On 30 April 2023 in Astana Kazakhstan Chinese grandmaster Ding Liren sensationally defeated
Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi in a dramatic battle for the chess crown. Ding Liren not only
became the 17th World Chess Champion but he also won the hearts of chess fans across the globe
with his incredible fighting spirit and disarming interviews. At the final press conference
the new champion said the match ?reflected the deepest of his soul'. Humble and almost
vulnerable in his demeanour Ding Liren is a formidable fighter with a rich inner chess world.
Throughout his career his creative output has been immense. His games feature outstanding
precision rationality and superior endgame technique on the one hand and a talent to find
brilliant imaginative solutions on the other. His stoicism in the face of adversity and
ability to quickly learn from mistakes and adapt to his opponents is unique. Few chess greats
can boast that they reached first place in both the blitz and rapid world rankings and became
World Champion in classical chess. Even fewer can claim an unbeaten streak of 100 classical
games. That's how special Ding Liren is. In this best games collection grandmaster Davorin
Kuljasevic follows and explores Ding Liren's rise from his first chess steps in provincial
China to the top of the chess world. Making no secret of his admiration for this extraordinary
chess genius the author describes Ding Liren's successes and setbacks and how these
experiences shaped him as a player and a person.
