New Delhi: Former world chess champion Ding Liren has been dropped from the FIDE ranking list after playing very few games, but he seems completely at peace with the situation. Once at the top of the chess world, he is now taking a step back and enjoying a quiet phase in his career.Ding, who lost his world title to De Gokesh, said he was happy to be away from the pressure of elite tournaments.
“I am quite enjoying my current situation. I mean being a passive ranked player, who rarely attends elite invitationals. I am enjoying this rare moment of leisure,” he said.Instead of intense preparation, he now prefers casual online games. Explaining his current approach, Ding added: “I occasionally play online games: it doesn’t require hard pre-game preparation, just undivided concentration in the moment. The process itself is rewarding.”Ding became world champion in 2023 after defeating Ian Nipomanyachi, but his tenure was followed by a decline in form and eventual defeat. Nevertheless, he pushed Gokesh to the final game of the 2024 championship before losing.Looking back, Ding shared a personal reflection: “I wish my younger self had studied more and stayed in academic pursuits for a while, not letting it get in the way. That way, later years of life can be richer. People always dwell on the things they didn’t do (or the paths they didn’t take)”.For now, Ding appears to be stepping content out of the spotlight and focusing on a more relaxed relationship with the game.
