Andrei Filatov, president of the Russian Chess Federation, has accused Ding Liren of intentionally losing the World Chess Championship final to India’s D. Gukesh.Filatov, quoted in a report by Russian news agency TASS, urged FIDE to launch a separate investigation into the final match played in Singapore. Filatov expressed that Ding’s blunder, which turned the game in Gukesh’s favor, left many professionals and fans bewildered. He stated that the Chinese player’s actions in the decisive phase of the game appeared highly suspicious and warranted further scrutiny, as losing from such a position was unusual even for top-tier players.
Ding Liren Accused of ‘Deliberately’ Losing World Championship to Gukesh, Russian Chess Chief Demands Investigation
The controversial move occurred in the 14th and final game of the match, which was heading towards a draw. In a critical moment under time pressure, Ding miscalculated and, in his effort to force a draw, made a fatal error. This allowed Gukesh to simplify the position, leveraging his superior pieces and pawn structure to secure the win and become the youngest-ever world champion at 18.
Ding Liren Accused of Deliberately Losing World Championship to Gukesh, Russian Chess President Calls for Probe
Filatov’s accusations were echoed by former world champion Vladimir Kramnik, who also expressed disappointment over the quality of the final. Kramnik criticized Ding’s blunder on social media, calling it “sad” and “the end of chess as we know it.” He further stated that never before had a World Championship title been decided by such a “childish one-move blunder.” Kramnik had previously voiced concerns about the overall quality of the championship, particularly criticizing Game 6 for its “weak” play.
