World Chess Championship scenarios: D Gukesh's path to victory and what happens if the match ends in a draw?

The 2024 World Chess Championship is currently tied at 6-6 between D Gukesh and Ding Liren. We look at possible scenarios for a Gukesh victory as the Indian GM aims to script history and what happens if the match ends in a draw?

D Gukesh vs Ding Liren: Tiebreakers will be played in World Chess Championship if scores remain tied after 14 games. Image: FIDE

We are just two games away World Chess Championship 2024 delivering a new world chess champion in D Gukesh or the title being defended by Ding Liren of China. Ding, who is the first chess world champion from China, won the World Chess Championship in 2023, after beating Russia’s Nepomniachtchi in tiebreakers.

The 32-year-old may still be required to do the same in the ongoing World Chess Championship as India’s 18-year-old chess sensation Gukesh has given a tough fight to the Chinese Grandmaster so far and the scores are tied at 6-6 after 12 games in the best-of-14-game series. In fact, Gukesh led the contest 6-5 before suffering a defeat in Game 12.

The World Chess Championship 2024 has been briefly halted on Tuesday for rest and will resume on 11 December (Wednesday) with Game 13 followed by Game 14 on 12 December (Thursday).

World Chess Championship 2024 Scenarios

Here’s a look at the possible scenarios for the remaining two games in World Chess Championship 2024.

As per FIDE’s rules, the first player to reach 7.5 points in the 14-game series will be declared the world chess champion. However, with the scores tied at 6-6 and only two games remaining, the winner will be decided in the final game.

World Chess Championship | D Gukesh on Game 12 loss to Ding Liren in World Chess Championship 2024

In the World Chess Championship 2024, a win earns one point, while a draw fetches 0.5 points. So far, both players have won two games each, earning 2 points from the wins and 4 points from the eight draws, for a total of 6 points each.

Gukesh will play with the white pieces in Game 13 and will aim for a win, which would take his tally to 7 points. A draw in Game 14 would then be enough for him to become the new chess world champion.

Liren, on the other hand, will have the white pieces in the final Game 14. Even if he loses Game 13, he can still force tiebreakers by winning the final game, ending the championship with a 7-7 score.

Essentially, one win and one draw would be sufficient for either player to clinch the World Chess Championship 2024.

Why playing with white pieces is an advantage in classical chess game?

The first move in a chess game is made by the player who has white pieces. This allows the player with white pieces to decide the opening move and control the game, while the player with black pieces is generally forced to defend at the start.

What happens if World Chess Championship 2024 ends in a draw?

If the scores remain tied in the World Chess Championship 2024 after 14 games then tiebreakers will be played.

The World Chess Championship 2024 tiebreakers will be played on 13 December (Friday).

Tiebreakers format:

Rapid Match: Four games, each with a time control of 15 minutes per player and a 10-second increment per move. The first player to reach 2.5 points is declared the winner.

Mini Rapid Match (if tied): A two-game series with 10 minutes per player and a 5-second increment per move. The first to score 1.5 points wins.

Blitz Match (if still tied): Two games with a time control of 3 minutes per player and a 2-second increment per move. The first to reach 1.5 points wins.

Sudden Death Blitz (if still tied): Single blitz games with 3 minutes per player and a 2-second increment per move, alternating colors until one player wins a game.

Before each mini-match, a draw is conducted to decide which player starts with the white pieces.