Result could hinge on which Ding turns up

When Ding Liren blundered, resigned and walked away from the board after Game II, he seemed a broken man.

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A day later, he was talking about how drinking coffee and going to bed early helped him make a remarkable comeback from the abyss.

Towards the end of Game 12, in a winning position, Ding could have wrapped things up in a straightforward fashion by winning an exchange with 26.Na7! Commentators deconstructed if it was a psychological ploy and were curious why Ding didn't go for it.

"The reason is simple," Ding smiled. "I missed Na7!". There was laughter and surprise in the room.

Over the past fortnight, we've got a look at the cross-section of the minds of both players.

Gukesh optimistic, aggressive, ready for a battle and Ding pessimistic, thoughtful, and unpredictable.

Their post-game analysis has had Ding walking us through his grim assessment of what were often playable, even advantageous positions while Gukesh seemed comfortably hopeful even in dangerous positions. When faced with a torrid situation, economy of expression is the thumb rule.

Gukesh typically tries to be pokerfaced, hands cupping his temple, shutting any scrutiny from his opponent. The cameras give spectators a close view of his eyes flitting over the board, the tension creeping across his face.