World Champion Ding Liren appears prepared and desirous to return to the chessboard for his first classical chess match in eight months. “I’m significantly better than possibly two or three months in the past,” he stated in an interview with Chess.com, a number of days forward of the Tata Metal Chess Match.

Sitting in entrance of his pc in Hangzhou, China, Ding made a cheerful impression. A couple of days earlier than, he had accepted my interview request immediately, as if he had been prepared not just for extra chess, but additionally for brand new media consideration. I used to be glad that he answered my first query, which on this case was greater than only a customary technique to begin the dialog, quite positively: “I am good. Significantly better than earlier than.”

I am good. Significantly better than earlier than.

Our Zoom name occurred two months after Ding revealed that he had been scuffling with sickness for a while. Additionally throughout our discuss, he wasn’t keen to enter element however famous: “I spent loads of time recovering. It was psychological, not bodily. Now I can say I’m significantly better than possibly two or three months in the past.”

Ding’s psychological issues had been doubtless associated to the aftermath of his world championship, which he received after a dramatic tiebreak in April 2023 in Astana, Kazakhstan. He was concerned in lots of interviews and different actions in China, even visiting his former highschool to speak to and encourage the pupils there. “I felt strain from in all places,” he stated. “However that is only one aspect. It is extra difficult, however I do not wish to say an excessive amount of.”

With simply 9 classical video games on the Superbet Chess Traditional in Could 2023, Ding has been one of many least lively world champions after profitable the title, barring the erratic GM Bobby Fischer. Final weekend, he performed the Chinese language Chess King Competitors, a fast occasion in Chengdu. It was a warm-up occasion for Wijk aan Zee and the primary time he had touched the wood items in 236 days.

“I felt excited earlier than the match however exhausted after,” stated Ding, who completed in a disappointing fourth place, dropping to GM Wang Hao within the semifinal after which to his good good friend GM Wei Yi within the comfort remaining. Under are his video games for replay:

It gave him some doubts about Wijk aan Zee. “Mentally I’m prepared, however I’m not positive if I can present my finest chess,” Ding stated. “Bodily I’m high-quality; I feel I can compete in these very lengthy tournaments. However I’m excited, as a result of it’s a likelihood to check my power proper now.”

Ding shall be arriving in Wijk aan Zee on Thursday as the highest seed, however he does not see himself because the match favourite. “No, I do not assume so,” he stated with a smile. “I’m not so assured about my power. Additionally, I’ve the crown, so there shall be extra cameras on me, which brings additional strain.”

I’ve the crown, so there shall be extra cameras on me, which brings additional strain.

The subject in Wijk aan Zee consists of 5 gamers who certified for the FIDE Candidates Match: GMs Ian Nepomniachtchi, Alireza Firouzja, Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, Vidit Santosh Gujrathi, and Gukesh Dommaraju. Requested who’s his favourite to win the match, Ding named a participant who narrowly missed out on the Candidates: 2023 winner GM Anish Giri.

And what in regards to the Candidates? “Fabiano Caruana is the favourite there, as a result of he has been taking part in superb chess, however in case you ask me for my favourite opponent, I’d say Firouzja, due to his dynamic fashion,” Ding stated. “And he proved himself in his final Swiss match, when he received seven video games in a row, which is kind of tough to realize.”

In the event you ask me for my favourite opponent, I’d say Firouzja, due to his dynamic fashion.

A world championship match between Ding and Firouzja would undoubtedly be an thrilling one. In 2019, Ding eradicated the French-Iranian prodigy within the third spherical of the FIDE World Cup, the place he completed second himself. On the Superbet match in Could, Firouzja received their particular person sport. Ding: “He’s a harmful opponent but additionally fairly enjoyable to play in opposition to.”

Requested whether or not his world title feels totally different with out GM Magnus Carlsen collaborating on the planet championship cycle, Ding answered negatively. “No, the world championship is the world championship. However I want he was taking part in, and I hope he’ll come again to struggle for the title. Perhaps if the format modifications, someday he’ll come again.”

Ding himself isn’t a fan of Carlsen’s suggestion to make the video games shorter, saying (with a giant smile): “I feel it is fairly regular to play classical to resolve the classical world champion; I feel it is a very classical technique to do it.”

I feel it is fairly regular to play classical to resolve the classical world champion; I feel it is a very classical technique to do it.

The truth is, if it had been as much as Ding, we might even return to the previous days the place a match might final 24 video games: “Truly for me that is additionally high-quality as a result of the final time in Astana I actually loved the occasion and wished it had lasted even longer.”

Ding did not have a robust opinion in regards to the chaotic month of December, when each the race for the FIDE Circuit spot and the ranking spot had been influenced by last-minute tournaments. “I certified myself by ranking,” he famous immediately. When he was at risk of not qualifying for the 2022 Candidates for not having performed sufficient rated video games, Ding performed a few occasions, together with a considerably controversial match in opposition to 4 gamers shortly earlier than the deadline, scoring three wins and a draw in opposition to every.

“There’s a video recorded of it so I can show that there was nothing mistaken with it,” he stated. “Additionally, I’m very proud about my efficiency since they don’t seem to be nobodies; they’re fairly proficient gamers. Additionally they received the World Group Championship later that yr.”

Whereas he labored with GM Richard Rapport earlier than and through his world championship match, Ding stated “it is a secret” who’s his second in Wijk aan Zee. I would not be stunned if he shall be working intently with one other participant, his good good friend Wei Yi (until they may each be taking part in for match victory, maybe).

Earlier than his match with Nepomniachtchi, Ding had acquired a poem written by Wei which described the 2 of them, and Ding stated he had tears in his eyes when he noticed it. Under is my try at a translation, even rhyming with the assistance of ChatGPT:

Within the quiet month of April, an previous good friend traveled hundreds of miles.
The caged hen flies excessive, the pond fish swims deeply into the river.
Although our hometown is much, why fear when collectively we roam?
Human affairs typically err, days cross, and troubles loom.
Solely within the realm of black and white, purity transcends schemes,
March ahead to the enemy’s traces, with willpower, no retreat it appears.
Awaiting your return on the twenty sixth, we’ll revel till the evening consumes,
Relaxation totally after your homecoming, as in intoxication we resume.

Throughout our name, Ding helped me to ensure the primary two traces had been correct. He defined that he was the hen going for his first title match, whereas Wei was the fish, who didn’t have many occasions on the time and was saving vitality. Because it seems, Wei writes poems from time to time, additionally for different associates. As a result of language barrier, there have not been many lengthy interviews with Chinese language chess gamers up to now. It is a pity, as a result of it appears there is a profound knowledge that we is likely to be lacking out on.

Take Ding himself. Throughout his world championship, he took Insanity and Civilization by the French thinker Michel Foucault to Astana. “It helped me to know our totally different roles,” he stated. “Rapport thinks extra like an artist. He has very authentic and artistic methods of pondering. So he’s the insanity, whereas I feel extra like a thinker typically.”

In the meantime, that thinker likes soccer too, with Juventus being his favourite membership and Federico Chiesa his favourite participant. He and Rapport additionally found a joint love for Western rock songs similar to Bob Dylan’s “Blowing within the Wind,” or John Denver’s “Take Me House, Nation Roads.” A Chinese language tune he likes is Pu Shu’s “Empty Sailboats.” 

Ding is a person with many pursuits, which I suspected was the rationale why he revealed final yr that he was contemplating retiring from chess if he misplaced his match with Nepomniachtchi. “I additionally thought-about retiring afterward!” he corrected me. “I used to be pondering of retiring after the Asian Video games [in late September – PD]. “I certified, however in the long run I didn’t play within the Asian Video games, so I didn’t retire.”

That is a reduction, and the identical will be stated for his future plans. “I want to win extra titles, extra tournaments. And I’ll defend my world title; the followers do not must be fearful.”

I’ll defend my world title; the followers do not must be fearful.

Shortly earlier than ending the Zoom name, Ding apologized for a number of the misunderstandings we had: “I have not spoken English for months!” It additional underlined his modest and sort nature. Whether or not his chess shall be rusty as properly is one thing we’ll see this Saturday. The Tata Metal Chess Match’s first spherical is on January 13, 2024, beginning at 8:15 a.m. ET / 14:15 CET / 6:45 p.m. IST. The video games and stay broadcast will be adopted right here.

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