In Game 5 of the FIDE World Championship, Ding Liren appeared to be in a strong position to secure a victory, but D. Gukesh’s solid defense resulted in a draw, keeping the match tied at 2.5 – 2.5. Gukesh began the game with an unconventional approach, countering Ding’s French defense with an exchange variation, leading to a quick exchange of queens by the ninth move.
Despite this aggressive start, the reigning champion managed to maintain his position and pushed forward down the kingside. However, an unconventional move by Gukesh (Nxg5 followed by Ngf3) allowed Ding to invade Gukesh’s territory more effectively.
When the opportunity for a rook exchange arose, Gukesh opted to protect his remaining rook by moving his knight, admitting later that he made an error by capturing Ding’s bishop with a pawn rather than the rook. After a series of exchanges, Gukesh took a step back and reorganized his pieces. Despite having a significant advantage, Ding did not fully exploit it, allowing Gukesh to fortify his defenses.
As the game approached its conclusion, a double repetition of moves led both players to complete 40 moves, resulting in a mutually accepted draw. The 14-game match remains delicately balanced, with the scores still even. Gukesh has now played three games with the white pieces, achieving one win, one loss, and one draw.
This game not only serves to dispel any lingering complacency he might have had due to his challenging mid-game but also boosts his confidence, proving that he can navigate tricky situations on the board despite any apparent advantage Ding may hold.
