Who is Ding Liren? China’s World Champion Facing India's D. Gukesh in the Fight for the Title

The World Chess Championship final is currently being held in Singapore from November 25 to December 13, 2024. The exciting match features India’s rising star, D. Gukesh, against the current world champion, Ding Liren from China.

Winning the World Chess Championship is a prestigious achievement in the chess world. Since 1886, only 17 players have held the title of World Chess Champion. This year, the event has the potential to introduce the 18th champion to the world. 

Who is Ding Liren?

Ding's journey with chess started in Wenzhou, a city in the Zhejiang region of China. The city is well-known for its vibrant chess scene. Ding started to play chess at the mere age of four.

He advanced through the ranks swiftly under the guidance of well-known trainers like Chen Lixing. He tied for the top spot in the U-10 and U-12 World Youth Championships in 2003 and 2004, respectively.

Ding Liren’s Journey Towards Becoming Champion

A turning point in Ding's career came in 2009 when he won the Chinese Chess Championship at the age of 16. With this victory, he became the youngest player to ever win the championship and was crowned grandmaster.

He continued his winning streak and cemented his status as a chess prodigy by winning the national championship championships in 2011 and 2012.

Ding has also performed exceptionally well in international team games. He was instrumental in China's triumph in the World Team Championship in 2015 and their gold medal win at the 2014 Chess Olympiad.

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World Record Set by Ding Liren

Ding is routinely placed among the top chess players in the world in individual tournaments. He broke the 2800 Elo rating in 2018 and set a new record by winning 100 straight classical chess games from 2017 to 2018. Currently he is at FIDE Rank 23.

Ding Liren: China’s First World Champion 

In 2022, Ding Liren finished second in the Candidates Tournament, earning his spot in the 2023 championship after Magnus Carlsen chose to give up his title.

Ding’s victory over Ian Nepomniachtchi in the 2023 FIDE World Chess Championship was an impressive display of his skill and determination. This win made him the first Chinese Classical World Chess Champion, adding another milestone to his already remarkable career.

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