Indian Grandmaster D. Gukesh secured a hard-fought draw against reigning champion Ding Liren.
In the sixth game of the World Chess Championship 2024, keeping the match deadlocked at 3 points each. Playing with the black pieces, Gukesh demonstrated resilience in a high-stakes battle that ended after 46 moves. This result marked the third consecutive draw and the fourth in the six-game series, with both players now needing 4.5 more points to claim the title.
The 32-year-old Ding had previously won the opening game, while the 18-year-old Gukesh triumphed in the third. The second, fourth, and fifth games concluded in draws, setting the stage for a strategic midpoint as the championship progresses through its best-of-14 format. The match will resume following a scheduled rest day on Monday.
Game 6 featured Ding’s sharp preparation with the London System, his third outing with the white pieces. The Chinese GM played the opening quickly, taking just seven minutes for his first 20 moves and building a 45-minute lead on the clock. By this point, the board had been simplified into a Queen and Rook endgame with equal pawns. In contrast, Gukesh spent over 50 minutes in the early stages, opting for a dynamic response on move 20 that demanded precise calculation.
Though Ding initially held a slight positional advantage, Gukesh’s tactical awareness kept him in contention. Remarkably, the young challenger rejected an early draw by declining a threefold repetition, a decision that introduced further complexity into the game. Ding, initially unsettled by Gukesh’s fighting approach, eventually chose a pragmatic path, exchanging queens and key pawns to neutralize the position.
The sixth game underscored the mental and strategic depth of both players, with Ding appearing increasingly confident despite the balanced scoreline. With eight games remaining, the championship remains poised for an intense finish, as both competitors seek to capitalize on their opportunities in this evenly contested series.
The Moves in Game 6:
1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d5 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 c5 5.c3 Bd6 6.Bb5+ Nc6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.Bxd6 Qxd6 9.Qa4 0–0 10.Qa3 Ne4 11.Nfd2 e5 12.Nxe4 dxe4 13.Qxc5 Qg6 14.Nd2 Qxg2 15.0–0–0 Qxf2 16.dxe5 Rb8 17.Nc4 Be6 18.Rd2 Qf3 19.Re1 Bxc4 20.Qxc4 Qf5 21.Qxc6 Qxe5 22.Qd5 Qe7 23.Qd6 Qg5 24.Qd5 Qe7 25.Qd6 Qg5 26.Qd5 Qh4 27.Red1 g6 28.Qe5 Rbe8 29.Qg3 Qh5 30.Qf4 Qa5 31.a3 Qb5 32.Rd4 Qe2 33.R1d2 Qf3 34.Kc2 Qxf4 35.exf4 f5 36.h4 e3 37.Re2 Re7 38.Kd3 Rfe8 39.h5 gxh5 40.Rd5 h4 41.Rxf5 Rd7+ 42.Kc2 Kg7 43.Rg2+ Kh8 44.Re2 Kg7 45.Rg2+ Kh8 46.Re2 Kg7. Game drawn.