5th consecutive game drawn, both have 4-4 points; the 9th round is going to be played today.
Indian Grand Master D Gukesh once again failed to convert a strong position into a win against Ding Liren in the final of the World Chess Championship. The 8th round match between the two ended in a draw on Wednesday in Singapore. Both agreed to a draw after 51 moves in a match that lasted four and a half hours.
Lets Go! pic.twitter.com/x5TXQ86rVK
— Gukesh D (@DGukesh) November 20, 2024
This was the sixth draw of the 14 round final match. Both got 0.5-0.5 points from this game. After this draw, both players have 4-4 points in their account, which is still 3.5 points less than the 7.5 points required to win the championship. Earlier, the matches of the second, fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh rounds were also drawn. 32-year-old Liren won the first round match, while 18-year-old Gukesh won the third round match.
Had a great start, then 2 mistakes and match was drawn
Gukesh was playing with black pieces in this game. The Indian star started with a novelty (a chess move). This forced Ding to change his plans. He looked a bit troubled, but kept dragging the match with a strong defense.
Gukesh, on how personal problems can affect the performance of a chess player:
— ICC chessclub.com (@chessclubICC) November 23, 2024
“My age plays in my favor: I don’t have much of a personal life! My whole life revolves about chess. And my parents take care about most things for me” @DGukesh #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/M1AkxrnTT3
Then in the middle game, 2 mistakes by Gukesh snatched away his chance to win. At one point Ding was under time pressure and had to make 16 moves in 16 minutes. Gukesh was in a winning position here. Here Gukesh gave his opponent a chance to recover. This led to a draw. After the match, Ding said- I never felt in the entire match that I was in a winning position. I was definitely uncomfortable with Gukesh’s opening, but I was not nervous.
Gukesh rejected the offer of draw on the second move
In the 41st move, Ding repeated his moves. When both the players make three identical moves, the match is considered a draw. Gukesh did not make identical moves here and rejected the offer of draw, although Gukesh was not in a good position here. Gukesh rejected the offer of draw for the second time in the final of the World Chess Championship, but Ding did not let Gukesh’s plans succeed in front of his strong defense.
Today the ninth round of the match will be played, Gukesh will play with white
Gukesh will play with white pieces in the 9th round match on Thursday. Now six rounds are remaining in the tournament. 14 rounds of matches are to be played between the two, out of these the player who reaches 7.5 points first will become the world champion.