World Chess Championship: D Gukesh, Ding Liren play out second consecutive draw, remain level on 2.5 points

D Gukesh made an excellent recovery after handing Ding Liren the advantage to hold the Chinese Grandmaster to a draw in Game 5 of the World Chess Championship in Singapore on Saturday. Gukesh and Ding thus remain on level terms after collecting a second stalemate on the trot, having collected 2.5 points each so far out of a possible five. The first player to 7.5 points in the best-of-14-games series will be crowned the winner.

While Game 4 on Friday had lasted 42 moves, Gukesh and Ding ended up shaking hands in 40 on Saturday. The 18-year-old Indian Grandmaster thus has collected a victory, a defeat as well as a draw while playing with white pieces so far in the World Championship.

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Ding had gone 1-0 up in the opening game while Gukesh fought back in Game 3 to go level with the current title holder. The second and the fourth games before Saturday’s fixture had been drawn.

Today, the ceremonial first move at game 5 of the FIDE World Championship was made by K. Shanmugam, the Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Law of Singapore.

Mr. Shanmugam has served in the Singapore Cabinet since 2008. Before entering the Cabinet, he had a distinguished… pic.twitter.com/M7PT8GrdsK

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) November 30, 2024

The match had witnessed an unusual start with Gukesh starting with the King’s Pawn Game and later responding to Ding’s French defence with an exchange variation. That was followed by an exchange of the queens as early as the ninth move. Both players would lose a rook each shortly after.

Gukesh would later hand Ding the advantage after capturing the Chinese GM’s bishop with a rook instead of a point, which would force him into a quick retreat as the AI win predictor swung heavily in the reigning champion’s favour.

Gukesh, however, would regain composure and hold fort for the remainder of the game to prevent the marauding Ding from regaining the lead that he had collected at the start of the Championship.

Both players were out of rooks after an exchange in the 32nd move, after which it simply was a matter of time before they shook hands – which they in the 40th move that was completed shortly after the three-hour mark in the game.

‘I had some advantage that I didn’t realise’

Ding, who had defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana last year to become the first Chinese GM to win the World Chess Championship, admitted it was “not ideal” of him to settle for a draw when a second victory was there for the taking.

“Not ideal. Had chances in some games. Lead by a point, even today, I had some advanatge that I didn’t realise. Something to improve in the next round,” the 32-year-old told reporters after the conclusion of Game 5.

🇨🇳 Ding Liren after Game 5: "I didn't realise it's a big advantage for me." #DingGukesh pic.twitter.com/7G8MaAqxbw

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) November 30, 2024

Gukesh, on the other hand, said he was happy to find himself on level terms with Ding after his poor start, while adding that there still was a plenty of action to follow.

“I am taking one match at a time, it’s not even half way through (in the match), many important games yet to come. After losing the opening game, I am happy to be here now,” Gukesh said after the game.

As for his mistake that nearly cost him the fifth game, Gukesh said, “(the game) could have been a draw anyway, but I don’t know how it (the mistake) happened. But, I think I did well after that to be in this position.” Liren said he did not “realise it’s a big advantage for me”.