Who Will Win The World Championship? Vidit, Giri Predict Gukesh Dominance Over Ding

GMs Anish Giri and Vidit Gujrathi consider GM Gukesh Dommaraju a big favorite to defeat the reigning World Champion GM Ding Liren.

The two friends shared their candid predictions for the 2024 FIDE World Championship, set to begin in Singapore on November 25, in a conversation with Chess.com's IM Danny Rensch. The video was released on YouTube on Wednesday.

The grandmaster predictions will not be a huge shock to chess fans, as Ding admitted in an interview released this week that he is worried about losing his title "very badly."

"Clearly I will be the underdog approaching this match. I hope I can become a totally different player and at least give him a fight to slow down his pace... to have some winning chances," the World Champion said.

Vidit said: “Ding has been struggling so much. It's a pity that he hasn’t found even a glimpse of his earlier self. That's the worrying part. At least if there was some tournament where he would show a spark of the old Ding, it would inspire some confidence. But I didn't see it since he became world champion."

Ding has been struggling so much. It's a pity that he hasn’t found even a glimpse of his earlier self. That's the worrying part.

—Vidit Gujrathi

While 18-year-old Gukesh, the youngest challenger for the undisputed title in history, has risen to world number-five, won the FIDE Candidates Tournament and been a key player in India's gold medal triumph in the FIDE Chess Olympiad, Ding's performances have been remarkably poor. The 32-year-old now finds himself ranked 23rd in the world, mired in a winless streak of 28 classical games. That includes a challenging Olympiad where he managed seven draws and one loss.

"The games he had were so rough," Giri remarked, predicting the match will end early. "I don’t think it’ll be close. But of course, Ding still makes his moves. Gukesh will be nervous, but I think Gukesh will win, like plus three or something, with a couple of games to go."

Vidit agreed, speculating, “I think the first three games will be drawn. Gukesh can also lose one of the games because he is a bit ambitious. That can happen. But in general, I feel once he scores his first win, he’ll just get the momentum and then keep scoring. So, plus two, plus three.”

I feel once he scores his first win, he’ll just get the momentum and then keep scoring.

—Vidit Gujrathi on Gukesh Dommaraju

Rensch also asked whether they had spoken to Ding, with Giri responding, “Well, the thing is I haven’t talked to him much before either. It’s not just the language barrier, but we're not too close. We’re competitors and it would be strange to start talking now.”

Vidit shared a similar experience, saying, “We barely just exchanged some pleasantries. He’s very soft-spoken, doesn’t speak much. So it’s hard to know what’s really going on.”

Whether the grandmaster predictions prove to be accurate, or if we are in for surprises, will become clear when the match takes place in Singapore from November 25 to December 13. The contest is played over 14 games, with the winner being the player who scores 7.5 points or more. If tied, the match goes to a rapid playoff.

Previous World Championship Coverage:

• Ding Admits Fears Ahead Of Gukesh Match: 'Worried About Losing Very Badly'
• Gukesh: 'I'm Quite Eager To Start The Match
• Google Announced As Title Sponsor For Ding-Gukesh World Championship
• New Ding-Gukesh World Championship Rules Encourage Faster, More Decisive Games
• Ding-Gukesh World Championship Match Venue Announced
• All about the 2024 FIDE World Championship match