D. Gukesh exhibits a stern demeanour, particularly towards himself. Following 12 games in the World Championships, he finds himself in a tie with Ding Liren, each having accumulated six points. With two games remaining, both Gukesh and the reigning champion Liren possess an equal opportunity to claim victory; however, the Indian contender is profoundly disheartened. He feels he should not have allowed Liren to stage a comeback in the match. Gukesh relinquished his advantage during the final stages of the championship, culminating in Liren's victory in the pivotal 12th game.

Gukesh acknowledged that he had numerous opportunities in the latter half of the compelling contest but failed to seize them. The young Indian player described the game as a significant disappointment. "This game is somewhat disheartening. Fortunately, I have a rest day tomorrow, and I will aim to perform well in the upcoming games," Gukesh remarked following his loss in the 12th game.

Despite his disappointment, Gukesh noted that both he and the defending champion were showcasing high-quality chess in the latter part of the match.

"In the second half, I had opportunities in several games. Today was not my best performance; I will not dwell excessively on it. We are both playing at a higher level than in the first half, but I believe I had more chances during this latter phase."

Reflecting on the game overall, Gukesh expressed that he felt relatively secure, stating, "I was comfortable after the opening, but after his 16th move, I became uncertain."

Expressing dissatisfaction with his 17th move, Gukesh characterized it as a mere "mistake."

Regarding his new opening strategy, a reverse Benoni, Gukesh commented, "I had prepared for a few moves, although I did not recall all the specifics precisely, I was familiar with this position."

Discussing the current match situation, which sees both Liren and himself tied at six points, Gukesh remarked, "It is certainly unpleasant to lose this game. Yesterday's match could have gone either way. At least the scores remain level, and with two games left, we shall see what unfolds."

Liren mentioned that he took considerable time to rest following the challenging game on Sunday. "Yesterday was a tough match to process, as I was in a significantly better position at one point but failed to allocate enough time to the critical moments."

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