Ding Admits Fears Ahead Of Gukesh Match: 'I Am Worried About Losing Very Badly'
World Champion GM Ding Liren revealed that he considers himself the clear underdog in his title match against his challenger, GM Gukesh Dommaraju, admitting that he is worried that he will lose "very badly."
With less than three weeks to the 2024 FIDE World Chess Championship, the Chinese 32-year-old has offered a glimpse into his mindset by opening up about his struggles in a candid interview with Kaja Snare, released on TakeTakeTake's YouTube channel on Monday.
Ding has mysteriously been a shadow of himself and a far cry from the player who broke 2800 and emerged as a threat to former world champion GM Magnus Carlsen in 2018 and 2019. Carlsen himself famously suggested earlier this year that Ding may be "permanently broken" and that he may not return to the level he was at.
One-and-a-half years after winning the title in a thrilling match against GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, Ding has fallen below 2730 and dropped to world number 23, the lowest ranking ever for a reigning champion.
"Maybe I am not so eager to play. I don't have the same ambitions to win the game," he said when Snare asked for his explanation.
The world champion dismissed the suggestion that the pressure of the title was hurting him but then pointed out that he now has a streak of 28 classical games without winning once. In fact, his last win came against GM Max Warmerdam in the 12th round of the 2024 Tata Steel Chess.
That's zero wins, 21 draws, and seven losses. "My game has many mistakes. They are in all parts of the game. I sometimes manage to create chances and get winning positions, but I can't convert them. It's the same problem every time," Ding explained.
In contrast, his 18-year-old challenger seems very ready for the upcoming battle, recently telling Chess.com that he was "really looking forward to the match" and riding high after a fantastic year. Gukesh, who has now risen to world number five, shone especially brightly during the Chess Olympiad, scoring 9/10 to lead India to victory.
Ding episode is LIVE on Youtube. pic.twitter.com/BP8MchGOMU
— Take Take Take (@TakeTakeTakeApp) November 5, 2024
Ding agreed that Gukesh is in top form, adding: "Clearly I will be the underdog approaching this match. I hope I can become a totally different player and at least give him a fight to slow down his pace... to have some winning chances."
Clearly I will be the underdog approaching this match. I hope I can become a totally different player and at least give him a fight to slow down his pace... to have some winning chances.
—Ding Liren
He denied being afraid of his young opponent and pointed out that he has a 2-0 score in classical chess, with one draw. His only loss came in the Chess960 event Freestyle Chess G.O.A.T Challenge in February. Ding, however, admitted he has some concerns.
"I am worried about losing very badly. Hopefully, it won't happen," the world champion said with a smile. "I hope you will see the same me as in the last world championship match."
I am worried about losing very badly. Hopefully, it won't happen.
—Ding Liren on his match against Gukesh
A heartwarming moment came when Snare asked what the support meant for him.
"Although I play so badly, there are still many who love and support me. Maybe I need to show that I deserve this kind of support."
"You don't think you deserve the support?" Snare asked.
"If I continue to play so badly without any fighting spirit, I may not deserve it."
If I continue to play so badly without any fighting spirit, I may not deserve it.
—Ding Liren
The interview was recorded after the final round of the Chess Olympiad in Budapest in September. Ding shared parts of his two-month preparation plan, saying:
"First I will have some rest to get away from chess, then I will go into a 'rush mode' because it will be very close to the match and we will start to prepare very hard and play some training games and find new ideas."
The World Championship match begins in Singapore on November 25.
Previous World Championship Coverage:
Tarjei J. Svensen is a Norwegian chess journalist who worked for some of the country's biggest media outlets and appeared on several national TV broadcasts. Between 2015 and 2019, he ran his chess website mattogpatt.no, covering chess news in Norwegian and partly in English.
In 2020, he was hired by Chess24 to cover chess news, eventually moving to Chess.com as a full-time chess journalist in 2023. He is also known for his extensive coverage of chess news on his X/Twitter account.
