Ding Liren

Biography (1992)

The strongest Chinese player in history, Ding Liren was born in Wenzhou, the hometown of China’s first Grandmaster Ye Rongguang and the former Women’s World Chess Champion Zhu Chen. His talent became evident at an early age. Guided by experienced coaches from his native “chess city”, he became the youngest-ever Chinese champion at 16 and a Grandmaster in the same year, 2009. He also won two back-to-back national titles in 2011 and 2012. At the same time, Ding Liren broke into the top-100 rating list in 78th place with 2664. Only four years later, in August 2015, he stormed into top-10 with 2770. In September 2017, Ding became the first Chinese player to qualify for a Candidates Tournament by reaching the World Cup final. A year later he broke the 2800 barrier, the first Chinese and the 14th player ever to do so and rose to #4 in the world. He has climbed as high as #2 since then and currently occupies third position in the rating list.Ding’s resilience is proven by an unprecedented 100-game unbeaten streak he held in 2017-2018, broken only by Carlsen in 2019. Tough at the board, he is modest and soft-spoken in real life, a trait that won fans’ hearts.Ding came second in the Candidates Tournament 2022, this qualified him for the World Chess Championship 2023 against Ian Nepomniachtchi, as Carlsen declined to defend his title. Ding won the 2023 World Championship match to become the first Chinese player to ever hold the title of (non-Women's) World Chess Champion. After a back-and-forth classical portion that ended tied 7–7, he defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi in rapid tiebreaks, winning in the 4th game as black.

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I thought that some players play too much bullet and blitz, which may influence your play in classical games. They cannot stop playing quickly, and sometimes make blunders

“Some of my readings have made me a better player… I remembered how Albert Camus talks about the concept of resistance. The idea is that if you see that you cannot win, do everything in your power to resist. And that memory gave me the determination I needed.”

It seems that there is no longer a need for on-the-board chess. There isn’t of a difference between online chess and on-the-board chess; both are chess. The initial position is the same. The rules are the same. I’d even say in a game of online chess, where you are facing a screen, you may not be as pressured from your opponent so you could play even better. Without being distracted by anything

On Liren

It turns out Ding has a nickname, Silent Storm, and it is as well judged as his final moves in the match. “Well, I am quiet,” he says, his voice rising barely above a whisper. “But then over the board …”

Ding sees a great connection between philosophy and chess, since both are abstract. “I am both very emotional and rational. And I’m also an art enthusiast. I consider myself an academic, a scholar who really likes to study, and I think I have found new ways to approach chess

It’s not enough to be a good player and get good positions. You also have to strike and to deliver… He managed to put up a fight. And I should give him very huge credit for that. In some games he was nearly on the ropes, but managed to play very precisely which saved him many points

Maybe people don’t know me so well. Even I don’t know me