Battle of Equals: D Gukesh, Ding Liren draw fourth round game; remain level on points in WC

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh and defending champion Ding Liren played out a mostly risk-free draw in the fourth round to remain level on points in the World Chess Championship battle here on Friday.

The two players signed peace after 42 moves vide repetition and are tied on two points each after four games of the 14-round showdown. The first to reach 7.5 points will be crowned the champion.

The 18-year-old Gukesh, who was playing with black on Friday, is the youngest ever challenger for the title and had won the third game on Wednesday.

"Towards the end, I had some chances to press better but with black this is all you can expect," Gukesh said after the game.

"I am just trying to make good moves," he added when asked about the prospect of becoming the youngest world champion.

The 32-year-old Liren had won the opening game before the two played out a draw in the second game.

"This round, I tried to play safe. It turns out I got a little bit of an advantage. The score is still balanced. There are more games to come," Liren said.

"I had a rest day to recover from the tough loss. I am in a very good mood. It worked well, not so bad," he added.

With just 10 games remaining under the classical time control, Gukesh will have the advantage of playing white in the fifth game.

On Friday, Liren started with the bird's opening trying to take out on the queen's bishop early in the opening which was a clear indication that the Chinese wanted to fight the Indian on the skill rather than preparation.

Gukesh was up to the task in responding as he matched Liren move for move and the pieces traded hands leading to equality.

The players eventually reached rook and pawns endgame which was theoretically drawn and the split of a point was a just result.

Viswanathan Anand is so far the only Indian to have won the title, having claimed it five times in his career. The semi-retired legend made the ceremonial first move for Gukesh on Friday.

If Liren thought he was surprising Gukesh with his opening choice, the Indian was unperturbed, exchanging the dark square Bishop early in the opening.

The game took shape sans the dark squared Bishops right from the early stages and Gukesh had no problems in maintaining the balance.

"Since I cannot see my reactions during the game, because I am the one who is playing, I don't know if I am able to maintain this kind of poker face if my opponent makes some mistakes," Liren said.

The two players will have their second rest day on Monday.

The Moves: ======== 1. Nf3 d5 2. e3N f6 3. b3 Bf5 4. Be2 h6 5. Ba3 Nbd7 6. O-O e6 7. Bxf8 Nxf8 8. c4 N8d7 9. Nc3 O-O 10. cxd5 exd5 11. b4 c6 12. Nd4 Bh7 13. Qb3 Ne5 14. a4 Rc8 15. a5 b6 16. Nf3 Nxf3+ 17. Bxf3 d4 18. Ne2 dxe3 19. dxe3 Be4 20. Rfd1 Qe7 21. Bxe4 Nxe4 22. axb6 axb6 23. Nc3 Rfd8 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25. h3 c5 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. bxc5 bxc5 28. Rc1 Qe5 29. Qc2 Rd5 30. g3 f5 31. Kg2 Kh7 32. Qc4 Qd6 33. e4 Re5 34. exf5 Rxf5 35. Qe4 Qd5 36. Qxd5 Rxd5 37. Kf3 Kg6 38. Ke4 Rd4+ 39. Ke3 Rd5 40. Ke4 Rd4+ 41. Ke3 Rd5 42. Ke4Rd4+. Game drawn.