Gukesh Dommaraju conceded a dominant position with improper moves in the middle game in the eighth match of the World Championship in Singapore.
Reigning world chess champion Ding Liren and teenage challenger Gukesh Dommaraju held their fifth consecutive draw with neither player leading after eight games.
Both players were deadlocked on four points apiece in the first World Championship encounter between two Asian players as the 14-match tournament crossed the halfway mark in Singapore on Wednesday.
For the second game in a row, Gukesh gave up a strong position in the middle game by playing a series of wrong moves.
However, the Indian teenager rejected Ding’s draw offer after 41 moves and played a few attacks during the final game in an attempt to secure a result.
But the Chinese grandmaster backed off from aggressive play, and the players eventually shook hands in another draw after 51 moves.
Gukesh admitted that he was not aware of the dangerous position when he rejected the draw and immediately checked the ding.
“I didn’t think I was in much danger,” said the 18-year-old who played with the black pieces.
“I always thought that in my position, maybe I had some chance, but it was a misjudgment of the position.”
Ding, for his part, decries his inability to emphasize his advantage.
“During the game today, I didn’t know I was going to win at some point,” the 32-year-old said.
“I think he missed some important details that allowed me to get back into the game, but before that, he was completely outplaying me again.
“Actually, I didn’t feel too nervous during the game, but I felt uncomfortable out in the open.”
The ninth match of the series will be played at Resorts World Sentosa on Thursday.
The first player to score 7.5 points is declared the winner.
Tiebreaks will take place if players are tied on seven points after 14 games.
Gukesh is the youngest player in history to compete in a world championship and is looking to surpass Garry Kasparov as the youngest undisputed world chess champion.
