NEW DELHI: The World Chess Championship match between Indian challenger D Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren of China continues to be a closely contested affair.
The Game 9, played on Thursday, ended in yet another draw, making it the sixth consecutive draw and the seventh of the match. Both players are now level on 4.5 points each, still short of the 7.5 points required to clinch the championship.
The game saw Gukesh employ the Catalan Opening, a long-established opening system at the top level.
Liren, known for his deep preparation, spent a significant amount of time in the opening phase, using over 50 minutes of his allotted time in the first time control, while Gukesh used only 15 minutes.
The game progressed with a series of exchanges, and Gukesh had a potential opportunity to exert pressure on his 20th move. However, Liren’s well-disguised tactics neutralized the advantage, and the position remained level.
As the game progressed, Gukesh found himself slightly behind on the clock, but the position remained balanced.
After a series of exchanges, the game transitioned into a rook and pawn endgame, which eventually led to a bare kings position, resulting in a draw after 54 moves.
With five games remaining in the classical portion of the match, Liren will have the advantage of the white pieces three times. If the match remains tied after 14 rounds, faster time controls will be employed to determine the winner of the $2.5 million prize money championship.
The match has been a closely fought battle between the experienced Liren and the young Gukesh, with neither player able to gain a decisive advantage so far.
As the match enters its final stages, both players will be looking to capitalize on any opportunities to break the deadlock and claim the coveted world championship title.