“Ding Liren Admits Underdog Status Ahead of World Chess Championship Match Against Gukesh Dommaraju”

World Champion GM Ding Liren has shocked the chess world by admitting that he sees himself as the clear underdog in his upcoming title match against challenger GM Gukesh Dommaraju. In a candid interview with Kaja Snare on TakeTakeTake’s YouTube channel, Ding revealed his concerns about potentially losing “very badly” in the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship.

Ding, who has struggled to find his form in recent months, acknowledged that he has not been playing up to his usual standards. With a streak of 28 classical games without a win, the reigning champion finds himself ranked at a lowly 23rd in the world, a far cry from his peak performance in 2018 and 2019.

In contrast, his challenger Gukesh, a rising star in the chess world, has been in top form and is currently ranked fifth in the world. The 18-year-old Indian player has expressed his excitement for the upcoming match and is eager to take on the reigning champion.

Despite acknowledging Gukesh’s strong form, Ding remains hopeful that he can turn things around and put up a fight in the championship match. He admitted that he is worried about losing badly but is determined to show his supporters that he deserves their backing.

The World Championship match is set to begin in Singapore on November 25, and chess fans around the world will be eagerly watching to see if Ding can overcome his struggles and put up a strong performance against his talented challenger.