2024 World Chess Championship Odds and Predictions

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The 2024 World Chess Championship odds are out at your favorite sports betting sites. It’s down to just two contenders, of course, with defending champion Liren Ding hoping to stave off rising sensation Dommaraju Gukesh.

Gukesh, just 18 years of age, aims to become the youngest chess champ in history. He has quite the battle to get there, but so far oddsmakers like his chances.

So, who should you back? You can use the top sports betting handicappers available online to gauge the best bet, or you can join me as I break down the latest odds and offer my prediction.

2024 World Chess Championship Odds

The odds for this match vary depending on where you bet, but Gukesh is the favorite everywhere.

Where you bet on the 2024 World Chess Championship winner may be decided by who you think actually ends up being victorious.

Some sports betting sites favor Gukesh even more, but the above odds are the best you’ll find on his behalf. You’ll want to seek out better odds if you want to back Ding for the upset, but even as low at +190, you’re getting nice value for last year’s winner.

This is an event typically dominated by renowned chess superstar Magnus Carlsen, but he won’t be playing in the title match once again, after missing out last year as well.

Carlsen had appeared in six straight title matches before now missing out on a shot at glory two events in a row. Will a new champion be crowned? Or will we see a fresh run of dominance with Ding nabbing back-to-back titles?

Let’s explore the possibilities – and how to bet on this year’s chess title winner – with a look at both chess players.

Why Dommaraju Gukesh is Favored to Win

First up is the up and coming challenger, Dommaraju Gukesh. He earned the right to be here and is coming in as a pretty hefty betting favorite, so anyone looking at this market should feel good about his chances.

I say challenger, but he’s the clear betting favorite and is considered by most in the industry to now be the best chess player in the world. All that’s left for him is to finish the job on the game’s biggest platform.

Gukesh is not without some hardware already, of course. He did win the 2022 Chess Olympiad at just 17 and this year he helped Team India win gold at the Chess Olympiad.

Talent and youth play into this one, as everyone in the chess community is hoping for a historic run to end with a title. That said, nothing is official until the last game is won.

Gukesh can lean on the 2024 Candidates Tournament win or his 5th overall world chess ranking, but he ultimately needs to beat the reigning champ to be listed among the greatest chess players of all-time.

Why Liren Ding Will Defend His Title

Ding is looking down the barrel of history, as a rising stud chess player desires to steal his throne. Ding deserves credit for getting back to this stage, and if history is any indication, he could be gearing up for an exciting run as world chess champion.

The betting odds don’t really say as much, especially since some don’t view Ding as the true reigning champ. Magnus Carlsen opted not to defend his title in 2023, which technically meant Ding didn’t have to get past the world’s most dominant force in chess.

Instead, Ding just had to edge out Ian Nepopmniachtchi, and he did so in thrilling – albeit not very convincing – fashion. Their match went down to the wire, with the chess savants splitting the first 14 games and entering the tiebreakers.

That isn’t something Magnus Carlsen needed more than once as the six-time champ, so many are wondering if Ding was even truly the top player the year he won.

Of course, a win is a win, and Ding has certainly been among the top chess players no matter how you view his lone title. And while he’s far from a lock to repeat, the fact that he’s been here and done that gives him a leg up over his opponent in terms of title competition experience.

2024 World Chess Championship Predictions

Ding deserves a tip of the cap. He didn’t have to face off with Carlsen, but he did knock off the guy who challenged Carlsen most recently.

That said, Ding doesn’t measure up to Gukesh in terms of talent and potential. His extremely close championship win is a big red flag for me. Obviously youth and a lack of experience could work against Gukesh and he could always shrink under the spotlight, but none of that has stopped him so far.

Besides, there is history to be made here. Gukesh can put himself in the record books by winning this title, potentially setting up a decade-long run of dominance.

All things considered, getting him at around -300 or better feels like a borderline steal. I’d definitely still target potential World Chess Championship props such as winning spread, but in general, he looks like a terrific bet.

Bet: Dommaraju Gukesh -290

Recent World Chess Championship Winners

The following is a list of the most recent World Chess Championship winners: