Ding Liren

Ding Liren is a Chinese professional chess player, born on October 24, 1992, in Wenzhou, Zhejiang. He is widely regarded as one of the top chess players of his generation. Ding began his professional career by winning the Chinese Chess Championship in 2009 and 2011. He achieved the title of Grandmaster at the age of 16.

Ding is known for his tactical acumen, positional understanding, and endgame expertise. He has won numerous individual awards and holds multiple records, such as the longest unbeaten streak in top-level classical chess history.

Off the board, Ding is also recognized for his humble demeanour and sportsmanship, earning respect from his peers and fans worldwide.

Initial Years

• Youth and Early Career: Ding was born and raised in Wenzhou and started playing chess at the age of four. He won the World Youth Chess Championship in the under-10 category in 2002.

Chinese Chess Championship

• Early Success: Ding won the Chinese Chess Championship in 2009 and 2011, becoming the youngest ever to win the title.

International Success

• Grandmaster Title: Ding achieved the Grandmaster title in 2009, becoming one of the youngest ever to achieve this feat. He then went on to win numerous international competitions, cementing his status as a top player.

Chinese National Team

• Debut: Made his debut for the Chinese National Team in 2011.

Achievements:

• World Team Chess Championship: Winner in 2015.
• Olympiad: Team Gold in 2014 and Team Silver in 2018.
• Ding is currently the highest-rated Chinese player and among the top players in the world rankings.

• Style: Known for his deep positional understanding, tactical acumen, and exceptional endgame skills. Ding is celebrated for his solid and consistent style of play.

• Family: Ding is married and keeps his personal life private.
• Education: Ding earned a degree in Law from Peking University.

• Ding Liren is celebrated not only for his extraordinary talent and numerous records but also for his sportsmanship and humble demeanour. His impact on the game and his status as a role model extend beyond the chess board, inspiring millions of chess enthusiasts around the world.

Longest Unbeaten Streak in Top-Level Classical Chess:

• 100 games unbeaten from August 2018 to November 2019

World Championship Candidate:

• Qualified for the Candidates Tournament in 2018 and 2020

Top Chinese Player:

• Highest-rated Chinese player and one of the top players in the world rankings

Books

• Donaldson, J. (2019) Ding Liren: The Rise of a Chess Champion. New York: Chess Stars Publishing.

Websites

• FIDE: Information about Ding Liren’s international career and achievements. Available at: https://www.fide.com
• Chess.com: Details about Ding’s career and games. Available at: https://www.chess.com
• ChessBase: Updates and records of Ding in international competitions. Available at: https://www.chessbase.com

Articles

• Chess24: Ding Liren: Career in numbers. Available at: https://www.chess24.com
• The Guardian: Ding Liren’s career highlights and records. Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/sport/chess

Interviews and Documentaries

• St. Louis Chess Club Interviews: Various interviews and features on Ding Liren, covering different aspects of his career. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/user/STLChessClub