World chess championship tied with four games to go

Singapore: Defending champion Ding Liren and his teenage challenger Gukesh Dommaraju of India remained even Saturday with only four games to go in the...

Singapore: Defending champion Ding Liren and his teenage challenger Gukesh Dommaraju of India remained even Saturday with only four games to go in their World Chess Championship match.

The score is deadlocked at five points each after 10 games in the 14-match series as both agreed to a draw.

Each player has won one game apiece, with Ding taking the opening match on November 25 and Guksesh coming back to defeat the champion in game three. The rest ended in draws.

Ding, 32, gained early advantage Saturday playing with the white pieces but the game soon fizzled to a draw as neither player made any inroads after 36 moves.

As the tournament neared the homestretch, both players admitted that each move will be crucial.