An early attack by Ding failed to yield a result, and both players opted to exchange queens.

Playing with the black pieces and under the neutral FIDE flag because of the war in Ukraine, Nepomniachtchi pushed for a victory that would have been decisive in the World Championship Match, but an imprecise move along with astute defence by Ding kept him at bay.

After six-and-a-half hours of play, the 90-move game ended in a draw at the St Regis Hotel in Kazakhstan's capital.

The results ensured both players tied on seven points after the regulation 14 games.

Four rapid games are set to be played tomorrow in a bid to decide who succeeds Norway's Magnus Carlsen as world champion.

This playoff is set to feature time control of 25 minutes plus a 10-second increment per move.

After a drawing of lots, Ding is set to play with the white pieces in the first game.

If there is still no winner after the four rapid games, a two-game playoff with five minutes plus three seconds increment per move time control is set to be played.

Further tiebreaks if required are another two-game playoff with the same time control, followed by a single game played with a time control of three minutes for each player plus two seconds increment per move.

These single games would continue until a winner is found.