The FIDE World Chess Championship Final between defending champion Ding Liren of China and Indian challenger Gukesh Dommaraju continued its pattern of draws, with Game 10 ending in a cautious stalemate.
This marked the seventh consecutive draw in the 14-game series, leaving both players tied with five points each.
The match, which will award a significant portion of the $2.5 million prize to the first player to reach 7.5 points, has seen both competitors adopt a risk-free approach. Saturday's game, one of the shortest so far, concluded after just 36 moves in two and a half hours.
Gukesh, playing black, showed strong defensive skills, while Ding, playing white, revisited the London System opening, a choice he had previously used in Game 6. Interestingly, Ding caused a brief stir by pausing before his first move, hinting at uncertainty about his opening choice.
As the game progressed, Gukesh diverted from their earlier encounter by opting for a knight move, introducing some novelty into the opening sequence. The initial moves saw both players taking time to strategise, with Ding spending a significant portion of his time on the 11th move.
The middle game featured a rapid exchange of pieces, including knights, bishops, rooks, and queens. While Ding appeared to hold a slight advantage in the endgame, it was not substantial enough to press for a win.
Both players maintained a solid defensive stance throughout, avoiding any critical mistakes. Gukesh expressed satisfaction with the draw, emphasising the importance of not taking unnecessary risks as the championship approaches its decisive phase.
With only four games remaining, both competitors are acutely aware of the high stakes, leaving little room for error.
The series continues on Sunday with Game 11, where Gukesh will have the advantage of playing with the white pieces.
As the competition heats up, fans and analysts alike are eager to see whether either player will break the deadlock and seize a decisive lead in this closely contested championship.
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