Ding Liren Returns to Classical Chess After 16-Month Absence
Ding Liren is back at the classical board.
The former World Champion played his first rated classical game in roughly 16 months on April 19, representing Team Zhejiang at the Chinese Team Chess Championship in Daqing. He won with the Black pieces against IM Chen Qi b (2484) of Jiangsu in Round 1. A quiet return, but a meaningful one.
The last time Ding sat down for a classical game that counted was in Singapore, December 2024, when he lost the World Championship to Gukesh in a devastating Game 14 blunder. He hasn't played a single rated classical game since.
The Long Road Back
Ding's absence was never officially framed as a retirement. But it stretched longer than anyone expected.
After the World Championship loss, he retreated to Wenzhou, his hometown, and went quiet. In February 2025, he re-emerged with an unexpected move: signing with LGD Gaming, one of China's oldest esports organizations, to compete in the Esports World Cup chess qualifiers.
"It's a famous team that many people around me have heard of," Ding said at the time. "Except myself."
Through 2025, he played rapid and blitz events but avoided classical chess entirely. He won the Shenzhen Masters in December 2025, beating Bu Xiangzhi, Jiang Haochen, and Wang Hao, which showed his chess was still sharp. But the classical board remained untouched.
On January 5, 2026, FIDE officially listed him as inactive. For a player who held the world title less than two years earlier, the symbolism was hard to miss.
The Mental Health Context
Ding has been open about his struggles. After winning the World Championship in April 2023, he took a nine-month break, disclosing that he had been dealing with depression, sleep problems, and exhaustion. He consulted a psychologist and received treatment.
His form deteriorated sharply. His rating dropped 83 points from a peak of 2811 (January 2023) to 2728 by October 2024. At the 2024 Olympiad, he squandered a completely winning position against Le Quang Liem in a game that illustrated the gap between his preparation and his in-game stability.
During his break from classical chess, Ding stayed connected to the game. He replayed games, played bughouse and Chess960 online, and competed in rapid events. "I feel as per normal, the doctor has given some advice," he said. "Recently, I have been playing basketball after dinner, trying not to give myself too much stress."
The Tournament
The Chinese Team Chess Championship runs April 19-27 in Daqing, with a 9-round Swiss format and 4 boards per team. The time control is 90 minutes plus 30-second increment, standard classical.
The field includes several of China's strongest players. Yu Yangyi, Bu Xiangzhi, and Lu Shanglei are all competing. So is Hou Yifan, playing for Heilongjiang in the men's section, a rare appearance from the four-time Women's World Champion.
Ding's current classical rating is 2734, though that number is frozen from his inactive period. With eight rounds remaining, this tournament offers him a chance to recalibrate before deciding what comes next.
What Comes Next?
The chess calendar in the second half of 2026 is stacked. The World Championship match between Gukesh and Sindarov is expected in December. Norway Chess runs May 25 to June 5. And Ding, if his form holds, could plausibly be in the conversation for super-tournament invitations again.
He said something interesting after joining LGD Gaming: "I like the fact that the media are saying this and the feeling of being the underdog. I'll then surprise them."
At 33, with a World Championship title and a 2800+ peak rating on his resume, Ding Liren is nobody's underdog on paper. But after 16 months away from classical chess, he might as well be starting fresh. Round 1 was a win. Seven more games will tell us more.
Curious how a 2734 FIDE rating compares to the broader chess population? Check our rating percentile calculator or use the ELO converter to see the equivalent on Chess.com or Lichess.
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