D Gukesh vs Ding Liren: What was the opening played in World Chess Championship Final Round 11?

D Gukesh vs Ding Liren: What was the opening played in World Chess Championship Final Round 11?

India’s D Gukesh and China’s D Gukesh played out a Reti opening pattern in the 11th round of the World Chess Championship final in Singapore on Sunday. ‘

Wielding the white pieces, Gukesh started with Nf3, to which Ding responded with d5, setting the stage for a Reti game.

This opening play is named after Richard Reti, a Czechoslovakian chess player.

The Reti Opening is regarded as a “hypermodern” opening in which white uses minor pieces and flank pawns to apply pressure to the centre rather than directly occupying it with the central pawns.

White can then challenge Black’s d-pawn on move two by creating pawn tension and temporarily keeping the d-and-e pawns on their starting squares.

Gukesh and Ding headed into the game level on points, after having played seven consecutive draws before the 11th round.