Back in action
Since Ding Liren lost the world title, the chess world has been wondering whether the Chinese star will return and once again reach the elite level he showed during his earlier years. After a long absence, Ding took part in the Chinese Team Championships, which recently concluded in Daqing, Heilongjiang province, with an open section featuring fifteen squads and a competition featuring twelve women’s teams. The national titleholders were decided over nine rounds using the Swiss system.
Ding made his debut in this event and, as one of the 23 grandmasters taking part, was a member of one of the 15 teams in the open tournament: the 17th undisputed world chess champion represented the Zhejiang Provincial Intellectual Sports Management Centre – and did so very successfully. Ding won his first three games and then drew against Bu Xiangzhi, another player long known at the professional circuit. In round eight, Ding’s final appearance in the event, he also signed a draw. On that occasion, his opponent was Wang Yue.
The former world champion thus achieved a performance rating of 2795 – a genuinely promising comeback, which gives hope that chess fans will soon be able to see the 34-year-old at the board more often again. The 4 Elo points Ding gained left him with a rating of 2737.6 points and 15th place in the live world rankings.
Two of his wins can be seen in this article, while here is the game he drew against who was his strongest opponent in the tournament.
Chongqing takes the title
The Benoni family of openings has toppled world champions, decided match games under the highest pressure, and rewarded those brave enough to play them with some of the most electrifying chess imaginable. In this Fritztrainer, Grandmaster Ivan Sokolov –Â continuing his successful series “Understanding Middlegame Structures” – takes you deep inside the complexities of the Colour-Reversed Benoni, the Colour-Reversed Benko Gambit, and the Colour-Reversed Blumenfeld Gambit.
Free sample video: Introduction
Free sample video: Colour Reversed Banoni – Game 1
The prize-giving ceremony | Photo: Heilongjiang Provincial Sports Bureau
After nine rounds, the Chongqing team secured the title in the open section. Bu Xiangzhi and Xiao Tong remained unbeaten on the top boards, as did Peng Xiongjian on board three. With six match wins and three draws, the team delivered a commanding performance and finished 2 points ahead of Hangzhou, with Shanghai a further point behind. Ding and his teammates, among whom Lu Shanglei also remained unbeaten on board two, finished in fifth place.
Final standings
In the women’s section, there was an 11-round all-play-all tournament. Hebei won the title ahead of Jiangsu and Hangzhou.
Final standings
| 1 | Hebei | 11 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 18 | 21,5 |
| 2 | Jiangsu | 11 | 7 | 3 | 1 | 17 | 22,5 |
| 3 | Hangzhou | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 21,5 |
| 4 | Shanghai | 11 | 6 | 3 | 2 | 15 | 21 |
| 5 | Tianjin | 11 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 14 | 18,5 |
| 6 | Zhejiang | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 13 | 19,5 |
| 7 | Chongqing | 11 | 4 | 2 | 5 | 10 | 15,5 |
| 8 | Beijing | 11 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 14,5 |
| 9 | Guangdong | 11 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 8 | 14 |
| 10 | Chengdu | 11 | 3 | 2 | 6 | 8 | 13,5 |
| 11 | Shenzhen | 11 | 2 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 9,5 |
| 12 | Shandong | 11 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 6,5 |