Official Site of the Maine Chess Association
 |
Friend of ChessMaine.net Michael Eldridge made a snap decision to head to Singapore for the FIDE 2024 World Championship Match and we're so glad he did. Michael submitted this illustrated report from the Sentosa Resort in Singapore. |
Continue reading "WCC R11: Friend of ChessMaine.net, Michael Eldridge, Reports from Singapore " »
 |
Gukesh Dommaraju defeated Ding Liren in Game 11 of the FIDE 2024 World Chess Championship to take the lead for the first time in this Match with only three games to go. In a Reti Opening, the players used copious amounts of time in the early middlegame. Gukesh took over an hour on the single move 11. g3 after which Ding bashed out 11...Nc5 and was better. The clock was a huge factor in this game--Gukesh had 25 minutes to play 25 moves--and he was under great pressure. When Ding played 15...g6, Gukesh got a second life and won when Ding blundered on move 28. |
Continue reading "WCC R11: Gukesh Scores to Take the Lead with 3 Games to Go" »
 |
Game 10 of the World Chess Championship started as a London System with Ding playing the tame 5.Be2. The game continued with a de-escalation of aggressions. It was in Ding Liren's hands to push for something more but he declined. After 14.Qxd8, Ding did not feel the need to take any risk. The game ended with a triple-repeat draw on move 36. Both players have two whites in the remaining four games. |
Continue reading "WCC R10: Game 10 Drawn, It's now a Four-Game Match" »
 |
Rather than an offbeat opening, today, the Challenger, Gukesh Dommaraju, went for a theorectically well-known line in the Catalan. The only wrinkle in the opening stage of the game was the slightly less-popular 10.Bc3. Ding navigated the complications adeptly and again we saw the World Champion get quite a bit behind on the clock only to see Gukesh's time fall below Ding's before the 40-move time control was reached. With five games remaining and the score tied at 4.5, it's a real horse race. Tomorrow is a rest day. The Match resumes on Saturday, December 7th. |
Continue reading "WCC R9: A High-Level Precise Draw, Match Tied at 4.5 with 5 Games Remaining" »
 |
This Christmas season, come celebrate your passion for chess by joining this marquee event, featuring 3 exciting main tournaments--plus one special event--grouped together in one fantastic holiday festival! Early-Bird Discounts, Special Promos, and a Drawing to win a FIDE-Compliant Triple-Weighted Chess Set make this an event you won't want to miss! Here is more information and registration details. Hope to see you in Halifax! |
 |
Yet another opening move, this time 1.c4, was essayed by Ding Liren in the 8th game of the World Chess Championship Match being played in Singapore. On Black's first novelty, 7...f6, the players were in unexplored territory. The game continued without traditional direction into positions commentators described as "chaotic anarchy." The positions resembled those found in Freestyle Chess (aka FischerRandom or Chess960) rather than what one would expect in a classical World Championship Match. After a miraculous save by Ding and some missed opportunities by Gukesh, the players shook hands to agree to a draw on move 51. |
Continue reading "WCC R8: Another Save, Another Psychological Blow; Game 8 Drawn" »
 |
In modern chess, it's so hard to surprise a top-level player in the opening. In Game 7 of the World Chess Championship, Gukesh's 7.Re1 did just that. A super-sharp position ensued. With no increment on the clocks before move 40, the whole calculus of the game changes as the clock can be even more a decisive factor than with an increment. Thinking he was completely lost and calling up incredible resources to save the game, Ding managed to hold the position under intense pressure. |
Continue reading "WCC R7: Missed Chances for Gukesh, Game 7 Ends in a Draw" »
 |
Game 6 of the World Chess Championship was an incredible display of fighting spirit, psychology, and online grit. After a Modernized 21st Century Hybrid London System opening battle in which Ding stood better, the game proceeded to a triple-repeat offer by Ding. The draw was spurned by Gukesh to the delight of his fans but then he had to struggle to hold the position. After players made the time control on move 40, they did repeat the position and shook hands on move 46. |
Continue reading "WCC R6: What a Game! A 46-move Draw, Match Tied at 3.0 Points" »
 |
Speechless, a shock, and very unexpected were terms used to describe Game 5 of the FIDE World Chess Championship. An Exchange Variation of the French Defense appeared on the board. This game represents only the second time in the history of World Chess Championship Matches that this opening was played. Gukesh made a serious error on move 23, Ding had the upper hand, and then, suddenly, the game ended in a draw. |
Continue reading "WCC R5: Speechless! Gukesh Holds a Draw" »
 |
Game 4 of the FIDE World Chess Championship was a balanced affair after an interesting, offbeat opening with 1.Nf3 and the surprising 5.Ba3. Gukesh kept everything under control and the players steered the game into a triple-repeat draw. |
Continue reading "WCC R4: Game 4 Drawn by Repetition" »
Page 6 of 150 | « Previous Page Next Page »
All content © 2004 - 2026 ChessMaine & Daniel C. DeLuca | Site design by Michael J. DeLuca
