D Gukesh takes 3rd game to level on points with Ding Liren in World Chess Championship 2024

"It feels great. The last two days I was happy with my play. My play today was even better, I feel good at the board and today I just managed to outplay my opponent which is always nice," Gukesh told reporters after 3rd round win.

Gukesh Dommaraju registered an impressive win in the third game of the World Chess Championship 2024 final on Wednesday and levelled the score with defending champion Ding Liren. Indian grandmaster finally managed to win his first game in the final and levelled the score to 1.5 points against his Chinese opponent.

The 18-year-old Indian challenger lost the opening game while playing with black pieces which came as a shock of a result against out-of-form Liren. Gukesh was quick to recover and drew in the second game and then continued his rise with an easy win in the third game in Singapore.

Indian grandmaster started with white pieces on Wednesday and was quick to take control of the board. The 3rd round lasted for just 37 moves and Gukesh was dominating the clock after just 13 moves into the play.

Liren ran out of time after the 37th move and was forced to quit. This was the first time in the 21st century that any player ran out of time in the World Chess Championship game.

After recording his first win over Liren, Gukesh seemed relieved in the post-match press conference and talked about getting back into the winning ways.

"It’s always nice to win a game, also for the first against such a strong opponent," Gukesh told reporters. "I think it means more that I got a win in the World Championship and a very important win. I am happy with many things about this.

"I think it’s also understandable since it was my first game at the World Championship. I was a bit nervous. It’s a new setting for me.For example, even Magnus. In his first World Championship, he wasn’t at his best at the start. I think it is a very normal reaction, and I was okay with that. It was a bad game, but I was generally feeling good. I thought even though I was nervous, it wasn’t too much to handle. I felt good; it was a bad game, but I always knew once I settle in, I will get back my rhythm."

Gukesh was tipped as clear favourites against the struggling Liren prior to the Championship match and the Indian grandmaster proved them right with a dominating win in the third game. He is expected to take the lead and maintain it in the upcoming matches in Singapore.