Singapore, November 26:  Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh bounced back to draw a largely uneventful second game against defending champion Ding Liren of China in the World Chess Championship here on Tuesday. Playing with black pieces, Gukesh made a comeback of sorts, having lost to Liren in the opener of the 14-game showdown, on Monday. It was a good recovery by Gukesh as Liren could do very little with his white pieces and had to share the point. "Draw with black in the world championship match is always nice and it's too early, we still have a long match," the Chennai-based GM said in the post-game press conference. Ding Liren Draws First Blood, Beats D Gukesh in FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 Opener.

"I think after I was surprised in the opening, I reacted pretty decently, and I didn't give him any chances. It was a solid game with black, which is nice," he added. If Monday was the day when nothing he did worked according to plan, Tuesday changed everything for Gukesh as he could not have asked for a better start. Liren did not press at all while Gukesh just followed the basics as the game ended in a draw via repetition soon after black had completed the 23rd turn.

It was one of the quietest variation in the Italian opening as Liren probably did not want to rush things having grabbed a full point advantage in the first game itself. It may be recalled that the Chinese had won the last world championship match against Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia after coming back from behind as many as three times. The 32-year-old said he was happy with how he performed in the second round. "In the first game I played something new in the opening and of course it requires a lot of memory. Today I also played not a common move (for me) 1.e4 and I prepared a lot," Liren said. World Chess Championship 2024 Schedule Time in IST, Live Streaming Online, Prize Money and All You Need To Know About D Gukesh vs Ding Liren Final.

"I think it will be a big fight tomorrow. He's a point down and he will have the white pieces, so I am ready for a fight," he added. Liren's fifth move, when he moved his Queen's knight, was an indication enough about his peaceful intentions. There have been many top-level games that have ended in draws through this manoeuvre and this game was no exception. Gukesh just had to develop his pieces randomly and the game never really got off to a situation where it could be truly called complicated.

Both the Bishops and the Queens were off the board early and what remained were a couple of Knights, the Rooks pair and eight pawns each for both players with hardly any real chances for a breakthrough. The draw was a just result but there was no denying that it was a morale-boosting moment for Gukesh who can now look up to his next game with optimism with the slightly favourable colour in the game. D Gukesh vs Ding Liren Live Streaming Online: How To Watch Telecast of FIDE World Chess Championship 2024 in India With Time in IST?.

In head-to-head encounters, Liren has a handsome three-point lead in Classical games and Team Gukesh will now be focused on bringing it down in the USD 2.5 million prize money championship. The 18-year-old Gukesh is the youngest ever challenger to the world crown and is looking to become the first Indian after the iconic Viswanathan Anand to win the title. "There is obviously some pressure for anyone playing in a World Championship; there is a lot of pressure. But I also see it as a privilege that I can represent so many people and my country," he said. "I am just focusing on one game at a time. Hopefully, things go my way," he added.

The first player to reach 7.5 points among the two will claim the coveted crown in the USD 2.5 million prize money event. Anand, who has played a major role in shaping Gukesh's career, held the title five times in his illustrious career before Norwegian superstar Magnus Carlsen dethroned him in 2013. World Chess Championship 2024 Google Doodle: Search Engine Giant Unveils Latest Artwork Ahead of Ding Liren vs D Gukesh Match.

The Moves:

1.e4 e5

2.Nf3 Nc6

3.Bc4 Bc5

4.d3 Nf6

5.Nc3 a6

6.a4 d6

7.0–0 h6

8.Be3 Be6

9.a5 Bxc4

10.dxc4 0–0

11.Bxc5 dxc5

12.b3 Qxd1

13.Rfxd1 Rad8

14.Rdc1 Nd4

15.Ne1 Rd6

16.Kf1 g6

17.Rd1 Rfd8

18.f3 Kg7

19.Kf2 h5

20.Ne2 Nc6

21.Nc3 Nd4

22.Ne2 Nc6

23.Nc3 Nd4

Game drawn.