LaviChess

Ding Liren

In 2023 Ding Liren became the first player from China to win the open world title. He beat Ian Nepomniachtchi in rapid games after 7–7 in the classical games. He was world champion until December 2024, when he lost a close match to Gukesh Dommaraju.

  • BornOctober 24, 1992, Wenzhou, China
  • CountryChina
  • World champion2023–2024
  • In the line of championsNo. 17 of 18
  • Highest rating2816 (November 2018)
    FIDE's official lists (from July 1971)

The road to the title

Ding comes from Wenzhou in China and has won the Chinese championship three times. Between August 2017 and November 2018 he played 100 classical games in a row without losing.

When Magnus Carlsen chose not to defend the title, Ding got his chance, because he had finished second in the 2022 Candidates tournament, behind Ian Nepomniachtchi.

The title matches

Ding's points come first, then wins (+), losses (−) and draws (=) in the classical games. A rapid tiebreak is given separately.
YearAgainstResultWhere
2023Ian Nepomniachtchi7–7 (+3 −3 =8), tiebreak 2½–1½
Won the title		Astana
2024Gukesh Dommaraju6½–7½ (+2 −3 =9)
Lost the title		Singapore

The match in Astana

The 2023 title match in Astana, Kazakhstan, was close all the way. After fourteen games it stood 7–7. The rapid tiebreak began with three draws, and in the fourth game Ding won with Black.

Afterward

In December 2024 Ding lost the title to Gukesh Dommaraju in Singapore, 6½–7½. The match was decided in the fourteenth and last game, which you can replay here.

Ding's games here

abcdefgh87654321
Ding vs. Gukesh, 2024 World Championship, Game 14. After 53.Ba8: the white bishop is in the corner. The position is still a draw.

Sources

  • Wikipedia: Ding Liren
  • Store norske leksikon: Magnus Carlsen (on the 2023 title match)
  • Chess.com: Ding Liren Wins 2023 FIDE World Championship In Rapid Tiebreaks
  • Chess.com: Ding Liren
  • FIDE: Ding's rating history
  • PGN Mentor: the 2023 and 2024 title matches and the 2022 Candidates tournament

The facts on this page come from the sources above, checked against each other. Where the sources disagree, only what they agree on is given. The match results are also checked against the games themselves.

Updated November 8, 2026