World Championship Game 9: A "very precise" draw

"No one is clearly better in this match"

Find below expert video analyses by GM Daniel King and IM Robert Ris

After two action-packed encounters, game 9 of the World Chess Championship in Singapore brought a more subdued yet strategically rich draw. Playing with the white pieces, Gukesh D applied some pressure on Ding Liren out of a Catalan Opening, but the reigning champion held his ground with precise defensive play. After 54 moves, the players agreed to a draw, leaving the score tied as they approach the third rest day of the match. With only five games remaining, the stakes continue to climb in the closely fought contest.

The match has seen both players grow in confidence after early nerves and inconsistencies. Gukesh, the youngest challenger in history, seems to have adapted well to the high-pressure environment. Reflecting on his recent form, the Indian prodigy noted:

In the last few games I have managed to play very good chess. For me, the main thing will be to just go there with the same energy, play the same level of chess I'm playing, and slightly improve on some critical moments.

In contrast to earlier games featuring unexpected novelties, Thursday's encounter began with the well-established Catalan Opening. Gukesh built a notable advantage on the clock, showcasing his strong preparation, but Ding navigated the complications with composure to maintain equality. Gukesh described the encounter as "a very precise game from both sides".

One of the game's pivotal moments came on move 15, when Ding spent nearly 18 minutes before playing 15...Nb6, adding to his already significant time deficit.

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Gukesh followed up with 16.Ba5, prompting another deep think from Ding before he played 16...dxc4. Although the reigning champion spent considerable time on these moves, his efforts paid off, as he successfully neutralised Gukesh's chances in the middlegame battle.

The players demonstrated mutual respect during the post-game press conference. When asked about consulting the engine’s evaluation during the game, Gukesh joked: "I wouldn’t want to cheat at any point". Ding replied with a smile: "Today I didn't have any chance, so maybe I will use it for the future".

The match resumes on Saturday, with Ding set to have the white pieces in three of the remaining five games. As the tension mounts, both players will need to draw on every ounce of their skill, preparation and composure to tilt the balance in their favour before the scheduled conclusion next Thursday (or Friday, if the match goes to tiebreaks).

Dommaraju Gukesh | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

Ding Liren | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

Gukesh ½ - ½ Ding

Analysis by André Schulz

Gukesh Dommaraju2783

½–½

Ding, Liren2728

WCC Match 2024 Singapore05.12.2024[Schulz,A]

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Bb4+ The usual variations of the Catalan Opening arise after 3...d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.Nf3 0-0 6.0-0 4.Bd2 Be7 5.Bg2 d5 6.Nf3 0-0 Ding already had this position on the board a few times, with both colours. 7.0-0 7.Bf4 Nbd7 8.Qc2 c6 9.Nbd2 b6 10.h4 Bb7 11.e4 dxe4 12.Ng5 c5 13.Ndxe4 Bxe4 14.Nxe4 cxd4 15.Nxf6+ Bxf6 16.Bxa8 Qxa8 17.0-0 e5 18.Bg5 Bxg5 19.hxg5 e4 20.Rae1 1/2-1/2 (20) Dubov,D (2701)-Ding,L (2745) Almaty 2024 7...c6 8.Qc2 8.Bc3 dxc4 9.a4 b5 10.axb5 cxb5 11.Ne5 Nd5 12.Ba5 Qe8 13.b3 Nc6 14.bxc4 bxc4 15.e4 Nf6 16.Nxc6 Qxc6 17.d5 Qd7 18.Nc3 1/2-1/2 (44) Shirov,A (2666)-Ding,L (2736) Budapest 2024 8...Nbd7 9.Rd1 9.Bf4 a5 10.Rd1 b5 11.c5 Nh5 12.Bd6 Bxd6 13.cxd6 Bb7 14.Nbd2 Nb6 15.e4± 1-0 (61) Ding,L (2811)-Grischuk,A (2745) Chess.com INT 2022 9...b6 10.Bc3 10.Bf4 is seen more frequently here. 10...Bb7 11.Nbd2 Qc7 12.Rac1 Rfd8 This was the novelty in the game.

12...Rac8 13.b3 h6 14.Qb2 Qb8 15.Ne5 Rfd8 16.e4 Nxe5 17.dxe5 Nxe4 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Bxe4 c5= 1-0 (81) L'Ami,E (2644)-Fedorchuk,S (2611) Germany 2018 13.b4 After 13.b3 Rac8 14.e4 Ba3 15.Rb1 c5= White does not achieve much. 13...c5 14.bxc5 bxc5 15.Qb2 Nb6 16.Ba5 dxc4 17.Nxc4 Bxf3 18.Bxb6 The alternative 18.Bxf3 leads to favourable simplifications for Black: Nxc4 19.Bxc7 Nxb2 20.Bxa8 Rxa8 21.Rd2 Na4 with two knights for a rook. 18...axb6 19.Bxf3 Ra6 20.Qb5 White now temporarily wins a pawn, but he will not be able to keep it.

Interesting was 20.Ne5!? h6 21.Nc6 20...Rxa2 21.Nxb6 Qa7 22.Qb1 Rb8 23.dxc5 Ra6 24.Qb5 Bxc5 25.Qxc5 Qxb6 26.Qxb6 Raxb6 27.Rc6 Rxc6 28.Bxc6 g5 29.Kg2 Rb2 30.Kf1 Kg7 31.h3 h5 The position is now balanced. The black knight is slightly better than the white bishop with the pawn chains on one wing, but that shouldn't make much difference. An early draw is the most likely outcome. However, Ding still shows ambition with his pawn moves on the kingside. 32.Ra1 Rc2 33.Bb5 Rc5 34.Bd3 Nd7 35.f4 gxf4 36.gxf4 Rc3 37.Kf2 Nc5 38.Ke3 Nxd3 39.exd3 Rc2 40.Kf3 Rd2 41.Ra3

41...Kg6 White is somewhat passive. Black is more active. But the endgame is still a draw. 42.Rb3 f6 42...Rh2 43.Kg3= 43.Ra3 White makes waiting moves. However, the rook can intervene from the side if the black king moves forwards. 43.Rc3 h4 44.Kg4 Rg2+ 45.Kxh4 Kf5 46.Rc4= 43...Kf5 44.Ra5+ e5 Another try by Black. 45.fxe5 Rxd3+ 46.Ke2 46.Kg2 fxe5 47.Ra4 e4 48.Ra5+ Kf4 49.Rxh5 Rd2+ 49...e3 50.Rh4+= 50.Kf1 is also enough for a draw. 46...Rxh3 47.exf6+ Kxf6

48.Kf2 This is a theoretically drawn position. h4 49.Kg2 Rg3+ 50.Kh2 Kg6 51.Rb5 Rg5 52.Rxg5+ Kxg5 53.Kh3 Kf6 54.Kxh4 The contenders continued playing until leaving the bare kings on the board. ½–½

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Five classical games - at the most - remain to be played at the match for the world title in Singapore | Photo: FIDE / Eng Chin An

Expert analyses

Commentary by GM Daniel King

Commentary by IM Robert Ris

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Links

• Official website
• Two Knights Talk: Who will win the World Chess Championship match 2024?
• Ding Liren, the chess king from China who defies the odds
• Gukesh: From a school in Chennai to the world title match in Singapore
• Ding Liren is the new world chess champion! (2023)