World Championship Game 10: The quietest draw so far

by Carlos Alberto Colodro
12/7/2024 – As the World Chess Championship in Singapore nears its conclusion, the tension remains palpable, with the score still tied after ten games. Saturday's cautious game 10, a 36-move draw from a London System, reflected the heightened stakes as players avoid unnecessary risks with only four classical games left. Gukesh D, the challenger, and Ding Liren, the reigning champ, are both focused on precision, knowing that a single mistake could prove decisive. | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

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Little room for error

Find below expert video analysis by GM Daniel King

With only four classical games remaining, the World Chess Championship in Singapore remains tied. After the early excitement of wins in games 1 and 3, games 4-10 have all ended in draws. Saturday's game 10 was a cautious, 36-move encounter that offered little in the way of fireworks, leaving the overall score balanced as the match heads into its final stretch.

Ding Liren opened with his favoured 1.d4, prompting commentator David Howell to quip, "Pawn to Ding 4." The game quickly transitioned into a London System, marking the second time this structure has appeared in this match and the third time overall in a World Championship match. Both players rattled off their prepared moves until Gukesh D spent almost half an hour on 10...Nh5, a somewhat uncommon continuation in the position.

Although the knight move is not the most popular continuation, Gukesh noted it as a reasonable idea in this system. The position evolved with 11.Bg5 Be7 12.Ne4 Nf6 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6, and Ding chose to simplify further by trading queens with 14.Qxd8

This sequence, while logical, significantly reduced the chances for either player to create meaningful imbalances.

Ding retained a slight edge, but he wisely avoided over-pressing against an opponent of Gukesh's calibre. Further simplifications led to a draw being agreed on move 36, with both players left with a bishop and six pawns each. While the game was not as thrilling as earlier encounters, it reflected the caution now dominating the match.

The significance of every move has grown with only four classical games remaining. Ding remarked in the press conference:

There’s not so much room to make mistakes. Every loss will result in a very bad situation. We need to be careful with every move.

Gukesh echoed this sentiment, saying:

Now the cost of one game is higher than before, but my approach and my goal is still the same – to play good games.

The action continues with games 11 and 12 scheduled for Sunday and Monday, followed by a final rest day on Tuesday. The fourteenth and potentially decisive classical game is set for Thursday, with a tiebreaker, if needed, to follow on Friday. By the end of the week, we will either see Ding Liren retaining his title or witness the crowning of the youngest world champion in chess history.

Dommaraju Gukesh

Gukesh D thinking in front of Ding Liren's empty chair | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

World Chess Championship 2024

World Championship memorabilia on display | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

World Chess Championship 2024

World Championship memorabilia on display | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An


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Carlos Colodro is a Hispanic Philologist from Bolivia. He works as a freelance translator and writer since 2012. A lot of his work is done in chess-related texts, as the game is one of his biggest interests, along with literature and music.
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