Ding, LirenAge 32


Source: Frans Peeters / Wikipedia

Title
Grandmaster
Live Rating
2734.0
Live Rank
#21
FIDE Rating
2734
World Rank
#21
China Rank
#2
FIDE Peak Rating
2816 - Nov 2018 (Age 26)
FIDE Peak Rank
#2 (2799) - Nov 2021 (Age 29)
Rapid
2776 World #2, Peak 2836 (Jan 2020)
Blitz
2785 World #6, Peak 2875 (Apr 2016)
Born
24 Oct 1992
Wenzhou, Zhejiang Province
FIDE ID 8603677
Wikipedia
Facebook

Active Years:
2004 - 2025
Total Games:
1561
Wins:
530 (34%)
Losses:
244 (16%)
Draws:
787 (50%)
Total score:
59%
Performance :
Performance for the last active 12 months:
2706
White:
D37 Queen's Gambit Declined (38 games)
E11 Bogo-Indian Defense (32 games)
E05 Catalan Opening (27 games)
Black:
C54 Italian Game (40 games)
C84 Ruy Lopez (25 games)
C11 French Defense (25 games)

Ding Liren was born at a time when chess in China became a part of national policy, and he absorbed all the best that the system could offer. His immense natural talent and colossal dedication to self-improvement made him the first world champion from China.

The future champion was born on October 24, 1992, in Wenzhou. He discovered chess at the age of four thanks to his mother, who remained a guardian angel for him throughout his life. It happened entirely by chance: Ding had come to learn xiangqi, but the teacher did not show up, and he started playing another game. His love for chess was fostered by a family friend, Chen Lixing, who had previously coached world champion Zhu Chen. It took the boy just a few years to defeat everyone in his city, then his country, and eventually break onto the international stage, finishing second in the World Youth Championships Under 10 and later in the Under 12.

Ding Liren caught the attention of officials in the capital and was included in a talent support program, personally overseen by Ye Jiangchuan. Ye quickly recognised the boy's abilities, first including him in the Chinese Team Championship when he was 11, and then in the Individual Championship at age 12, where Ding caused a sensation by scoring 50%! Three years later, at age 15, Ding finished the tournament in 6th place, and just a year later, he became the champion. In 2009, he was the only non-grandmaster in the competition, his rating was below 2500, yet he went undefeated and scored six full wins – 8.5/11.

Over the next four years, Ding Liren won the national championship three more times in 2011, 2012 and 2014. Despite rarely traveling abroad, he managed to lift his rating to 2700 – nearly every performance was a success. In 2014, still relatively unknown outside China, he brought his country Olympic gold, scoring 7.5/10 on the second board (Wei Yi played on the first). This achievement earned him invitations to prestigious tournaments, and his very first Wijk aan Zee in 2015 became a true sensation – Ding finished just half a point behind the winner, Carlsen, with 7 wins and a total score of 8.5/13. Throughout the year, the Chinese player maintained his high level of results, finishing in the top four at the Bilbao Masters Final, where he competed on equal footing. Due to these successes, he raised his rating to 2782 and entered the top 10.

In 2015, now leading the Chinese team, Ding made them World Team Chess Champions, repeating this success in 2017. In 2018, he led China to another Olympic gold. This marked the peak period in the history of Chinese chess: their men's and women's teams dominated most tournaments, with Ding Liren as their undeniable leader. The women's crown had long and securely been in China's hands – the only goal remaining was to capture the men's title.

Thanks to his natural modesty, the 25-year-old Chinese player slowly and almost reluctantly stepped into the spotlight. He seemed embarrassed by each of his victories – whether at Shenzhen Masters, Moscow FIDE Grand Prix or the 2017 World Cup, where he reached the final and only lost to Aronian. By this point, Ding Liren had practically forgotten how to lose, achieving an unprecedented classical streak of 100 games without defeat over a year and a half (a record later surpassed by Carlsen, who extended it to 125 games!). This streak helped Ding join the "2800 club," and by the end of 2018, he reached his peak rating of 2816, the 10th highest in chess history.

The "idea of not losing" played a cruel trick on Ding Liren during the 2018 Candidates Tournament. He became the only player to go undefeated but was too restrained, and a single victory wasn't enough to earn a match against Carlsen. However, he didn't despair, and 2019 turned out to be the most successful year of his career. Following a third-place finish in Wijk aan Zee and second in Shamkir, he shared victories with Carlsen in Stavanger and Saint Louis – making it clear to everyone that the next World Championship match would likely feature these two. Ding secured his spot in the 2019 Candidates through the World Cup, once again reaching the final. Yet, the well-earned victory was snatched away by Radjabov.

Then, everything was upended by COVID-19. Ding Liren was considered a top favorite, but instead of preparing for the Candidates Tournament, he spent a month in quarantine, undergoing daily testing. Though allowed to play, he was completely out of form and disastrously performed in the first half of the tournament. The second half, held more than a year later, found him rebounding, winning that stage, but the chance to face Carlsen had already gone to Nepomniachtchi.

In 2021, Ding Liren didn't play a single game, stuck in China and missing all qualification events for the next Candidates Tournament. He wouldn't have participated at all if not for Karjakin's disqualification, which opened the door for him to qualify by rating – though it required him to play 30 games within a month! Having boarded the departing train at the last moment, Ding wasn't fully prepared. He lost his very first game and trailed Nepomniachtchi by 2.5 points by the end of the first half.

Then, the situation shifted again: Carlsen announced he might not defend his title, meaning that second place in the tournament would also lead to the championship match. Ding Liren launched an impressive comeback, winning three consecutive games. Before the final round, only a victory against Nakamura stood between him and success. The game seemed headed for a draw, but suddenly, Nakamura declined a repetition, and Ding emerged victorious, securing second place.

This extraordinary chain of events culminated in Ding Liren's victory over Nepomniachtchi! Despite being less prepared, often finding himself in worse positions, and teetering on the edge of a nervous breakdown during the early games – nearly forfeiting the match – he managed to steady his nerves. Both players made numerous errors; Nepomniachtchi took the lead three times, but Ding equalized on each occasion. The classical portion ended in a 7-7 tie, and the tiebreak proved decisive.

In November and December 2024, Ding met Indian prodigy Gukesh in the World Championship match played in Singapore, and relinquished the title to his younger opponent by 7.5-6.5 (+2 -3 =9) in the classical portion of the match, losing the 14th and final game of the match.

SUMMARY

17th undisputed Champion of the World: Ding Liren qualified as a World Championship Challenger against fellow World Championship Challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi for the 2023 World Championship match after Magnus Carlsen announced his retirement from the World Championship cycle. Nepomniachtchi and Ding had qualified for the match by placing first and second in the Candidates tournament of 2021-2022.

The World Championship match was held in April 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan and was won by Ding Liren in the fourth and final game of the rapid game tiebreaker after the classical portion of the match had been drawn 7-7 (+3-3=8). His unsuccessful defence of his title occurred on 12 December 2024.

World Champion 2023-2024.

Champion of China 2009, 2011 & 2012.

World Cup 2011 & 2015.

Represented China at:

- the Olympiads of 2012 and 2014, in the latter winning individual bronze for board two and team gold.

- the World Team Championships in 2011 (winning team silver), 2013 (team silver, individual bronze board two) & 2015 (team gold, individual silver board two)

- Asian Team Championships of 2012 (team gold, individual silver board four) & 2014 (team gold and individual gold board one) and

- Summit Matches vs Russia 2009 & 2012 (team was second in both), vs India 2015 (won), and in the Russia-China Challenge Match 2015 (team was second).

Ding Liren's best tournament win was Danzhou (2013), and he was equal first at Danzhou (2014). He was equal second at Tata 2015.

In the world's top 100 ranked players since May 2011.

2700chess.com


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Games

#White PlayerRatingBlack PlayerRatingResultMovesSiteDate 
1
Ding, Liren
2728
Gukesh, Dommaraju
27830-158Singapore12 Dec 2024board
2
Gukesh, Dommaraju
2783
Ding, Liren
27281/2-1/268Singapore11 Dec 2024board
3
Ding, Liren
2728
Gukesh, Dommaraju
27831-039Singapore9 Dec 2024board
4
Gukesh, Dommaraju
2783
Ding, Liren
27281-029Singapore8 Dec 2024board
5
Ding, Liren
2728
Gukesh, Dommaraju
27831/2-1/236Singapore7 Dec 2024board
6
Gukesh, Dommaraju
2783
Ding, Liren
27281/2-1/254Singapore5 Dec 2024board
7
Ding, Liren
2728
Gukesh, Dommaraju
27831/2-1/251Singapore4 Dec 2024board
8
Gukesh, Dommaraju
2783
Ding, Liren
27281/2-1/272Singapore3 Dec 2024board
9
Ding, Liren
2728
Gukesh, Dommaraju
27831/2-1/246Singapore1 Dec 2024board
10
Gukesh, Dommaraju
2783
Ding, Liren
27281/2-1/240Singapore30 Nov 2024board
11
Ding, Liren
2728
Gukesh, Dommaraju
27831/2-1/242Singapore29 Nov 2024board
12
Gukesh, Dommaraju
2783
Ding, Liren
27281-037Singapore27 Nov 2024board
13
Ding, Liren
2728
Gukesh, Dommaraju
27831/2-1/223Singapore26 Nov 2024board
14
Gukesh, Dommaraju
2783
Ding, Liren
27280-142Singapore25 Nov 2024board
15
Ding, Liren
2736
Caruana, Fabiano
27981/2-1/210Budapest22 Sep 2024board
16
Abdusattorov, Nodirbek
2766
Ding, Liren
27361/2-1/234Budapest21 Sep 2024board
17
Ding, Liren
2736
Maghsoodloo, Parham
27231/2-1/260Budapest20 Sep 2024board
18
Ding, Liren
2736
Le, Quang Liem
27410-162Budapest16 Sep 2024board
19
Shirov, Alexei
2666
Ding, Liren
27361/2-1/244Budapest15 Sep 2024board
20
Ding, Liren
2736
Martirosyan, Haik M
26671/2-1/231Budapest14 Sep 2024board
21
Fedoseev, Vladimir1
2692
Ding, Liren
27361/2-1/247Budapest13 Sep 2024board
22
Ding, Liren
2736
Henriquez Villagra, Cristobal
26041/2-1/233Budapest12 Sep 2024board
23
Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime
2721
Ding, Liren
27451-037Saint Louis28 Aug 2024board
24
Ding, Liren
2745
Abdusattorov, Nodirbek
27621/2-1/223Saint Louis27 Aug 2024board
25
Firouzja, Alireza
2751
Ding, Liren
27451-043Saint Louis26 Aug 2024board
26
Ding, Liren
2745
Praggnanandhaa R
27491/2-1/232Saint Louis25 Aug 2024board
27
Nepomniachtchi, Ian
2767
Ding, Liren
27451/2-1/266Saint Louis23 Aug 2024board
28
Ding, Liren
2745
Caruana, Fabiano
27931/2-1/251Saint Louis22 Aug 2024board
29
Ding, Liren
2745
So, Wesley
27511/2-1/249Saint Louis21 Aug 2024board
30
Giri, Anish
2746
Ding, Liren
27451/2-1/223Saint Louis20 Aug 2024board
31
Ding, Liren
2745
Gukesh D
27661/2-1/228Saint Louis19 Aug 2024board
32
Ding, Liren
2787
Utegaliyev, Azamat
23801-026Astana5 Aug 2024board
33
Utegaliyev, Azamat
2380
Ding, Liren
27870-137Astana5 Aug 2024board
34
Ding, Liren
2745
Bulatov, Ramil
21371-026Astana5 Aug 2024board
35
Kassimov, Baurzhan
2260
Ding, Liren
27450-141Astana5 Aug 2024board
36
Ding, Liren
2745
Grachev, Boris V
25851-032Astana5 Aug 2024board
37
Ding, Liren
2745
Dubov, Daniil
27010-144Astana5 Aug 2024board
38
Dubov, Daniil
2701
Ding, Liren
27450-146Astana5 Aug 2024board
39
Ding, Liren
2745
Dubov, Daniil
27011/2-1/233Astana5 Aug 2024board
40
Zhuravliev, Viktor
1998
Ding, Liren
27450-135Astana5 Aug 2024board
41
Ding, Liren
2745
Utegaliev, Azamat
24181-026Astana5 Aug 2024board
42
Ding, Liren
2745
Sindarov, Javokhir
26740-155Astana5 Aug 2024board
43
Utegaliev, Azamat
2418
Ding, Liren
27450-137Astana5 Aug 2024board
44
Zhuravlev, Viktor
2019
Ding, Liren
27870-135Astana5 Aug 2024board
45
Ding, Liren
2745
Teclaf, Pawel
25531-034Astana4 Aug 2024board
46
Ding, Liren
2745
Suleimen, Ergali
23341-032Astana4 Aug 2024board
47
Sindarov, Javokhir
2674
Ding, Liren
27450-156Astana4 Aug 2024board
48
Ding, Liren
2745
Mamedyarov, Shakhriyar
27331/2-1/218Astana4 Aug 2024board
49
Ding, Liren
2745
Erigaisi, Arjun Kumar
27781/2-1/239Astana3 Aug 2024board
50
Carlsen, Magnus
2832
Ding, Liren
27451-064Astana3 Aug 2024board