China’s Ding Liren’s victory after a hard-fought game in the World Chess Championship final against Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi marked a significant moment in chess history. Ding is only the second Asian to win the coveted title after Indian legend Viswanathan Anand, who wore the crown five times. The Super Grandmaster (GM) from China is also the world champion at a time when his compatriot Ju Wenjun holds the Women’s World Chess Championship title.
Ding’s victory was also made possible by the withdrawal of incumbent World No. 1 Magnus Carlsen from the race. The Norwegian won the title consecutively in 2013, 2014, 2016, 2018 and 2021, and is currently World No. 1 with 2853 ELO rating points. Despite winning the championship, Ding is rated only third, and is 63 points behind Carlsen. It is rare to see a top-rated player, who was the previous champion, declining to defend his title. U.S. maestro Bobby Fischer was the last to do so in 1975.
Ding joins the list of just 20 other players in history who have secured the title in the World Chess Championship, first conducted in 1886.
