China’s Ding Liren Crowned 17th World Chess Champion
China’s Ding Liren Clinches World Chess Championship Title in Astana Showdown
In a thrilling showdown in Astana, Kazakhstan, China’s Ding Liren emerged victorious as the 17th world chess champion after a tense match against Russian-born Ian Nepomniachtchi. The 30-year-old Ding secured the title in a rapid chess playoff, winning by 2.5 points to 1.5, in a dramatic conclusion to an unpredictable series of events.
The match, which saw the two grandmasters locked in a psychological battle across 14 intense “classical” games, ended in a 7-7 tie before Ding’s decisive victory in the rapid format. Fellow grandmaster Anish Giri took to Twitter to celebrate Ding’s triumph, dubbing him “One Ding to rule em all.”
With Ding’s win, China now holds both the men’s and women’s world chess titles, as current women’s champion Ju Wenjun gears up to defend her title against compatriot Lei Tingjie in July. Reflecting on his victory, Ding expressed his emotions, stating, “The moment Ian resigned the game was a very emotional moment, I cannot control my feelings.”
Ding’s path to the championship was marked by several critical moments, including a dramatic win in game 12 to level the score in the regular portion of the match. The Chinese grandmaster takes the crown from five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen of Norway, who opted not to defend his title this year after defeating Nepomniachtchi in 2021.
Ding’s journey to the championship was not without its challenges, as he was a last-minute replacement for Russia’s Sergey Karjakin, who was banned by the international chess federation (FIDE) for his support of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Despite ranking third in the FIDE rating list behind Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi, Ding’s remarkable performance in the Candidates tournament secured his spot in the championship match.
Following his historic win, Ding is set to participate in the Grand Chess Tour in Bucharest, Romania, starting on May 4. The new world champion’s victory comes after a period of limited activity due to COVID-19 lockdowns in China, showcasing his resilience and skill on the global chess stage.