By David Llada

The second game in the match between Ding and Gukesh ended in a rather uneventful draw by threefold repetition after just 23 moves. This outcome was hardly surprising. As Anish Giri aptly noted on Twitter: ‘Understandable draw, given the colors. This early in the match, Ding is content to preserve the lead, while Gukesh is content to recover from a loss and recharge for the white game tomorrow.'

In fact, the game was more interesting than it might initially appear. With his 14th move, Ding opted not to simplify the position. Instead, he pulled his rook back from the open file, making a subtle yet significant statement: ‘I want to play, and I'm fine with a slow-paced strategic game.' His move, 14.Rdc1, earned praise from experts and commentators for its strategic depth, as it maximized his chances of playing for two results—victory or draw—while minimizing risk.

Two players who once clashed in a fiercely contested World Championship match, Viswanathan Anand and Boris Gelfand, shared their thoughts on the game behind the scenes. Both agreed that White had some potential, and Ding had undoubtedly scored a point in the psychological battle. ‘It's hard to shake the feeling that Ding won the opening battle. This is a dream advantage,' remarked Vishy Anand.

However, any advantage quickly evaporated. Neither player seemed inclined to take risks. ‘I just wanted to play a good game,' Gukesh explained at the press conference. ‘With Black, so early in the match, you don't want to do anything stupid. Yesterday, I was feeling good; I was fresh and confident. I just missed a few tactics, which can happen to anyone at any time.'

With little chess action to analyze, let's take a moment to discuss the players and what we've observed from their public appearances and press conferences.

I share a table in the media center with Leontxo García (El País), arguably the most renowned chess journalist in the world, who has been covering World Championships since 1984. We both know Anatoly Karpov quite well, and we found ourselves discussing how Gukesh reminds us of the legendary Russian champion in certain ways.

One similarity is how he handles questions during press conferences and interviews—carefully weighing every word to ensure he doesn't reveal too much or risk saying something controversial. For Karpov, this was an essential skill to navigate life as a public figure in the Soviet Union. In Gukesh's case, it seems more rooted in his innate politeness and a sincere effort not to offend anyone. However, the wisdom, caution, and subtle ‘sneakiness' they both exhibit are strikingly similar.

Another trait they share is their ability to remain unaffected by the outcome of yesterday's game when approaching today's. Some players handle this better than others, and both Gukesh and Karpov excel in this regard. This quality is invaluable for bouncing back after a loss, but it also makes them relentless competitors, often enabling impressive winning streaks.

As for Ding, it is evident that his life has improved significantly. Just a couple of months ago, witnesses described him as very shaky at the Olympiad, but now he appears to be in a much better place. ‘In my first World Championship match, I was very nervous. But this time, I feel at peace and full of energy,' he said during the pre-match press conference. Interestingly, ‘peace' is a word his team members have repeatedly used in conversations with me over the past few days.

In any case, he might feel inner peace, but Ding is a warrior. Don't let his cute humbleness and shy character mislead you: Don't be fooled by his endearing humility and shy demeanor—his responses make it clear that he has ruthlessly studied his young opponent; he has evil plans for him, and he's ready to seize every opportunity that comes his way.

I believe this match has all the ingredients to be truly great. I can't wait for game three to start!