The Women's World Championship Match is all set for a deciding encounter with the score now 5.5 points each after today's draw ©FIDE/Stev Bonhage

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) Women’s World Championship Match is all set for a deciding encounter tomorrow, after the 11th game between Chinese duo Ju Wenjun and Lei Tingjie ended in a draw in Chongqing.

The players are now tied overall at 5.5 points apiece following today’s stalemate, which was a complicated and tense positional game.

Challenger Lei, playing in white, started with a sequence of moves known as the Italian opening, which she also did in her victory in game five, her only win of the entire contest so far.

Defending champion Ju opted for a different line to game five and managed to gain more spatial control on the board.

Following 48 moves a draw was agreed between Ju Wenjun and Lei Tingjie in the FIDE Women's World Championship Match ©FIDE/Stev Bonhage
Following 48 moves a draw was agreed between Ju Wenjun and Lei Tingjie in the FIDE Women's World Championship Match ©FIDE/Stev Bonhage

Lei transferred her king to the kingside of the board in a bid to gain a better position, and although a push through the centre of the board gave Ju the advantage, an even endgame transpired with queens and opposite-coloured bishops.

Following 48 moves in today’s contest, a draw was agreed, meaning the winner of tomorrow’s 12th game, will become women’s world chess champion.

With nine draws from 11 games so far, a draw is very much a probable outcome tomorrow, which would mean rapid fire tiebreak matches are played to decide a winner.