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GM Ding Liren has withdrawn from a number of occasions since turning into world champion. Now the Chinese language star reveals to Chess.com the reason for his absence and his intention to return to event play in 2024.
The place is Ding? That is a query that has led to large hypothesis amongst chess followers in the previous couple of months. The world champion hasn’t performed a single event since Could when he completed eighth within the Superbet Chess Traditional in Bucharest, an occasion that he performed lower than every week after profitable the title in a grueling 18-game match in opposition to GM Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Ding then withdrew from the Superbet Speedy & Blitz shortly after that occasion. It was an exhausted world champion who as an alternative returned to Beijing to offer interviews to the Chinese language media. There, he hinted that he will not have a protracted profession, however does not intend to retire simply but.
“I can not discover extra enjoyable, and I need to discover new happiness elsewhere,” he was quoted as saying.
Ding then additionally cancelled his participation within the International Chess League in June, Chess.com’s Pace Chess Championship in September and the Asian Video games shortly after. This week, the Grand Chess Tour additionally shared the information that Ding has been changed by GM Levon Aronian and GM Liem Le within the Saint Louis Speedy & Blitz and the Sinquefield Cup, the place he was scheduled to play.
World Champion Ding Liren has withdrawn from each occasions of #GrandChessTour – #StlRapidBlitz and #SinquefieldCup. He shall be changed by GM Le Quang Liêm and GM Levon Aronian, respectively. #DingLiren #worldchampion #chess @LevAronianhttps://t.co/MuQCJUCyWT pic.twitter.com/FP8eTVWh9K
— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) November 1, 2023
Ding’s absence is in stark distinction to the previous world champion GM Magnus Carlsen, who has been lively this 12 months. The Norwegian has performed the Champions Chess Tour, the FIDE World Cup, the European Membership Cup, the Qatar Masters, and can be now set to play the European Group Championship for Norway in every week’s time.
Ding, then again, made his first public look in months in the course of the Chinese language Nationwide Thoughts Video games event on the finish of October, the place he was a co-commentator on nationwide TV together with GM Wang Rui.
BIG SURPRISE: This afternoon, the reigning World Chess Champion GM Ding Liren made a reside commenting on China Nationwide TV cell platform with GM Wang Rui for the 2023 China Nationwide Thoughts Video games which is ongoing in Hefei, Anhui province. @FIDE_chess pic.twitter.com/AzLCHpjgIN
— Liang Ziming (@liang_zimi34491) October 30, 2023
His public look is a optimistic signal and hints at a possible comeback, which the Chinese language star now confirms.
In an e mail to Chess.com, Ding reveals that he has been scuffling with sickness for a while. The world champion didn’t go into particulars, however stated that has been the reason for his absence from event play.
The 31-year-old additionally says that he won’t play any extra occasions in 2023, however intends to make a comeback within the 2024 Tata Metal Chess event that runs January 12 – 28. The sector in Wijk aan Zee has not but been formally introduced.
The following World Championship match is scheduled to happen on the finish of 2024 between defending champion Ding and the winner of the Candidates Event, which is ready for Toronto, Canada in April 2024.
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