Ding Liren’s Victory in Armageddon Lifts Spirits at Norway Chess Event

Ding Liren’s Victory Over Nakamura Boosts Confidence Despite Last Place Standing

The recent victory of Ding Liren over Hikaru Nakamura in Armageddon at the Norway Chess event may not have lifted him in the standings, but it certainly uplifted his spirits. Ding, who is currently last in the six-player standings with just six points from nine games, has been struggling with his form in recent tournaments.

After a string of poor performances in 2024, including finishing last in a local tournament in China, Ding’s win over Nakamura was a much-needed confidence boost. In a post-game interview, Ding expressed his satisfaction with stabilizing his openings in the Armageddon games and gaining some much-needed points after a series of defeats.

Despite his struggles, Ding remains optimistic about his upcoming world chess championship battle against D Gukesh from India. He mentioned watching snooker videos on the rest day to keep himself occupied and shared his thoughts on the Armageddon format, stating that his overall record in Armageddon games is also quite bad.

While Ding’s victory was a setback for Nakamura’s hopes of winning the Norway Chess event, Magnus Carlsen currently leads the standings with Nakamura in second place. India’s Praggnanandhaa is in third place and still has a chance to win the event, depending on the outcomes of the final round matches.

In the women’s section, Vaishali Rameshbabu suffered a defeat that pushed her to fourth place in the standings. However, the focus remains on Ding’s potential resurgence in form leading up to the world chess championship battle against Gukesh.

As Ding looks ahead to the future, he remains focused on regaining his top form and preparing for the upcoming challenges in the world of chess. Despite his current standing in the Norway Chess event, Ding’s victory over Nakamura serves as a reminder of his potential and determination to succeed in the game he loves.