Ding Liren Faces Rising Star Gukesh in 2024 World Chess Championship

The reigning champion from China battles India’s youngest challenger in Singapore as mental health and form take center stage.

The 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship will take place from November 25 to December 13 at Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, featuring a best-of-14 classical game format.
Ding Liren, the 32-year-old reigning champion from China, faces challenges in defending his title after struggling with mental health and a significant drop in form since winning in 2023.
18-year-old Indian grandmaster Gukesh Dommaraju, the youngest-ever Candidates Tournament winner, enters the match as the favorite following a year of exceptional performances and rapid rating growth.
Ding and Gukesh have faced each other three times in classical chess, with Ding winning twice; however, Gukesh has shown resilience and maturity beyond his years.
The championship carries a $2.5 million prize fund, with the winner earning $1.3 million if the match is decided in tie-breaks, which are scheduled for December 13 if needed.