Is this the end of Ding Liren?

Of course it's not the end. Ding Liren hasn't been playing for most of the last year owed to illness.

After a break, everyone needs time to get themselves back into playing shape.

Congratulations again to Praggnanandha. https://www.chess.com/news/view/2024-tata-steel-chess-round-4

And then Ding lost a game to Nepomniachtchi. Did Nepomniachtchi retire after losing the World Championship match to Ding?

More hyperbole from an Indian chess fan who'd have thought? 😂

Ding Liren can still recover his championship form. I hope he recovers just in time to defend the WCC.

I hope its not the end for him. His "immortal" game against Bai Jinshi (spelling?) Is one of my favorites of all time.

ikr

Ding is a great player. He hasn't played much since he became world champion, but I believe it's just a matter of time before which he once again gets back his form.

who was ding liren again? ah that guy who took the cup from the table when no one is looking.. i remembered

Ding has been out of the game for the past year, only recently re-entering high level tournaments. I suspect the stress of winning the championship, combined with the fact that nobody really recognizes him as such (people still talk about Magnus as being the champion before then admitting he gave up the title - but hey, wink wink, we all know, right?). Ding would know that every time he plays his games are going to be put under a microscrope, and compared to "what would Magnus have played?" Rather than celebrating his accomplishment, given he was a last minute entrant as well, the pressure may simply have gotten to him. He needed a break. It will take him time to get back up to form. This 960 format tournament was, I think, a mistake. I don't think he's ever played 960 at this level before, and some of his games seems to reflect that as he's approached most with a strong "standard chess bias" (things like not recognizing that the rooks are often far less valuable than the Bishops, as early in the game it is the diagonals you can control quickly and often fight for, rather than the files). He goes for pawn structures that are familiar from standard games, because that's what he knows. 960 requires unlearning some things and applying different rules of thumb (to be a bit glib). My worry is that he felt compelled to enter this tournament because if he didn't people would have just accused him of ducking having to play Magnus, and his poor performance is going to be viewed as further evidence that he is "not worthy". To me, though, his performance simply reflects he hasn't explored 960 all that much but has focused his efforts solely on chess. In short, he's not experienced in a different game, one that may resemble chess, but it isn't chess; it's 960. If it were so easy, I would hope he can just view this tournament as having a laugh, and nothing serious (for him; I mean, for others they may view this as more important; to each their own after all). Otherwise, if his confidence takes a huge knock, I am worried that it could just snowball, resulting in him retreating from high level play, and as a result, not being prepared to put forth his best games when it comes time to defend his title. And that would be a real shame.

wcc is like a gf for ding, who has an ex-crush but guy is still alive.. he will never be the one for her unless the guy is dead or defeated

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