17th World Champion GM Ding Liren spoke about his current attitude towards chess. Ding explains that he’s happy with the current state of calm and cites enjoyment as a source of motivation for the game.

Ding Liren

Ding Liren

17th World Champion

“I really like my current situation. I mean, I’m a player with an inactive rating who rarely competes in elite tournaments. I’m enjoying this rare moment of leisure.

Speaking of enjoyment, it’s enjoyment that motivates me to play chess. I continue to play online from time to time: it doesn’t require exhausting preparation before a game, just total concentration in the moment. The process itself is satisfying.

Has my enjoyment changed over the course of my career? It’s probably always remained the same. With the exception of a brief period, I’ve always carefully nurtured this love.”

17th World Champion Ding Liren’s Classical rating (2734) became inactive on January 1st, 2026, following FIDE’s monthly rating update. Ding Liren’s last official Classical game was played on December 12, 2024 — the 14th and final game of the World Chess Championship Match. In the match, Ding lost to Gukesh Dommaraju with a score of 6.5–7.5.

Credit: Ding Liren Weibo