NEW DELHI: Indian challenger D Gukesh and Chinese defending champion Ding Liren concluded their fifth consecutive draw, maintaining equal points in the eighth game of the World Chess Championship in Singapore on Wednesday.
Both players remain at 4 points each, requiring an additional 3.5 points to secure the championship. The game concluded in a draw after 51 moves, marking the sixth draw of the 14-round match.
The 32-year-old Liren had claimed victory in the first game, while the 18-year-old Gukesh won the third. The second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh games resulted in draws.
In a complex position lasting over four hours, Liren opted for a cautious approach, securing a draw. Gukesh appeared likely to accept this outcome, considering Liren’s previous misplays.
With six games remaining in the $2.5 million championship, a tie after 14 rounds would necessitate faster time control games to determine the winner.
The upcoming two consecutive games could prove decisive for the match outcome.
Gukesh’s initial decision to avoid a draw through repetition was unexpected. He later explained, “I would have taken the draw if I thought I was worse but I did not, I had to be very precise, I missed one of his resources. I am not very sure I think the position had more tricks.”
He added, “The position where I didn’t repeat, I didn’t think I was in much danger. I always thought with his weak king and my strong pawn on b3, I should have played. I thought maybe I might even have some chances. But okay, yeah, it was just a misjudgment of the position.”
Liren initiated with an English opening in his fourth white game, whilst Gukesh selected a variation favoured by Alexei Shirov. The players departed from prepared moves early, leading to a complex middle game.
Gukesh adopted an aggressive strategy with an uneven pawn structure. He acknowledged his team’s efforts: “My team they’re been doing great job, not only ‘Gaju’ (Grzegorz Gajewski), but other team members as well, we managed to surprise him in the openings, I would like to thank my team and hopefully more interesting ideas will come.”
Liren sacrificed a pawn during the game, later stating, “Today during the game I didn’t realise I was winning at some point.”
The game concluded with opposite-coloured bishops and kingside pawns, resulting in a draw. Gukesh will play with white pieces in the next game, though Liren has proven to be a formidable opponent for the Indian teenager.
The Moves:
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Be7 4.Nf3 d6 5.g3 c6 6.Nxe7 Nxe7 7.Bg2 f6 8.0–0 Be6 9.b3 d5 10.Ba3 0–0 11.Rc1 a5 12.Ne1 Re8 13.f4 exf4 14.Rxf4 dxc4 15.bxc4 Ng6 16.Re4 Na6 17.Nc2 Qc7 18.Nd4 Bf7 19.d3 Ne5 20.Nf3 Nd7 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rb1 b5 23.cxb5 Qb6+ 24.Kf1 cxb5 25.Bb2 Bxa2 26.Bd4 Nac5 27.Rc1 Bb3 28.Qe1 Be6 29.Qf2 Rc8 30.Be3 Rc7 31.Nd4 Bf7 32.Nc6 Rxc6 33.Bxc6 Qxc6 34.Bxc5 h6 35.Ke1 b4 36.Qd4 Ne5 37.Kd2 Qg2 38.Qf2 Qd5 39.Qd4 Qg2 40.Qf2 Qd5 41.Qd4 Qa2+ 42.Rc2 Qe6 43.Qd8+ Kh7 44.Qxa5 b3 45.Rc1 Qd5 46.Qb4 Qg2 47.Qe4+ Qxe4 48.dxe4 b2 49.Rb1 Ba2 50.Rxb2 Nc4+ 51.Kc3 Nxb2.