Ding Liren lets Gukesh D off hook in Game 5 draw as world title match remains deadlocked | World Chess Championship 2024

Indian teenager Gukesh Dommaraju survived a scare before escaping with an improbably stress-free draw on Saturday in the fifth game of his world championship match with Ding Liren that left the $2.5m showdown deadlocked at 2½-2½.

After Ding opted for another French Defense (1 e4 e6), Gukesh blitzed into the drawish Exchange Variation (2 d4 d5 3 exd5 exd5), a passive opening out of step with his aggressive reputation, particularly while playing with the favored white pieces.