Ding Liren and Gukesh D play to fizzling Game 9 draw in deadlocked title match
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Ding Liren and Gukesh Dommaraju are no closer to a verdict in their world championship match after Thursday’s ninth game fizzled out to a sixth successive draw after 54 moves and 3hr 56min, leaving the $2.5m contest deadlocked at 4½-4½ with five games to go.
The 18-year-old challenger from Chennai, playing as white, opted for the popular Catalan opening before springing the first surprise with 10 Bc3, a near-novelty at the highest level which prompted Ding to spend nearly 20 minutes considering his response.