2023-04-30 14:16:19
Ding Liren became the first Chinese to win the title of World Chess Champion. With a 2.5:1.5 victory in the tie-break, the 30-year-old prevailed once morest the Russian Jan Nepomnyashchi in Astana on Sunday. The previous world champion Magnus Carlsen from Norway had decided not to defend his title. In 2021 he had won the World Cup duel once morest Nepomnjaschtschi prematurely.
This time the decision was only made in rapid chess with a shorter thinking time. Ding prevailed with the black pieces once morest Nepomnjaschtschi. After 14 regular games it was 7:7 in Kazakhstan’s capital.
“I’m pretty relieved. The moment Jan gave up was very emotional. I mightn’t control my feelings,” said Ding. The Chinese stayed at the board for a long time when the tension left him. “It was a tough tournament for me.”
The 32-year-old Nepomnyashchi had won the second, fifth and seventh game. Ding equalized in the fourth, sixth and twelfth game and in the end, with strong nerves, crowned himself the 17th world champion in chess history.
“A tie-break is always something like a lottery,” said Nepomnyashchi. Ding made fewer mistakes than he did. “It’s that simple,” explained the Russian. He had many good positions, but didn’t take his chances. “It was a matter of one or two precise moves,” Nepomnyashchi said.
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