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GM Ding Liren has withdrawn from several events since becoming world champion. Now the Chinese star reveals to Chess.com that an unspecified illness is the cause of his absence and that he intends to return to tournament play in 2024.

Where is Ding? That's a question that has led to huge speculation among chess fans in the last few months. The world champion hasn't played a single tournament since May when he finished eighth in the Superbet Chess Classic in Bucharest, an event that he played less than a week after winning the title in a grueling 18-game match against GM Ian Nepomniachtchi.

Ding then withdrew from the Superbet Rapid & Blitz shortly after that event. It was an exhausted world champion who instead returned to Beijing to give interviews to the Chinese media. There, he hinted that he won't have a long career, but doesn't intend to retire just yet.

"I can't find more fun, and I want to find new happiness elsewhere," he was quoted as saying.

Ding then also cancelled his participation in the Global Chess League in June, Chess.com's Speed Chess Championship in September and the Asian Games shortly after. This week, the Grand Chess Tour also shared the news that Ding has been replaced by GM Levon Aronian and GM Liem Le in the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz and the Sinquefield Cup, where he was scheduled to play.

Ding's absence is in stark contrast to the former world champion GM Magnus Carlsen, who has been active this year. The Norwegian has played the Champions Chess Tour, the FIDE World Cup, the European Club Cup, and the Qatar Masters, and is also now set to play the European Team Championship for Norway in a week.

Ding, on the other hand, made his first public appearance in months during the Chinese National Mind Games tournament at the end of October, where he was a co-commentator on national TV along with GM Wang Rui.

His public appearance is a positive sign and hints at a potential comeback, which the Chinese star now confirms.

In an email to Chess.com, Ding reveals that he has been struggling with illness for some time. The world champion did not go into details, but said that has been the cause of his absence from tournament play.

The 31-year-old also says that he will not play in any more events in 2023 but intends to make a comeback in the 2024 Tata Steel Chess tournament that runs January 12-28. The field in Wijk aan Zee has not yet been officially announced.

The next World Championship match is scheduled to take place at the end of 2024 between defending champion Ding and the winner of the Candidates Tournament, which is set for Toronto, Canada in April 2024.

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Ding Reveals Reason For Withdrawals, Expects Comeback In 2024 - Chess.com