Ding Liren says he’s ‘worried about losing very badly’ to Gukesh in World Chess Championship

“I volition beryllium the underdog approaching this lucifer (against Gukesh). I anticipation I could go a wholly antithetic subordinate (by the satellite championship),” Ding Liren admitted successful an interrogation with the chess app Take Take Take aft the last circular of the Chess Olympiad successful September this year.

While Ding Liren said that helium was not disquieted astir facing the in-form Gukesh by pointing retired that helium was yet to suffer to Gukesh successful a classical lucifer (barring astatine the Freestyle Chess lawsuit wherever starting positions were not the aforesaid arsenic successful accepted chess games), the Chinese GM did add: “I’m disquieted astir losing precise badly. Hopefully, it won’t happen… Gukesh is successful apical signifier recently. He’s the champion subordinate successful the Olympiad. I anticipation I tin go a wholly antithetic subordinate (by the satellite championship). At slightest to fight, to dilatory down his pace, to person immoderate winning chances.”

The World Chess Championship volition commencement aboriginal this period astatine Singapore. Many grandmasters person picked Gukesh to go the 18th satellite champion based connected the signifier of some players.

When asked what had been holding him back, a precise candid Ding Liren said: “I’m feeling not truthful bad, but besides not truthful good. I person tried to find my champion shape, but really I didn’t negociate to bash that. My crippled has galore mistakes successful each portion of the game. Sometimes I managed to make galore chances. I got winning positions, but I couldn’t person them. It’s the aforesaid problem, clip from time… Maybe I’m not truthful anxious to play. I don’t person this ambition to triumph the game. Every clip I came to the playing hall, possibly I was not successful a precise bully mood. And aft the game, particularly if I drew the game, I realized I missed a immense chance. I’m not truthful blessed with the results. This goes successful a ellipse from clip to time.”

In crisp opposition to Gukesh’s signifier coming into the satellite championship, Ding is successful the mediate of what helium called his longest ‘un-winning streak’, wherever helium had not won a crippled successful the classical format since the Tata Steel lawsuit successful Wijk aan Zee astatine the commencement of 2024. But helium said helium present needed to amusement that helium deserved the enactment helium was getting from fans.

“Although I played truthful severely (in caller tournaments) determination are inactive truthful galore players who enactment me. Maybe I request to amusement that I merit this benignant of support. If I proceed to play truthful severely oregon without a warring spirit, I whitethorn not merit it,” Ding Liren said frankly. “I anticipation you volition spot the aforesaid maine arsenic the past World Championship match.”