World Chess Championship: Gukesh D Holds Firm for Draw as Ding Liren Misses Key Opportunity in Game 6
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Singapore, Nov 30 (NationPress) Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju engaged in a thrilling draw, concluding after 40 moves, which equalized the score at 2.5 each after Game 5 of the ongoing World Chess Championship on Saturday.
In an unexpected turn, World Champion Ding Liren overlooked a significant chance to intensify the pressure during the match this afternoon, miscalculating a crucial advantage in the endgame.
While defending the black pieces, the Chinese champion adeptly countered his opponent’s exchange variation in the French defense and appeared poised to secure his second victory.
Yet, just as the situation seemed favorable, doubt crept in, and the position confused him, enabling the challenger to secure a draw and enter the sixth game with the score tied at 2.5.
“As the game neared its conclusion, I was extremely concerned about my position following the move 27…Be6 followed by 28…Rc8. I felt quite relieved when my opponent opted for 27…Bc6, as I believed it would lead to a draw,” a visibly relieved Gukesh shared during the post-game press conference.
The champion acknowledged his miscalculation regarding the missed opportunity: “I failed to see the strategy with 28…Rc8; I was contemplating a move of the king to the kingside, resembling a Berlin pawn structure. I did not grasp that it presented a substantial advantage for me.”
The sixth game of the match is scheduled for Sunday, December 1. The two players are competing in a fourteen-game classical chess match. The first to achieve 7.5 points or more will win the match and claim the majority of the $2.5 million total prize fund.
