World Chess C'ship: D Gukesh plays out a draw against Ding Liren in 2nd round

Indian Grandmaster D Gukesh played out a draw in the second round of the World Chess Championship against reigning champion Ding Liren in Singapore on Tuesday.

Playing with black pieces, Gukesh made an amend as he settled for a draw following a loss in the first round. 

Liren now leads the 14-game Championship 1.5-0.5.

After today's game, the 18-year-old Gukesh, the youngest contender for the World Championship crown, said, "Draw with black in the world championship match is always nice and it’s too early, we still have a long match."

Gukesh is in contention to become the first Indian world champion after the iconic Viswanathan Anand. Anand last won the crown in 2012.

“There is obviously some pressure for anyone playing in a World Championship; there is a lot of pressure. But I also see it as a privilege that I can represent so many people and my country,” he said.

“I am just focusing on one game at a time. Hopefully, things go my way,” he added.

Despite the draw in the second round, Liren, who is playing the Championship on the heels of a pathy form, expressed happiness.

“In the first game I played something new in the opening and of course it requires a lot of memory. Today I also played not a common move (for me) 1.e4 and I prepared a lot,” he said.

Liren won the first game with black pieces after Gukesh committed an error under time pressure at the halfway mark

The player who attains 7.5 points first will be declared the champion.