GM Ding Liren has withdrawn from a number of occasions since changing into world champion. Now the Chinese language star reveals to Chess.com that an unspecified sickness is the reason for his absence and that he intends to return to match play in 2024.

The place is Ding? That is a query that has led to large hypothesis amongst chess followers in the previous couple of months. The world champion hasn’t performed a single match since Might when he completed eighth within the Superbet Chess Traditional in Bucharest, an occasion that he performed lower than per week after profitable the title in a grueling 18-game match in opposition to GM Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Ding then withdrew from the Superbet Speedy & Blitz shortly after that occasion. It was an exhausted world champion who as an alternative returned to Beijing to present interviews to the Chinese language media. There, he hinted that he will not have an extended profession, however would not intend to retire simply but.

“I am unable to discover extra enjoyable, and I wish to discover new happiness elsewhere,” he was quoted as saying.

Ding then additionally cancelled his participation within the World Chess League in June, Chess.com’s Pace Chess Championship in September and the Asian Video games shortly after. This week, the Grand Chess Tour additionally shared the information that Ding has been changed by GM Levon Aronian and GM Liem Le within the Saint Louis Speedy & Blitz and the Sinquefield Cup, the place he was scheduled to play.

World Champion Ding Liren has withdrawn from each occasions of #GrandChessTour – #StlRapidBlitz and #SinquefieldCup. He can be changed by GM Le Quang Liêm and GM Levon Aronian, respectively. #DingLiren #worldchampion #chess @LevAronianhttps://t.co/MuQCJUCyWT pic.twitter.com/FP8eTVWh9K

— Grand Chess Tour (@GrandChessTour) November 1, 2023

Ding’s absence is in stark distinction to the previous world champion GM Magnus Carlsen, who has been lively this yr. The Norwegian has performed the Champions Chess Tour, the FIDE World Cup, the European Membership Cup, and the Qatar Masters, and can be now set to play the European Workforce Championship for Norway in per week.

Ding, then again, made his first public look in months in the course of the Chinese language Nationwide Thoughts Video games match on the finish of October, the place he was a co-commentator on nationwide TV together with GM Wang Rui.

BIG SURPRISE: This afternoon, the reigning World Chess Champion GM Ding Liren made a stay commenting on China Nationwide TV cell platform with GM Wang Rui for the 2023 China Nationwide Thoughts Video games which is ongoing in Hefei, Anhui province. @FIDE_chess pic.twitter.com/AzLCHpjgIN

— Liang Ziming (@liang_zimi34491) October 30, 2023

His public look is a optimistic signal and hints at a possible comeback, which the Chinese language star now confirms.

In an electronic mail to Chess.com, Ding reveals that he has been fighting sickness for a while. The world champion didn’t go into particulars, however stated that has been the reason for his absence from match play.

The 31-year-old additionally says that he won’t play in any extra occasions in 2023 however intends to make a comeback within the 2024 Tata Metal Chess match that runs January 12-28. The sphere in Wijk aan Zee has not but been formally introduced.

The subsequent World Championship match is scheduled to happen on the finish of 2024 between defending champion Ding and the winner of the Candidates Event, which is about for Toronto, Canada in April 2024.