D Gukesh, an Indian Grandmaster, tried his hardest but could not defeat China’s Ding Liren, who forced a draw after 68 moves in the 13th and penultimate game of the International Chess Championship on Wednesday. With the scores locked at 6.5-6.5 and only one game of classical chess remaining, the match will likely be prolonged to the tie-break round, where shorter games will determine the winner.
As expected, the 18-year-old Gukesh opted for the King pawn on his first move, encountering defending champion Liren’s first-choice opening in French defense. The Chinese spent a lot of time in the early stages of the game when Gukesh came up with a fresh notion, but it was evident from the start that there was little for the whites.
The middle game saw the exchange of a few minor pieces, giving Gukesh’s white a slight visual edge. As the game went on, it became evident that the exchange of pawns on the queen’s side would only result in an equal endgame.
Gukesh, well aware that this could be his last chance with the favorable color, left no stone unturned in his search for more, but Liren kept his cool and swapped pieces as necessary to obtain a queen. Endgame with plus rook
Despite this, the players fought for an extended period. The pieces changed hands until the board had a queen, a rook, and pawns. The game eventually came down to a two-versus-three rook-and-pawn endgame, and Gukesh played until there was no more life in the position.
Liren held out until the very end and will enter the final game of the match as the favorite. Gukesh stated after the incredibly tense game that things were getting exciting as the competition reached its most critical phase.