ding liren

Why do you say that?

I am a big Nepo fan, but he ran out of steam at the end. Ding deserves it. He showed up, and he lasted. Carlsen didn't. Now he's doing this stupid fast chess with horrible commentators. Might as well roll the dice. At least we have TCEC until the Winter or Spring Classic in St. Louis in March and Candidates in Toronto in April. Or maybe they will do the Cairns Cup. I don't see the exact schedule posted yet there.

He played the opponents in front of him and won so he deserves the title. The fact the best player in the world (and probably ever) decided to opt out along with the way Ding has performed since becoming champion does not mean that at that precise moment he did not deserve the championship. As with all sports and games at all levels it is about what happens on the day(s) of the competition not before or after. Nor does it matter about who did not enter a competition. Competitors can only beat those who they face not those who choose not to take part. Ding is perhaps the weakest world champion for 100 years but that does not mean he did not deserve the title.

Know one knows what personal issues may be going on in Ding's life right now. It is clear there is something off and I hate to kick a man when he is down. The fact that Carlsen has played ten classical games against Ding and has managed to only win one time shows how strong Ding is when he is playing his best chess.

If Magnus defeats Fabi I'll give him credit but in the future I don't believe he should be in charge and have complete control over who his opponents will be.

I agree strongly with the above comment by Greyflitworth that "Competitors can only beat those who they face." Regardless of how objectively skilled Ding is, he won the championship and will hold it until he either gives it up or someone takes it from him.