World Chess Championship Remains Deadlocked After Game 9 Draw

Ding Liren and Gukesh are tied 4.5-4.5 with five classical games left, as missed opportunities and defensive precision define the match.

Game 9 of the FIDE World Chess Championship ended in an uneventful draw, marking the sixth consecutive draw in the 14-game series.
The match remains evenly poised at 4.5-4.5, with reigning champion Ding Liren and challenger Gukesh struggling to convert promising positions into wins.
Both players demonstrated near-perfect accuracy in Game 9, but Gukesh admitted to rushing a critical move, losing a potential edge.
Ding holds a statistical advantage in potential tie-breaks due to his higher ratings in rapid and blitz formats, though he insists it is too early to focus on that possibility.
With five games remaining, the pressure to avoid mistakes grows, as either player seeks a decisive victory to avoid relying on faster time controls.