The Turning Point: World Chess Championship Games 7 and 8

Game 7: A Rollercoaster Battle

• Lichess study link: Game 7
• Video analysis: Watch on YouTube

The seventh game opened with the g3 Grünfeld Defense, where Gukesh surprised everyone with the unconventional 7.Re1. Though it seemed illogical at first, this move paid off when Ding Liren's 7...dxc4 allowed Gukesh to seize control of the center with 8.e4.
This positional advantage, combined with Liren's missed opportunity to consolidate his extra pawn with 9...b5, gave Gukesh the upper hand. Later, Ding failed to equalize with the standard plan involving c4 and Nc5-d3, opting instead for the passive 18...Nf8, which allowed Gukesh to maintain a significant advantage.
In the endgame, Ding had the chance to establish a fortress and a strong blockading knight with Nc8-d6. But instead he blundered the h-pawn 40. - Ke5?

Gukesh missed several winning opportunities, including the simplest path involving 44.Bxe4, transitioning into a straightforward rook endgame, after 44. - fxe4 45. Rc5+ Ke6 46. g4 and Rf5 K to f4 and queen the h pawn. Instead, he played passively, allowing Ding to get counterplay and secure a draw after a hard-fought battle.

Game 8: A Tactical Tug-of-War

• Lichess study link: Game 8
• Video analysis: Watch on YouTube

The eighth game saw Ding Liren choose the English Opening, and Gukesh responded with an unusual yet effective line, quickly equalizing. The middle game became sharp and tactical, marked by mutual inaccuracies.
A critical moment came when Ding played 22.Rb1, allowing Gukesh to expand on the queenside and capture the a-pawn.

Gukesh had a golden opportunity to solidify his advantage by playing 26...Nac5?, instead of 26....Ndc5 which would have left White defenseless against Black's advancing a- and b-pawns. Unfortunately, he moved the wrong knight to c5, leaving himself vulnerable to a pin (Bd4->Nc5->Qb6). It would have been easier to get out of the pin, if white didn't have Bh3 tactics against Nd7.
It was still possible for Gukesh to draw if he had played 28. - a4 or b4 instead of 28. - Be6?
Ding Liren missed a winning shot with 31.Ne1, with d4 coming winning a piece. Instead, he chose a simpler but less decisive path Nd4-c6, winning an exchange but failing to convert the advantage into a full point.
In a surprising turn, Ding offered a draw, but Gukesh, eager to press for a win, declined. However, the game eventually ended in a repetition of moves, reflecting the psychological strain and competitive spirit of the match.

The Struggle Between Two Brains

These games underline the psychological intensity of a world championship. Ding Liren appears content with achieving draws and playing conservatively, a strategy that may protect him from overextending but risks missing opportunities. On the other hand, Gukesh’s determination to win every game shows remarkable ambition, but his overzealousness could lead to critical mistakes.
As the score remains even, the match is finely poised. With five games left, the dynamics between Ding's solid approach and Gukesh's aggressive style promise thrilling chess ahead. Can Gukesh finally convert his promising positions, or will Ding’s experience and composure prevail?