12.8.24 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.

FIDE 2024 World Chess Championship Match

Singapore

December 8, 2024
I made a quick decision to go to Singapore. I'd never been off the continent--I've been to Canada and to Mexico and this was kind of crazy. It's so far away with a stop in Hong Kong and then Singapore two of the most beautiful airports I've ever seen. So much to see I didn't even go in places I just took pictures of places for the most part and ate a lot of food in the so-called Hawker centers and visited Chinatown in Little India.

I have become more of a chess bum or groupie of late and I don't play these days. I went to Toronto for the candidates as well and enjoyed it.

It was very humid and about 85°, which made it very difficult.

I had no favorite but what I was hoping for was that the real Ding would come out to play from 2019 as his results of late have been terrible. I wasn't disappointed with this fighting spirit.

The match situation was so tense especially with Ding spending a lot of time but often coming up with the correct responses. My opinion is that he plays in match play at least like Petrosian, looking to nullify any play that his opponent might have and happily going for draws (sometimes unnecessarily so). Gukesh has been the aggressor and we see that his team seems to have been better prepared for this match with a number of novelties. With the match score now as of this morning being 6 to 5 Gukesh seems poised for a win. Of course we all witnessed the slugfest between Ding and Nepo. This match has been anything but that, except in the first few rounds. It looked like we would get one of those. We will see.

The playing hall is quite fantastic I guess they constructed it just within the last few months. You can see the glass shielding for the players. And the darkness of the hall presents a theater like impression. For the first 30 minutes you're allowed in there with cameras to take shots. Of course the players cannot see the audience. After that, you have to return your phone and other articles that might communicate or make noise and you can go back into the playing hall. I find that I was more at home in the open area with all the analysis by different people offered up by FIDE and so just took advantage of the first 30 minutes to go in and sit for a bit and then go out.

You can see that Vishy Anand gave a simul but I don't know what the result was.

Unfortunately, I was not able to catch the players walking into the hall but was able to get an autograph which has been my thing lately. I don't do selfies with players :)

Strangely, I did not attend Round 9 although I had a ticket. The humidity got to me and I found that I would more enjoy watching online and hanging out at Merlion Park which is beautiful. 

So I witnessed three draws and one from the park/hotel. I am not retired yet and so have to keep working and cut the visit short but I think that it was time to go.

I'm looking to see Ding fight back yet again!

Outside the playing hall 

There is no shortage of commentators giving their opinions on the position, the game at hand, and the Match. 

Through the Looking Glass: the gallery observes the players through one-way mirrors. 

The audience is allowed to take photos for the first 30 minutes of each game. 

Google is the presenting sponsor of the 2024 World Championship Match. 

Former World Champion, the great Vishy Anand, gave a simultaneous display at the venue. 

The Match continues with Game 12 on Monday, December 9th at 4:00 a.m. eastern (5:00 p.m. local time in Singapore).

Livestream, Schedule, Current Match Score and More:
>> Official Site of the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship <<

>> Replay Game 11 <<