World Chess Championship: Gukesh manages 7th consecutive stalemate with Ding Liren in 10th Match

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The 10th game of the World Chess Championship between Indian prodigy D. Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren ended in a quiet draw, marking the seventh consecutive stalemate in the match.

Played on Saturday, the encounter featured the London System, with Ding opting for a risk-free approach and Gukesh responding solidly with the black pieces.

This was arguably Gukesh's easiest game with black, as the position naturally flowed into equality early on. Ding's slight change in move order led to a symmetrical pawn structure, and Gukesh refrained from pressing in the balanced position. The two players agreed to a draw after 36 moves, although the rules required them to play until move 40.

The draw leaves both players tied at 5 points each, with four classical games remaining. If the 14-game series ends in a tie, the winner will be determined through faster time control tiebreaks.

In the tie so far, Ding claimed the first game, while the 18-year-old Gukesh equalized in Game 3. Gukesh's measured approach in Game 10 showed maturity, as he navigated an endgame with pure bishops and no weaknesses.

Both players handled their time well in this game, a departure from earlier rounds where Ding often faced pressure on the clock. With four games left and everything to play for, Gukesh has shown he belongs on this grand stage, defying initial predictions of a one-sided contest.

The championship, with a prize pool of USD 2.5 million, now heads into a critical phase. Gukesh, the youngest challenger in history, will be hoping to get the upperhand in the next match as he looks for the Chess Championship title.