Chinese chess grandmaster Ding Liren on Sunday, April 23, failed to take advantage of playing with the white pieces, and was unable to secure a win, getting only a slightly better position.

After three hours of play and with just the two kings left on the board, the game ended in a draw on move 45. After the game, Ding said that: "I need to gain at least one win to level the scores. The tournament is not finished yet. I wouldn't say how much confidence I have right now; I do not consider it."

ALSO READ: World Chess Championship 2023: Nepo maintains lead after second draw

Ding tried to create winning chances as best he could, but Black, Russian chess grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi, was never in real danger of losing and, with just four more games scheduled to take place, Nepomniachtchi maintains the lead with 5,5:4,5 after game 10.

Ding was under more pressure to play for a win in the game but Nepo defended everything and held his line in the endgame which resembled the situation from game nine when White (Nepomniachtchi) had a pawn advantage in a dead-even draw but opted to press his opponent for another 30 moves.

ALSO READ: Former world champion Kasparov calls April’s world title match ‘amputated event’

With just four more games left in the match, Nepomniachtchi has an advantage in the upcoming eleventh game, where he will play with the white pieces.

Ding needs to win two games and not lose the other two if he wants to take the crown to China.

In the eleventh game, on Monday, April 24, he will be leading black pieces, which makes it riskier to play for a win.