Defending champion Carlsen had won the longest game in World Chess Championship history yesterday to edge into a 3.5 to 2.5 lead.

The match lasted 136 moves and eight hours.

Today’s match proved a far shorter contest, with the two players shaking hands on a draw after 41 moves.

Carlsen now holds a 4-3 lead at the halfway point of the 14-game series.

The Norwegian compared the game to a contest against Vishy Anand in the 2013 World Championship final.

"I remember my first match against Vishy when I broke through and won the fifth game, then I managed to gradually equalise in the sixth and eventually win," Carlsen said.

"I was slightly hoping that we could follow a similar scenario, but a draw is a very nice result."

Challenger Nepomniachtchi, playing under the Russian Chess Federation flag, will seek to make a breakthrough tomorrow in game eight.

The third rest day of the contest will follow on Monday (December 6).