front of him. Gukesh at the other end was a picture of calm, resting back in his chair with eyes closed. In the end, for Ding it ended up being a costly payback for the time he had frittered away. He was soon staring at the heart-stopping task of playing nine moves in two minutes. It was then down to a clutch of seconds for three moves.

The reigning world champion lost Game 3 in a wild time scramble in a difficult position as Gukesh levelled scores 1.5-1.5 in the World Championship in Singapore on Wednesday, heading into the first rest day of the match. This is also Gukesh's first-ever classical win over Ding.

"It feels great," Gukesh said, in the press conference that followed. "I just managed to outplay my opponent which is always very nice."

Ding will rue how he botched things up for himself given how he was placed after surviving the opening. The 18-year-old Indian switched openings, going from 1.e4 in Game 1 to a 1.d4 surprise in Game 3. He trotted out the rare 7.h3 with the idea of perhaps taking the game to unfamiliar terrain for his opponent. It was played by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik twice in 2023.