Game 8 of the World Chess Championship between D Gukesh and Ding Liren ended in a draw on Wednesday, December 4. This was the 5th consecutive draw between the pair in the 14-game series, which leaves both men level at 4-4 with 6 more rounds remaining. The match came to an end after 51 moves, …
World Chess Championship, Game 8: Gukesh, Liren play out 5th consecutive draw
Game 8 of the World Chess Championship between D Gukesh and Ding Liren ended in a draw on Wednesday, December 4. This was the 5th consecutive draw between the pair in the 14-game series, which leaves both men level at 4-4 with 6 more rounds remaining.
The match came to an end after 51 moves, with the Indian grandmaster rejecting the chance for an early draw. This was the second time Gukesh had done this during the series, but this time he was in a worse spot during the game. Gukesh used black pieces during the game and rejected the draw after the 41st move. However, in the end, the Indian grandmaster didn’t have enough pieces to push for the win and decided to accept the handshake from Liren.
The 14-round match saw its sixth draw. Liren, 32, secured victory in the opening game, while the 18-year-old Gukesh claimed the third game.
The second, fourth, fifth, sixth, and seventh games all concluded in stalemates.
How Game 8 unfolded between Gukesh and Liren
Liren opted for a cautious approach, steering the game towards a draw in a complicated position after over four hours of play.
The outcome left many wondering if Gukesh, given the opportunities Liren had missed earlier, might have pressed harder for a win.
With just six games remaining in the $2.5 million championship, the tension is mounting. If the match ends in a tie after 14 rounds, the winner will be decided in tie-break games under faster time controls. The upcoming two consecutive games could prove pivotal in shaping the final result.
Liren, playing his fourth white game, opened with the English Opening. Gukesh responded with a variation popularized by Alexei Shirov, showcasing his meticulous preparation for every scenario. Once again, it was Liren who found himself in deep thought early on, grappling with Gukesh’s well-crafted opening ideas.
Both players departed from their opening preparation relatively quickly, diving into a middle game that was far more complex than most chess enthusiasts could anticipate, even with computer analysis. Gukesh adopted an aggressive strategy, opting for an unbalanced pawn structure that promised a fierce battle.
True to form, Gukesh continued to push the limits, seeking opportunities even in positions that might have seemed disadvantageous. Yet, he couldn’t find the elusive perfect continuation. Despite his determination to play for a win, the game eventually simplified into a drawn endgame with bishops of opposite colors and pawns confined to the kingside.
While the game ended in a draw, it was another thrilling contest between the two. Gukesh will now have the advantage of playing white in the next game, but Liren’s resilience surprised those who expected the Indian prodigy to dominate the match.
The Moves:
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Bb4 3.Nd5 Be7 4.Nf3 d6 5.g3 c6 6.Nxe7 Nxe7 7.Bg2 f6 8.0–0 Be6 9.b3 d5 10.Ba3 0–0 11.Rc1 a5 12.Ne1 Re8 13.f4 exf4 14.Rxf4 dxc4 15.bxc4 Ng6 16.Re4 Na6 17.Nc2 Qc7 18.Nd4 Bf7 19.d3 Ne5 20.Nf3 Nd7 21.Rxe8+ Rxe8 22.Rb1 b5 23.cxb5 Qb6+ 24.Kf1 cxb5 25.Bb2 Bxa2 26.Bd4 Nac5 27.Rc1 Bb3 28.Qe1 Be6 29.Qf2 Rc8 30.Be3 Rc7 31.Nd4 Bf7 32.Nc6 Rxc6 33.Bxc6 Qxc6 34.Bxc5 h6 35.Ke1 b4 36.Qd4 Ne5 37.Kd2 Qg2 38.Qf2 Qd5 39.Qd4 Qg2 40.Qf2 Qd5 41.Qd4 Qa2+ 42.Rc2 Qe6 43.Qd8+ Kh7 44.Qxa5 b3 45.Rc1 Qd5 46.Qb4 Qg2 47.Qe4+ Qxe4 48.dxe4 b2 49.Rb1 Ba2 50.Rxb2 Nc4+ 51.Kc3 Nxb2. Game drawn.
