Ding Liren Explained

Ding Liren
Country:China
Birth Date:24 October 1992
Birth Place:Wenzhou, Zhejiang, China
Grandmaster (2009)[1]
Worldchampion:2023–present
Peakrating:2816 (November 2018)
Ranking:No. 1 (April 2023)
Peakranking:No. 2 (November 2021)
Fideid:8603677
P:Dīng Lìrén
Wuu:Tin1 Liq5 nyin3

Ding Liren (; born 24 October 1992) is a Chinese chess grandmaster and the reigning World Chess Champion. He is the highest-rated Chinese chess player in history and also a three-time Chinese Chess Champion. He was the winner of the 2019 Grand Chess Tour, beating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the finals and winning the 2019 Sinquefield Cup.[2] [3] Ding is the first Chinese player ever to play in a Candidates Tournament and pass the 2800 Elo mark on the FIDE world rankings.[4] In July 2016, with a Blitz rating of 2875, he was the highest-rated Blitz player in the world.[5] In July 2023, Ding became the No. 1 ranked Rapid player, with a rating of 2830.[6]

Ding was undefeated in classical chess from August 2017 to November 2018, recording 29 victories and 71 draws. This 100-game unbeaten streak was the longest in top-level chess history,[7] until Magnus Carlsen surpassed it in 2019.[8] Ding ended up being the runner up of Chess World Cups in 2017 and 2019 consecutively and came second in the Candidates Tournament in 2022: this qualified him for the World Chess Championship 2023 against Ian Nepomniachtchi, as Carlsen declined to defend his title. Ding won, making him World Chess Champion, by defeating Nepomniachtchi 2½ to 1½ in the rapid tie breaks after their 7–7 tie in classical chess.

Early life and education

Ding was born in Wenzhou, China, and started learning chess when he was four years old.[9] He attended Wenzhou Zhouyuan Elementary School,[10] [11] and is a graduate of Zhejiang Wenzhou High School[12] and Peking University Law School.[13] [14]

Chess career

Ding is a three-time Chinese Chess Champion (2009,[15] 2011,[16] 2012[17]) and has represented China at all four Chess Olympiads from 2012 to 2018, winning team gold medals in 2014 and 2018, and individual bronze and gold medals in 2014 and 2018, respectively. He also won team gold and individual silver at the World Team Championships in 2015.[18]

In August 2015, he became the first Chinese player after Wang Yue to break into the top 10 of the FIDE world rankings.[19] In July 2016, with a Blitz rating of 2875, he was the highest-rated Blitz player in the world.[5]

After becoming the runner up of the Chess World cup in September 2017, he became the first Chinese player to qualify for a Candidates Tournament,[20] the penultimate stage in the World Championship. At the Candidates Tournament 2018, he placed 4th with 1 win and 13 draws, the only candidate without a loss at the event.

In September 2018, Ding became the first Chinese player to pass the 2800 Elo mark on the FIDE world rankings, and in November he reached a rating of 2816, the joint-tenth highest rating in history. This brought him to ranked 4th in the world for that month.[21]

In August 2019, he won the Sinquefield Cup, with 2 wins and 9 draws, beating reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen in the playoffs.[22]

In October of the same year, Ding qualified for the Candidates Tournament 2020–21 by finishing 2nd place in the World Cup for the second time in a row. He had a poor start to the Candidates tournament, however, and finished in a tie for 5th and 6th, with 4 wins, 4 losses, and 6 draws.

Along with Magnus Carlsen, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, and Levon Aronian, he was a 2019 Grand Chess Tour finalist. Ding went on to win the Grand Chess Tour final,[23] beating Aronian in the semi-finals and Vachier-Lagrave in the finals.

2022 Candidates and aftermath

After Sergey Karjakin was disqualified from the Candidates Tournament 2022, Ding was the highest player on the ratings list who was not already qualified.[24]

Ding had been unable to travel to tournaments outside China during the COVID-19 pandemic, and was thus short of the minimum games requirement for qualification,[25] [26] but the Chinese Chess Association organized three different rated events at short notice to allow him to qualify.[27]

At the Candidates Tournament, Ding recovered from a slow start and finished with 8/14 (+4-2=8), achieving second place at the tournament's end on July 5. Later the same month the reigning World champion Magnus Carlsen declined to defend his title against the Candidates winner, Ian Nepomniachtchi. Therefore, Ding's second-place spot qualified him to play Nepomniachtchi in the World Chess Championship 2023.[28]

In January 2023, Ding appeared at the Tata Steel tournament, defeating Gukesh D in the first round, but then he eventually lost to R Praggnanandhaa, Richárd Rapport and Anish Giri and finished in 11th place with 5.5/13 (+1-3=10).[29] This result dropped his rating below 2800, leaving only Magnus Carlsen to retain a rating above 2800.

World Champion (2023-present)

In April 2023, Ding and Nepomniachtchi began the World Championship match with a back-and-forth classical portion that ended tied 7–7. Ding then defeated Nepomniachtchi in rapid tiebreaks, winning the fourth game as black.[30] Ding became the first Chinese player to hold the title of World Chess Champion.

RatingClassical gamesPointsRapid gamesTotal
123456789101112131415161718
2795½1½0101½½½½0½½7½½½08½
2788½0½1010½½½½1½½7½½½19½

In May 2023, Ding participated in the GCT Superbet Chess Classic Romania, finishing in 8th with a score of 4/9 (+1-2=6).[31] Following this, Ding took a nine-month break from tournaments, citing a struggle with depression.[32] [33] He ended the break in January 2024, placing ninth at the Tata Steel Chess Tournament 2024 with a score of 6/13 (+2-3=8).[34]

Ding is expected to defend his title against Dommaraju Gukesh in the World Chess Championship 2024. Gukesh qualified as the winner of the 2024 Candidates Tournament.

Results

Notable Games

In a constant push for the initiative, Ding places multiple pieces en prise, chasing the white king up the board before bringing his pieces back to set up a mating net, ending in a knight sacrifice to entomb the white king.[58]

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIDE Title Applications (GM, IM, WGM, WIM, IA, FA, IO). Administrator.
  2. Web site: Ding Liren Wins 2019 Grand Chess Tour. 9 December 2019 .
  3. Web site: Ding Beats Carlsen In Playoff To Win Sinquefield Cup. Peter. Doggers (PeterDoggers). Chess.com. 30 August 2019 .
  4. Web site: Ding Liren: Quiet Assassin. chess24.com. 23 May 2020.
  5. Web site: Search results: July 2016 . . 1 December 2018.
  6. Web site: Search results: July 2023. FIDE. 2 August 2023.
  7. Web site: Ding defeated! Tiviakov celebrates!. Macauley. Peterson. ChessBase. 11 November 2018.
  8. Web site: Magnus Carlsen satte verdensrekord: 101 partier uten tap. Jostein. Overvik. Ole Kristian. Strøm. Verdens Gang. 21 October 2019. no.
  9. Web site: Ding Liren makes history, becoming World Champion . 1 May 2023 . www.fide.com . en.
  10. Web site: 温州市中通国际学校. ztxx.lwedu.cn. 24 October 2020. 26 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201026232750/http://ztxx.lwedu.cn/xyxw/p/5260.html. dead.
  11. Web site: 新闻中心 – 温州网. news.66wz.com. 24 October 2020. 27 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201027163051/http://news.66wz.com/system/2004/08/31/058682114.shtml. dead.
  12. Web site: 浙江省温州中学 今日温中 我校高三学生丁立人与国际象棋特级大师卜祥志温州论剑. wzms.wzer.net. 24 October 2020. 27 October 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201027210511/http://wzms.wzer.net/art/2010/10/11/art_3017_103124.html. dead.
  13. Web site: PKU alumnus Ding Liren becomes the Runner-Up in the Individual Events of 2017 Chess World Cup . Peking University . 2 November 2017 . 27 April 2020.
  14. Web site: Introducing Candidates: Ding Liren. fide.com. 14 March 2020. 24 July 2020.
  15. Web site: 9 June 2009 . Chinese Championship – decision by default . 24 June 2023 . Chess News . en.
  16. Web site: 11 April 2011 . 2011 Chinese Championship: Ding Liren and Zhang Xiaowen win! . 24 June 2023 . Chess News . en.
  17. Web site: Chinese Chess Championships 2012 The Week in Chess . 24 June 2023 . theweekinchess.com.
  18. Web site: Ding Liren . 1 May 2023 . gashimovchess.com.
  19. Web site: Top 100 Players August 2015 FIDE Top players archive . 24 June 2023 . ratings.fide.com.
  20. Web site: Doggers (PeterDoggers) . Peter . 20 February 2018 . Candidates In Berlin; Who Will Play? . 27 July 2023 . Chess.com . en-US.
  21. Web site: Top 100 Players November 2018 FIDE Top players archive . 2024-05-16 . ratings.fide.com.
  22. Web site: 30 August 2019 . Ding Liren Wins 2019 Sinquefield Cup . 27 July 2023 . US Chess.org . en.
  23. Web site: Doggers (PeterDoggers) . Peter . 9 December 2019 . Ding Liren Wins 2019 Grand Chess Tour . 27 July 2023 . Chess.com . en-US.
  24. Web site: Ding Liren world no. 2 on May 2022 FIDE rating list . 4 June 2022 . chess24.com . en.
  25. https://chess24.com/en/read/news/sergey-karjakin-banned-from-chess-for-6-months-over-ukraine-stance Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin banned from chess for 6 months over Ukraine stance
  26. Web site: Barden . Leonard . 25 March 2022 . Chess: China's Ding Liren could make unlikely late bid for Candidates place . 29 March 2022 . The Guardian . en.
  27. https://www.chess.com/news/view/ding-liren-world-number-two-candidates Ding Liren Back To World #2, Plans To Reach 30 Rated Games Needed For Candidates
  28. Web site: Doggers . Peter . 20 July 2022 . BREAKING: Carlsen Not To Defend World Title . 20 July 2022 . Chess.com . en-US.
  29. Web site: Tata Steel Chess 2023: Masters Results.
  30. News: Graham . Bryan Armen . 30 April 2023 . Ding Liren defeats Ian Nepomniachtchi to win World Chess Championship – live . en-GB . the Guardian . 30 April 2023 . 0261-3077.
  31. Web site: Results & Standings - Grand Chess Tour: Superbet Chess Classic Romania 2023 . 2024-05-16 . Chess.com . en-US.
  32. Web site: Svensen (TarjeiJS) . Tarjei J. . 2023-11-04 . Ding Reveals Reason For Withdrawals, Expects Comeback In 2024 . 2024-04-22 . Chess.com . en-US.
  33. News: Metz . Hartmut . 2024-04-22 . Schach-Weltmeister Ding Liren: „Ich möchte ein netter Mensch sein“ . 2024-06-02 . Die Tageszeitung: taz . de . 0931-9085 . Ich hatte einige Probleme, das ist richtig. Ich war erschöpft, konnte aber trotzdem nicht besonders gut schlafen. Das führte zu einer Depression. . I had some problems, that's true. I was exhausted, but I still couldn't sleep very well. That led to depression..
  34. Web site: Tata Steel Chess 2024: Masters Results.
  35. Web site: World Youth Chess Championships 2002 :: Chess.GR. 20 June 2009. 23 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202606/http://www.chess.gr/tourn/2002/wycc02/index.html. dead.
  36. Web site: Chess.GR :: World Youth Chess Championships 2004. 20 June 2009. 23 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150923202610/http://www.chess.gr/tourn/2004/wycc04/index.html. dead.
  37. Web site: Chinese Championship – a pictorial review. 14 June 2009.
  38. Web site: Titles approved at the 80th FIDE Congress. 19 October 2009. FIDE. 10 July 2019. 31 March 2019. https://web.archive.org/web/20190331165242/https://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/4148--titles-approved-at-the-80th-fide-congress-. dead.
  39. Web site: Chinese Championship (2011). www.chessgames.com.
  40. Web site: The Week in Chess: FIDE World Cup Khanty-Mansiysk 2011. Crowther. Mark. 21 September 2011. London Chess Center. 14 November 2011.
  41. Web site: Chinese Chess Championship (2012). www.chessgames.com.
  42. Web site: - Vachier-Lagrave tops SPICE Cup. 22 October 2012.
  43. Web site: Aronian and Gelfand win Alekhine Memorial 2013 . ChessBase News . 1 May 2013 . 2 May 2013 . 15 June 2013 . https://archive.today/20130615210831/http://www.chessbase.com/Home/TabId/211/PostId/4009694/aronian-and-gelfand-win-alekhine-memorial-2013-020513.aspx . dead .
  44. News: Convincing Win For Ding Liren In Shenzhen - Chess.com. (PeterDoggers). Peter Doggers. Chess.com. 22 December 2017. en-US.
  45. Web site: Ding Liren Wins Moscow Grand Prix. FIDE. 13 October 2017. 14 October 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20171014034730/http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/10192-fide-2017-moscow-grand-prix-r5-mamedyarov-ding-continue-to-lead-.html. dead.
  46. Web site: World Championship Candidates (2018) . 28 March 2018 .
  47. Web site: Results: Cross Table. Shamkir Chess. Staff writer(s). 28 April 2018.
  48. Web site: St. Louis Rapid & Blitz Winners & Losers. chess24. 15 August 2019.
  49. Web site: Results And Standings – 2019 Grand Chess Tour . . 29 August 2019.
  50. Web site: Doggers (PeterDoggers) . Peter . 5 October 2019 . Radjabov Wins FIDE Chess World Cup; Vachier-Lagrave Takes 3rd . 11 September 2023 . Chess.com . en-US.
  51. Web site: 2019 Tour Standings – 2019 Grand Chess Tour . . 8 December 2019.
  52. Web site: World Championship Candidates 2020/21 . chessgames.com . 16 November 2021.
  53. Web site: Goldmoney Asian Rapid (2021) . chessgames.com . 16 November 2021.
  54. Web site: Doggers (PeterDoggers) . Peter . Ding Liren Wins 2022 Chessable Masters . 25 July 2022 . Chess.com . 27 May 2022 . en-US.
  55. Web site: FIDE Candidates Tournament 2022 . 27 May 2023 . candidates.fide.com.
  56. Web site: Rodgers . Jack . 30 April 2023 . Ding Liren Wins 2023 FIDE World Chess Championship In Rapid Tiebreak . 30 April 2023 . Chess.com.
  57. Web site: Bai Jinshi vs Ding Liren, China 2017. Chessgames.com.
  58. Web site: The Best Chess Games Of All Time. 14 December 2022. Chess.com. It's mind over matter in this, the most recent game on the list, as Ding Liren continually places his pieces en prise to achieve relentless pressure against the white king.

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