Ding Liren

Ding Liren, born in 1992, is a Chinese grandmaster who reached the world elite through precise and resilient play. Grandmaster is the highest permanent title awarded by FIDE, the International Chess Federation, for results at international elite level.

In 2023 he contested the World Championship against Ian Nepomniachtchi. The fourteen classical games, played with several hours available to each player, ended 7 to 7. Ding then won the rapid tiebreak and became the first Chinese player to capture the open world title, which is available to all qualified players.

He defended the title against Gukesh Dommaraju in 2024. The match was decided in the final game and ended 7.5 to 6.5 for Gukesh, so Ding's reign concluded after one cycle. His achievement was distinct from the Women's World Championships previously won by several Chinese players.