2024 Chess World Championship - The ultimate decider for The Best Chess Player; a fight for fame, pride, glory and recognition.
The 2024 World Chess Championship is unique; For the first time in its 138-year history - it features two Asian competitors, a first for the event.
This event plays a significant role in the World of chess and dictates who takes the fame, pride and the highly respected title of "World Champion."
Reigning champion Ding Liren of China faces 18-year-old Indian prodigy Dommaraju Gukesh - the youngest person ever to take part in the tournament.
If not historical, the generational clash between the experienced Ding Liren and the talented Gukesh might become quite entertaining and closely contested.
Ding Liren's experience and strategic approach against Gukesh's youthful dynamism and very aggressive style - enable chess lovers to witness the attacking style of play, they have always requested.
But that is only the tip of the iceberg.
The match-up between Gukesh and Ding will be intense as both players enter the room with their advantages and disadvantages.
2024 has been promising for Gukesh. It has played a significant part in building his chess career and increasing his FIDE rating.
Since the Tata Steel Chess Tournament in January of 2024, it has only been uphill for Gukesh. He gained over 60 rating points and reached a rating of 2783 ELO - the fifth-highest rating currently.
At the Candidates Tournament 2024 for qualification into the World Chess Championship, Gukesh lost only once out of the 14 games and dominated the tournament despite playing against the likes of Fabiano Caruana and Hikaru Nakamura (World No. 2 and 3).
On the other hand, Ding Liren has not been his best and has lost more than 90 points since the World Chess Championship in 2023.
Whilst the form he is in makes Gukesh the favourite, Ding definitely should not be underestimated.
Having defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi in 2023, he became the World Chess Champion and dethroned the favourite for the title.
The head-to-head record between Gukesh and Ding favours Ding 2.5 - 1.5, providing him the edge over Gukesh.
Should Ding reclaim his form, his experience and strategies could effectively navigate through the plans devised by the young prodigy, posing Gukesh an even more substantial threat.
The Journey of both players to the top has been phenomenal but only one can win the glory and the title of "The World Champion of the Year 2024"
As cited earlier, if Gukesh wins, he will be the youngest World Chess Champion at 18—surpassing Garry Kasparov, who accomplished this feat at 22.
If Ding wins it, he would be the first Chinese to win the tournament twice - but also could start a new era - dominating the Chess World.
But for now, only time will tell if Gukesh will make History or if Ding will start a new era of Chess domination.
The event dates: 25th November 2024 - 15th December 2024
