Ding Liren lets Gukesh D off hook in Game 5 draw as world title match remains deadlocked

Exchange French leads to Game 5 draw after 3hr 0minBest-of-14-games match remains deadlocked at 2½-2½Ding Liren v Gukesh D: all your questions, answeredPlay through 22 famous world championship games

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.

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