<p class="lead">GM Ding Liren can be the first Chinese chess player to become the World Chess Champion. With the World Championship Match between Liren and Nepomniachtchi being held in Astana, Kazakhstan, on April 7th, we’re trying to break down the Challenger’s profile and road to the Title.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/ding-liren-world-chess-championship-match-ian-nepomniachtchi-astana-chess.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<div class="e2-text-caption">Photo: Lennart Ootes | Grand Chess Tour</div>
</div>
<p class="lead"><b>Summary</b></p>
<p><a href="https://chessarena.com/profile/465121">Ding Liren</a> is the highest rated Chinese player and World No.3 in classical chess behind Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi. His peak rating was 2816 in November 2018 and his peak ranking was World No.2. He is a three-time Chinese National Champion and the first Chinese player ever to be in a Candidates Tournament and pass the 2800 ranking. In 2016 he also was the highest rated Blitz player in the world with 2875.</p>
<p>In 2019 DIng won the Grand Chess Tour beating Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the finals and winning the 2019 Sinquefield Cup, as the first player since 2007 to beat Magnus Carlsen in a playoff. In 2022, Ding qualified for the Candidates by rating and came second. As the runner-up of the Candidates, Ding qualified to play in the 2023 World Chess Championship against Ian Nepomniachtchi, following Carlsen’s withdrawal from the Title.</p>
<p class="lead"><b>What does Liren mean?</b></p>
<p>Ding’s father – a doctor by education – named him Liren, referring to a popular Confucian saying: “If you want to be healthy, make others healthy. If you want to grow, make others grow”. Liren means “to make (others) healthy”.</p>
<p class="lead"><b>First chess steps</b></p>
<p>Ding Liren was born in Wenzhou, a city in the southeastern Zhejiang province of China, where the former Women’s World Chess Champion Zhu Chen is from. With Zhu Chen, Ding didn’t only share the same town but also the same first coach, Chen Lixing, at the Wenzhou Chess Association when he started chess at the age of four.</p>
<p>Ding’s mother brought him to chess, and continues to be a big supporter of what he does until this day. “My mother helps me with visas, she is very experienced because she used to do it for me. Now I want to be more independent, do a lot myself, but sometimes I have to focus more on chess.” Ding said in his recent <a href="https://www.zeit.de/sport/2023-02/schach-grossmeister-ding-liren-wm">interview</a> to Ulrich Stock for zeit.de.</p>
<p class="lead"><b>Chinese National Championships</b></p>
<p>Ding’s chess skills were quickly growing and he managed to finish second at the 2003 U10 and 2004 U12 World Youth Championships. It wasn’t until 2009 though at the Chinese Chess Championship where Ding went undefeated, scoring 8.5/11 points with a 2811 performance, beating Wang Hao (2696) and Ni Hua (2724), that the chess world started noticing his huge potential.</p>
<p>This tournament had a great impact on Ding’s chess career. He became the youngest (16 years old) to ever win the Chinese National Championship and got his last GM norm to become a grandmaster in October 2009, right before his 17th birthday. In 2011 and 2012 Ding also won both of the Chinese National Championships, again undefeated, to have three national titles at the age of 19.</p>
<p class="lead"><b>Chess Olympiads</b></p>
<p>Ding has represented China at all four Chess Olympiads from 2012 to 2018, winning team gold medals in 2014 and 2018 and individual bronze and gold medals in 2014 and 2018 respectively. He also won team gold and individual silver at the World Team Championships in 2015.</p>
<p>In 2018 Ding returned to team competition at the 2018 Chess Olympiad. China won gold, and Ding won individual gold for his performance on board one with a performance rating of 2873, the second-highest showing for any player in the event.</p>
<p class="lead"><b>The Candidates</b></p>
<p>Ding was the first Chinese player ever to be in a Candidates Tournament when in 2017 he was the FIDE World Cup runner-up behind Levon Aronian, and qualified for the tournament. He was the only undefeated players with one win and 13 draws to finish fourth in the 2018 FIDE Candidates Tournament.</p>
<p>In 2019 Ding again qualified for the Candidates Tournament after coming second in the FIDE World Cup in Khanty-Mansiysk behind Teimour Radjabov. Despite being one of the favorites to win the 2020 Candidates Tournament, Ding had a rough start after losing his first two games. On March 26, 2020, the Candidates Tournament was postponed due to Russia’s travel restrictions and the COVID-19 pandemic. After seven rounds, Ding was tied for seventh-eighth place with 2.5/7. After the tournament resumed on April 19, 2021, Ding performed much better than in the first half, and ended up fifth with a 7/14 score.</p>
<p>In 2022 Ding Liren, due to covid restrictions, failed to obtain a visa in time to be able to travel to Germany for the Grand Prix and was replaced by GM Radoslaw Wojtaszek. The Grand Prix was his last chance to qualify for the Candidates, so there was no way that he could make it.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/FIDE_chess/status/1493499179129319431">https://twitter.com/FIDE_chess/status/1493499179129319431</a></p><p>The Candidates spot of the highest-rated player though was Karjakin’s who after his pro-Russian tweets was banned from participating as a player in any FIDE rated chess competition for 6 months by the FIDE Ethics and Disciplinary Commission. So one spot was empty for Liren to conquer!</p>
<p>The Chinese GM needed to play 30 games between 1 June 2021 and 30 April 2022 to get his ticket for the Candidates, so Liren started a successful marathon of rated games, completing 28 games with an impressive score of 20.5 points (13 victories, 15 draws, and no loss), surpassing Alireza Firouzja in the rating list and becoming number two again.</p>
<p>In the Candidates Tournament Ding Liren was one of the favorites to win but came second after Ian Nepomniachtchi. Right after the end of the tournament though the reigning World Champion Magnus Carlsen decided not to defend his World Chess Championship Title in 2023 against Nepo, which automatically made the Candidates runner-up Ding Liren the 2023 Challenger.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/itherocky/status/1549709379804360706">https://twitter.com/itherocky/status/1549709379804360706</a></p><p class="lead"><b>2023 Tata Steel Chess Tournament</b></p>
<p>“I had one win and two draws in the first three rounds and was in very good shape. Then I lost the game against the Indian player Praggnanandhaa and after that it was terrible. That also had something to do with the fact that I suddenly realized that the World Championship Match was approaching. Because suddenly it was said that it could take place in Argentina or in Astana.” Ding confessed in a recent <a href="https://www.zeit.de/sport/2023-02/schach-grossmeister-ding-liren-wm">interview</a>.</p>
<p>Indeed the Chinese GM started strong at the 2023 Tata Steel Tournament with a win over the 16-year-old Indian prodigy D. Gukesh. You have to prepare mentally, you have to imagine what will happen if you are in the centre of people and there will be only one game, and every eye will watch you.” Ding said at his post-game interview. That was his first classical game since beating Hikaru Nakamura on July 4th last year at the Candidates Tournament, which gave him the ticket to the WCCM.</p>
<p>In Round 3, in a game that looked like a World Chess Championship game, Ding drew against Magnus Carlsen. At that moment Ding and Magnus were the only players above 2800 with Magnus confessing after their game: “Ding is a very strong player and I have never beaten him as White so I knew it wasn’t going to be easy.”</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/olimpiuurcan/status/1614976097216757762">https://twitter.com/olimpiuurcan/status/1614976097216757762</a></p><p>In Round 4 Ding Liren was defeated by Praggnanandhaa Rameshbabu, and that was the start of a painful tournament. After more draws against Arjun Erigaisi, Levon Aronian, Vincent Keymer, and Wesley So, Ding lost to Anish Giri in Round 9, and Richard Rapport in Round 12.</p>
<p>Ding finished the tournament 11th with a 5.5/13 score to lose 23.4 rating points and slide down to World No.3 on the rating list.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/MarkIHarrison/status/1619387382230585346">https://twitter.com/MarkIHarrison/status/1619387382230585346</a></p><p>“If I play like this [like in Tata Steel], I will hardly be able to beat him [Nepo]. There is still a lot to do.” Ding <a href="https://www.zeit.de/sport/2023-02/schach-grossmeister-ding-liren-wm">admitted</a> after the tournament.</p>
<p class="lead"><b>Ding’s seconds</b></p>
<p>“I am alone here [Wijk aan zee], I was also alone at the Candidates Tournament in Madrid. But I had a lot of support from China, my seconds and my family online. [...] In China too, I am alone a lot. I don’t mind. But of course the World Championship Match is a different matter. I might have to bring someone with me. [...] The only thing I can say is that I won’t come alone [in Astana].” Ding <a href="https://www.zeit.de/sport/2023-02/schach-grossmeister-ding-liren-wm">explained</a> about his team.</p>
<p>“All my seconds are Chinese. At least until now. [...] I have no experience with foreign coaches. They may be more professional, but at least I have a very good relationship with my seconds. We’re friends and we don’t just talk about chess.” Ding added.</p>
<p class="lead"><b>Other interesting facts about Ding Liren</b></p>
<p>Ding has studied law at the Peking University Law School. He stopped but he admits that the university has broadened his horizons.</p>
<p>He enjoys going to museums without knowing much about them.</p>
<p>When he is at tournaments alone he cooks rice or some porridge.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://players.chessbase.com/en/player/Ding_Liren/61507">Chessbase</a>, Ding’s strongest win was against Magnus Carlsen and weakest loss was against Tuan Minh Le; Ding had a 2808 rating while Tuan Minh Le 2542.</p>
<p>According to <a href="https://chessarena.com/profile/465121">chessarena</a>, Ding burned 1751 calories playing the Tata Steel Tournament.</p>
<p><a href="https://chessarena.com/broadcasts/25647" class="wchess_button">Watch the WCCM with us</a></p>


Ding Liren: All you need to know about the 2023 Challenger

<p class="lead">The 2023 World Chess <a href="https://chessarena.com/armageddon">Armageddon</a> Championship Series kicked off on March 6th in Berlin, Germany. Eight strong players fought under immense time pressure with Wesley So and Sam Shankland hitting the top and qualifying to the Grand Finale in September 14th.</p>
<div class="e2-text-video">
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mg8ptFsz3do?enablejsapi=1" allow="autoplay" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>Wesley So, Sam Shankland, Andrew Tang, Leinier Dominguez, Ray Robson, Eric Hansen, and FIDE Online Arena qualifiers Renato Terry and Jose Martinez competed in a different format for a chance to win €50,000 and two spots in the Grand Finale.</p>
<p>The Armageddon Championship Series has become one of the most attractive and televised chess events of the year, broadcast live on over 16 online and TV platforms, with the highlights being showcased around the world on platforms like CNBC, BeIN Sports and FOX Australia. What made it even more revolutionary were the technological innovations, such as real-time heart rate monitoring, and the visually captivating bespoke studio set.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/merenzon/status/1632311273714065408">https://twitter.com/merenzon/status/1632311273714065408</a></p><p>Here are some of our most memorable moments:</p>
<p class="lead"><b>Dominguez-Tang Armageddon game</b></p>
<p>Andrew Tang, a legend in bullet chess, proved his title right against the five-time Cuban Champion Leinier Dominguez in Day 2. “Can’t count how many pawns Dominguez was up. Can’t count that high!” Simon Williams commented on Leinier’s missed chances against Andrew Tang in their second game which ended in a draw and led the two GMs to the Armageddon.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633183390491967565">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633183390491967565</a></p><p>After this crazy Armageddon game, both players agreed that White has won the game, which meant that Dominguez lost the match with a 2-1 score and will have a second chance tonight against Ray Robson. “It was completely insane. I was unlucky to have to promote 2 queens actually cause it took a few more seconds. Obviously I’m more used to flagging people online, so I think I waited too long to start playing quickly and it just turned to a complete mess!” Tang said about the Armageddon game.</p>
<p class="lead"><b>Eric Hansen’s addiction to time trouble</b></p>
<p>First match of Day 3 was Sam Shankland against Eric Hansen. The intense time format didn’t help Eric to play in his full potential and lost the match with a 2-0 score. “I’ll do almost all my training on classical chess and never been great at rapid and blitz so I was glad I avoided elimination today” Sam Shankland commented on his win, adding: The goal is to play on more day every time!”. On the other hand Eric was really disappointed and wanted to find a dungeon and get spanked (!) for his addiction on time trouble!</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/FideOnlineArena/status/1633734909880614912">https://twitter.com/FideOnlineArena/status/1633734909880614912</a></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633851499749965825">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633851499749965825</a></p><p class="lead"><b>When players shared more about their lives</b></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633885327503835147">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633885327503835147</a></p><p class="lead"><b>Jose Martinez stopped the clock and called the arbiter</b></p>
<p>Second match of Day 4 was Andrew Tang against Jose Martinez. The match got to a very intense Armageddon, where both players had seconds and were trying to flag each other. When Tang promoted a queen, Martinez thought that his pawn had made 2 moves instead of one, so he stopped the clock and called the arbiter. After consulting the footage, it was clear that there are no illegal moves, so Martinez immediately lost the game and the match.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633913698858221569">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633913698858221569</a></p><p class="lead"><b>Wesley So and Andrew Tang signing autographs</b></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1634090569491161088">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1634090569491161088</a></p><p class="lead"><b>Great interviews</b></p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1632885513425149952">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1632885513425149952</a></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633742632282193922">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633742632282193922</a></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1634702879310114816">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1634702879310114816</a></p><p><a href="https://twitter.com/FideOnlineArena/status/1636750243328053248">https://twitter.com/FideOnlineArena/status/1636750243328053248</a></p><p>The next stage of the tournament, featuring eight players from the Asia & Oceania region, including Gukesh D (India), Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan), Yangyi Yu (China), Daniil Dubov (FIDE), Vidit Gujrathi (India), Vladimir Kramnik (FIDE), Murali Karthikeyan (India), is set to take place from April 3 to 9. With the same dramatic format and immense time pressure, it promises to be another thrilling display of chess at its most exciting.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc8QPYi5GPzJmjMAS98CZyw" class="wchess_button">Watch the Armageddon: Americas again</a></p>


Armageddon: Americas most memorable moments

<p class="lead">The Swiss Chess Federation announced on December 30th 2022, that the Russian GM Alexandra Kosteniuk switches Federation and will play for Switzerland <a href="https://chessarena.com/news/all/russian-gm-alexandra-kosteniuk-will-play-for-the-swiss-chess-fed/">in 2024.</a> A rule change though allowed an earlier switch than planned, and Kosteniuk has officially switched to Switzerland on March 3rd, 2023.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/alexandra-kosteniuk-switzerland-chess.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<div class="e2-text-caption">Photo: Lennart Ootes</div>
</div>
<p>Like many other Russian chess players, Alexandra Kosteniuk decided to leave the Russian Federation due to the Russia-Ukraine war, and will play for the Swiss Chess Federation (SSB) from 2024. Due to a rule change though, Kosteniuk was allowed to switch earlier than planned, which happened on March 3rd, 2023. The 2008 Women’s World Champion has dual Swiss-Russian citizenship for more than a decade after being married to the Swiss-born Diego Garces and was also the first woman to win the Swiss men’s title at the SEM in Grächen in 2013.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/chessqueen/status/1631636828758458371">https://twitter.com/chessqueen/status/1631636828758458371</a></p><p><b>How do you feel about the change? Are you sad to leave your country?</b> Anthony Levin for <a href="https://www.chess.com/news/view/interview-kosteniuk-on-federation-change">chesscom</a> asked Kosteniuk.</p>
<p>“It’s a mixture of feelings. If I’m in an optimistic mood, I would say that, okay... it was a wonderful chapter, 20 years on the Russian national team, but it’s over and now there is another one, another chapter: me playing for the Swiss national team. It was not really expected and... I never thought it would happen this way, but that’s of course quite a sad feeling, to tell you the truth, and I think it’s a wound that I’m going to require more time to somehow get over... to accept it because it’s still too emotional and too early, I think, to say and comprehend [it].” Alexandra replied, adding: “‘The decision that I took, it’s not an easy decision for me, but for several reasons I felt that I cannot leave everything as it was. So I needed to act somehow, to send a signal that I’m not accepting what’s going on.’.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/Meyer_Dunker/status/1609915189830246400">https://twitter.com/Meyer_Dunker/status/1609915189830246400</a></p><p>The reason why Kosteniuk couldn’t play for Switzerland in 2023 was financial. If she were to change federations before 2024, the SSB would have to pay the Russian Chess Federation a transfer fee of 10,000 dollars. After a two-year waiting period, the change of Federation is free of charge. Kosteniuk last time played for Russia in December 2021, and after that she competed under the flag of the World Chess Federation (FIDE), so in 2024 she would have been able to switch Federation fee-free.</p>
<p>FIDE recently decided that players who wanted to switch to joining another European Federation as a result of the Russian Chess Federation switching from the ECU to the ACF, would not have to pay any fees. ‘Players previous belonging to the CFR [Russian chess federation] will be allowed to represent their new federation with immediate effect, from the next day of submitting their application, without any restrictions. All transfer fees, to FIDE or CFR, are waived,’ FIDE has announced to make Alexandra’s transfer possible almost a year earlier.</p>
<p>‘However, we keep the option open to also use her in the men’s national team if there is a need’ Peter Erismann, the one responsible for top-level sport on the central board of the Swiss Chess Federation commented.</p>


Alexandra Kosteniuk officially switched to Switzerland almost a year earlier

<p class="lead">When the World Chess Championship set and ASMR come together, you can lay back and relax!</p>
<div class="e2-text-video">
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7D5x2bB-_-E?enablejsapi=1" allow="autoplay" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>We’re sure you’ve seen tons of ASMR videos on Youtube and maybe even more on TikTok. For those who – apparently – live in Mars, ASMR stands for autonomous sensory meridian response and is used to describe a tingling, static-like, or goosebumps sensation in response to specific triggering audio or visual stimuli.</p>
<p>There are hundreds of ASMR creators in the world but only one that we would suggest and creates ASMR chess content! Known simply as “ASMR Chess”, this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/@ASMRChess/about">Youtuber</a> “shares the beauty of all facets of chess in a relaxing manner for all tingleheads, insomniacs and people who capture en passant.”</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/cryplink_/status/1627995529316630529">https://twitter.com/cryplink_/status/1627995529316630529</a></p><p>Recently, @ASMRchess made a video on Youtube with the <a href="https://shop.worldchess.com/products/world-chess-academy-set">World Chess Championship Set (Academy Edition) </a> and we absolutely loved it! We never knew that the first-ever set that is produced in plastic in exactly the same design as the famous official World Chess Championship set could be so relaxing!</p>
<p>Buy the chessboard <a href="https://shop.worldchess.com/products/world-chess-academy-set">here</a> and use promo code asmrchess10 for 10% discount at the checkout. It works for all our products!</p>
<p>Have fun!</p>


Is ASMR chess a real thing?!

<p class="lead">Norway Chess Tournament opens up its doors on May 19th, 2023 in Stavanger, Norway, with a 2,500,000 NOK (≈ €200k) prize fund, and a top-class pool of players, including Magnus Carlsen, Hikaru Nakamura, Dommaraju Gukesh, and Alireza Firouzja.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/magnus-carlsen-norway-chess-2023.jpg" width="2048" height="1365" alt="" />
<div class="e2-text-caption">Photo: Lennart Ootes / <a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=5293448640714468&set=a.5293456870713645">Norway Chess 2022</a></div>
</div>
<p>The 11th edition of of the Norway Chess Tournament will start on May 29th with a blitz tournament and continue with rounds 1 to 9 (120 minutes on the clock with an increment of 10 seconds after move 40) from May 29th to June 9th, in Stavanger, Norway. The total prize fund is 2,500,000 NOK (≈ €200k) with all 10 players getting a prize despite their results.</p>
<p>Returning to the tournament are GMs Magnus Carlsen, Alireza Firouzja, Anish Giri, Wesley So, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Aryan Tari. Additionally to this already top-class line up, 18-year-old GM Nodirbek Abdusattorov from Uzbekistan, and 16-year-old GM Dommaraju Gukesh from India will also take part in this prestigious event.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/DGukesh/status/1635601776157274112">https://twitter.com/DGukesh/status/1635601776157274112</a></p><p>“I was very happy when I got invited to the tournament. I’m truly very excited to play in this tournament and looking forward to play entertaining chess” the 2021 World Rapid Champion, Nodirbek Abdusattorov, said about getting an invitation for the first time.</p>
<p>Last year, Magnus Carlsen won the Norway Chess Tournament for the 4th time in a row (5 in total) after beating Veselin Topalov in an Armageddon match. Carlsen has played in every single edition of the tournament, an event that has been held yearly since 2013. Notably — given the world champion’s track record — he did not manage to win a single tournament until the fourth edition, in 2016. In 2017 and 2018 he has finished 9th and 4th respectively, and has won every edition since then.</p>
<p>Will Magnus win his sixth Norway Chess Tournament this year?</p>


Carlsen, Nakamura, Gukesh, and Firouzja line up for the Norway Chess Tournament in 2023

<p class="lead">American grandmaster Wesley So emerged victorious in the first event of the Armageddon Championship Series 2023, organized by World Chess. So’s flawless performance secures him a spot in the Grand Finale in September, along with Sam Shankland, the tournament’s runner-up.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/AVD55588.jpg" width="2560" height="1707" alt="" />
<div class="e2-text-caption">Max Avdeev for World Chess</div>
</div>
<p>The Armageddon Championship Series is no ordinary chess tournament; with its six Armageddon games, nail-biting drama, sky-high heart rates, and rule-breaking moves, it’s shaking up the world of chess. With top players and streamers like Wesley So (USA), Sam Shankland (USA), Andrew Tang (USA), Leinier Dominguez (USA), Ray Robson (USA), Eric Hansen (Canada), and online qualifiers Renato Terry and Jose Martinez from Peru, the competition has been an exciting journey for chess enthusiasts and wider audience globally.</p>
<div class="e2-text-video">
<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/mg8ptFsz3do?enablejsapi=1" allow="autoplay" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
</div>
<p>The Armageddon Championship Series has become one of the most attractive and televised chess events of the year, broadcast live on <b>over 16 online and TV platforms</b>, the highlights will be showcased around the world on platforms like CNBC, BeIN Sports and FOX Australia. Technological innovations, such as real-time heart rate monitoring, have been the most discussed advancement in chess over the last week.</p>
<p>With a visually captivating bespoke studio set that places players at the very heart of the game, World Chess moved away from traditional presentations to showcase chess as dynamic, modern and exhilaratingly dramatic. With its stark design and minimal elements, chess has led the way for cutting-edge aesthetics for over a century and Armageddon has a high chance to redefine the next generation of visuals.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/wesley-so-wins-the-armageddon-championship-series-americas.png" width="1280" height="853" alt="" />
</div>
<p>“The Armageddon Championship Series has captured the attention of chess fans around the world, and we’re thrilled to see such high levels of engagement and viewership,” said <b>Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess</b>. “We can’t wait to see what the next stages of the Show will bring.</p>
<p><b>Interesting facts about highest heart rates:</b></p>
<p>— Wesley So on March 11 recorded a heart rate of 177 bpm.<br />
— Sam Shankland on March 10 recorded a heart rate of 155 bpm.<br />
— Andrew Tang on March 7 recorded a heart rate of 161 bpm.<br />
— Leinier Dominguez on March 10 recorded a heart rate of 181 bpm.<br />
— Jose Martinez on March 7 recorded a heart rate of 160 bpm.<br />
— Ray Robson on March 8 recorded a heart rate of 175 bpm.<br />
— Renato Terry on March 6 recorded a heart rate of 165 bpm.<br />
— Eric Hansen on March 6 recorded a heart rate of 146 bpm.</p>
<p>The next stage of the tournament, featuring eight players from the <b>Asia & Oceania region</b>, including Gukesh D (India), Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan), Yangyi Yu (China), Daniil Dubov (FIDE), Vidit Gujrathi (India), Vladimir Kramnik (FIDE), Murali Karthikeyan (India), is set to take place from April 3 to 9. With the same dramatic format and immense time pressure, it promises to be another thrilling display of chess at its most exciting.</p>
<p>Chess fans can catch all the action and highlights on <a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc8QPYi5GPzJmjMAS98CZyw">World Chess’s official YouTube channel</a>.</p>


Wesley So Wins The Armageddon Championship Series: Americas!

Armageddon Americas: FINAL BATTLE

Watch the Armageddon Series: Americas LIVE

Armageddon Highlights Day 5

<p class="lead">Day 5 of the World Chess Armageddon is over, with Sam Shankland and Leinier Dominguez advancing to the next stage, while Renato Terry and Jose Martinez lost their last chance to get back in the game.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/image-5.png" width="1280" height="853" alt="" />
<div class="e2-text-caption">Photo: Max Avdeev, World Chess</div>
</div>
<p>The first match was between Sam Shankland and Jose Martinez, which ended in a draw in blitz and a crazy Armageddon game. Fiona Steil Antoni caught up with a “devastated” Jose Martinez after his loss against Sam Shankland. Check out the interview here:</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PjtetHXRkSc" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Sam Shankland, in the studio, confessed that his only worry was whether he was going to flag on move 300. Watch the interview here:</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2nT3Y4SKMmw" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>The second match was between Leinier Dominguez and Renato Terry. The match got very intense during the Armageddon game, with both players having only seconds on their clocks. Watch it here:</p>
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sSJRT7_goPI" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<p>Tonight at 19:00 CET, Sam Shankland will play against Leinier Dominguez, and Wesley So will face Andrew Tang. They will compete for a chance to win €50,000 and two spots in the Grand Finale.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XA-WKMY9iE" class="wchess_button">Watch the Armageddon</a></p>


Sam Shankland and Leinier Dominguez the winners of Day 5 of Armageddon

WATCH LIVE ARMAGEDDON DAY 5

Armageddon  Day 4 Highlights

<p class="lead">Day 4 of the World Chess Armageddon is over with Wesley So and Andrew Tang promoting to the next phase while Renato Terry and Jose Martinez have one last chance to get back in the game, facing Leinier Dominguez and Sam Shankland respectively, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpylQuldTng&ab_channel=WorldChess">tonight at 19:00 CET.</a></p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/website-World-Chess-5.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<div class="e2-text-caption">Photo: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/maxavdeev/">Max Avdeev</a>, World Chess</div>
</div>
<p>First match was Welsey So against Renato Terry. The Peruvian GM didn’t have a great day and So dominated the match with a 2-0 score. “He put up a great fight. He is a magnificent speed player but also very strong.” So said Fiona Steil-Antoni at his after-game interview.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633901399900602389">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633901399900602389</a></p><p>So then delved into his journey, explaining its twists and turns: surviving a lost position against Sam, Andrew’s retaliation against Leinier. The American GM also explained why his being a favourite hasn’t be taken for granted.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633970473250717697">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633970473250717697</a></p><p>Second match was Andrew Tang against Jose Martinez. The match got to a very intense Armageddon, where both players had seconds and were trying to flag each other. When Tang promoted a queen, Martinez thought that his pawn had made 2 moves instead of one, so he stopped the clock and called the arbiter. After consulting the footage, it was clear that there are no illegal moves, so Martinez immediately lost the game and the match.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633913698858221569">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633913698858221569</a></p><p>“That Armageddon match got my heart rate pretty high for once. After game 2 I needed to recover, but my king was in the middle of the board the whole game, and it was very stressful!” Andrew Tang told Simon Williams and Jovanka Houska, who were both extremely stressed as well, just by watching the game!</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633956606013579264">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633956606013579264</a></p><p>Tonight at 19:00 CET, the “losers” have a second chance. Renato Terry and Jose Martinez will face Leinier Dominguez and Sam Shankland respectively for a chance to win €50,000 and two spots in the Grand Finale.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/FideOnlineArena/status/1634105487367995393">https://twitter.com/FideOnlineArena/status/1634105487367995393</a></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpylQuldTng&ab_channel=WorldChess" class="wchess_button">Watch the Armageddon</a></p>


Wesley So and Andrew Tang the winners of Day 4 of the Armageddon Series

Watch Armageddon Day 4 LIVE

<p class="lead">Hi, I’m Andrew Tang, a 23-year-old GM from the USA!</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<div class="fotorama" data-width="2560" data-ratio="1.3333333333333">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/IMG_2828.JPG" width="2560" height="1920" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/image-4.png" width="1280" height="853" alt="" />
</div>
</div>
<p>Outside of chess, I am a senior at Princeton University majoring in Operations Research and Financial Engineering, and I am going to be working at Susquehanna International Group (SIG) in NYC as a Quantitative Trader starting in the fall this year.</p>
<p>In my spare time, I like to play and watch soccer, but mostly I spend too much time playing games like chess, poker, and other video games (apparently, I have a pretty good aim which helps with my speed chess).</p>
<p>I also like animals (especially penguins!), and enjoy traveling with my friends, family, and girlfriend and eating good food.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<div class="fotorama" data-width="960" data-ratio="0.75">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/players-of-the-day-3-andrew-tang-wesley-so-renato-terry-jose-mar-1.png" width="960" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/players-of-the-day-3-andrew-tang-wesley-so-renato-terry-jose-mar.png" width="960" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/players-of-the-day-3-andrew-tang-wesley-so-renato-terry-jose-mar-2.png" width="960" height="1280" alt="" />
</div>
</div>
<p class="lead">Hi, I’m GM Wesley So from the USA.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<div class="fotorama" data-width="2560" data-ratio="1.4112458654906">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/WeslayCats2.jpg" width="2560" height="1814" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/WESLET2016Yearinreview.jpg" width="1600" height="1119" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/20220407_153805.jpg" width="2560" height="1920" alt="" />
</div>
</div>
<p>I like to read, swim, and sleep. I love all kinds of animals and wish we had a farm.</p>
<p class="lead">Hi, there is Renato Terry, a 31-year-old IM from Peru.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<div class="fotorama" data-width="539" data-ratio="0.56145833333333">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/renato-alegria.jpg" width="539" height="960" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/renato-actual.jpg" width="1200" height="1200" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/Renato-Pequeo.jpg" width="1152" height="2048" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/Renato-futbol-arquero.jpg" width="2048" height="1536" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/previoviaje.jpg" width="880" height="900" alt="" />
</div>
</div>
<p>I have a Bachelor’s degree in Law and Political Science, and in a few months, I will have my law degree. I love soccer, running, and the most important thing in my life is my son, who is 8 years old.</p>
<p>I know how to speak some Quechua and Italian. I was qualified online by playing on the FIDE Online Arena.</p>
<p class="lead">Hello, I am GM Jose Martinez Alcantara!</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/unnamed-1.jpg" width="900" height="900" alt="" />
</div>
<p>I am 24 years old. I am a Peruvian chess grandmaster and streamer. You may know me as @GMJospemm. In 2017, I won the World Youth Championship in the under-18 division. I was also qualified online by playing on the FIDE Online Arena.</p>
<p>Photos provided by participants of the Armageddon Championship Series.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCc8QPYi5GPzJmjMAS98CZyw" class="wchess_button">Watch Armageddon</a></p>


Players of the Day 4: Andrew Tang, Wesley So, Renato Terry, Jose Martinez

Armageddon Day 3 Highlights

<p class="lead">It.com, a domain registry, has become the official partner of the Armageddon Championship Series, elite chess tournaments developed for TV broadcasting and organized by World Chess.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<div class="fotorama" data-width="1280" data-ratio="1.5005861664713">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/Arma-x-It.com4.jpg" width="1280" height="853" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/Arma-x-It.com2.jpg" width="1280" height="853" alt="" />
</div>
</div>
<p>It.com enters the world of chess with the “Intelligent game — Intelligent name,” campaign that is devoted to exploring the nature of intelligence. Within the multistage collaboration between it.com and World Chess, top chess players, business experts, and the general public will be invited to share their views on what intelligence really means for them. The campaign will further popularize chess and will invite people around the world to join the game’s community. Partners are to share more about the upcoming campaign soon.</p>
<p>It.com domain registry is a project of the UK-based Intis Telecom, a global telecommunications and technology company. With a mission to bring equal opportunities to the digital community, Intis Telecom is shaping the future of the domain industry where innovation and inclusivity thrive. By making domain names within the *.it.com registry accessible, it enables businesses and individuals to broaden their reach globally and strengthen their online presence.</p>
<p>“We are thrilled to enter the world of chess and explore every aspect of the intelligence that is a core part of this wonderful sport,” said Andrey Insarov, CEO of Intis Telecom. “We believe that intelligence is a very complex and multifaceted essence, and its boundaries go beyond what we are used to perceiving. And together with World Chess we strive to open the world of chess for a wider audience.”</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<div class="fotorama" data-width="1280" data-ratio="1.5005861664713">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/Arma-x-it.com5.jpg" width="1280" height="853" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/Arma-x-it.com1.jpg" width="1280" height="853" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/Arma-x-It.com3.jpg" width="1280" height="853" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/Arma-x-It.com.jpg" width="1280" height="849" alt="" />
</div>
</div>
<p>“We are excited to partner with it.com for the Armageddon Championship Series 2023,” said Ilya Merenzon, CEO of World Chess. “Together, we hope to explore the nature of intelligence and demonstrate that chess is a game everyone can play or watch. Armageddon, a cutting-edge new chess format, is a fantastic project to prove this, and we look forward to scaling it through our partnership with it.com.”</p>
<p>The upcoming Armageddon Championship Series in 2023 will showcase renowned chess players such as Wesley So (USA), Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (France), Nodirbek Abdusattorov (Uzbekistan), Sam Shankland (USA), Jan-Krzysztof Duda (Poland), and others in a season of high-intensity ultra-fast chess tournaments. For the first time ever, calorie-burned data points and heart rate will also be displayed on the screen alongside the moves and the live feed from the studio. The series is set to commence on March 6 and is expected to be one of the most thrilling and widely-watched chess events of the year, with live broadcasts and highlights available on over 30 online and TV platforms worldwide. </p>
<p>For more information about it.com, please visit the <a href="https://get.it.com">website</a>.</p>


It.com Joins the Armageddon Series as the Official Partner

<p class="lead">Day 3 of the World Chess Armageddon is over with Sam Shankland and Leinier Dominguez grabbing their second chance and winning against Eric Hansen and Ray Robson respectively.</p>
<div class="e2-text-picture">
<div class="fotorama" data-width="1920" data-ratio="1.5">
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/7-1.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/1-18.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/2-4.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/leinier-dominguez-armageddon-championship-2023.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/3-3.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/4-3.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/5-2.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/6-1.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/8.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/9.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/10.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/11.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/12.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/13.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/14.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
<img src="https://chessarena.com/news/pictures/15.jpg" width="1920" height="1280" alt="" />
</div>
</div>
<p>Day 3 found GMs Sam Shankland, Leinier Dominguez, Eric Hansen, and Ray Robson fighting for their last chance to stay at the Armageddon Championship and get a chance to win €50,000 and two spots in the Grand Finale.</p>
<p>First match was Sam Shankland against Eric Hansen. The intense time format didn’t help Eric to play in his full potential and lost the match with a 2-0 score. “I’ll do almost all my training on classical chess and never been great at rapid and blitz so I was glad I avoided elimination today” Sam Shankland commented on his win, adding: “The goal is to play on more day every time!”.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633612197749194756">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633612197749194756</a></p><p>“Down to 10 seconds in both games in a minute. Kind of relieved I lost cause I’ve had this issue for a long time. Don’t really think I should be playing tournaments while I have this massive time trouble addiction. It has been really frustrating.” Eric Hansen confessed to Fiona Steil-Antoni after his loss.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/FideOnlineArena/status/1633734909880614912">https://twitter.com/FideOnlineArena/status/1633734909880614912</a></p><p>Second match was Leinier Dominguez against Ray Robson. After drawing both games, the two GMs moves to the Armageddon, the second in a row for Dominguez. The five-time Cuban Champion bounced back from yesterday’s <a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633189003976384513">crazy loss against Andrew Tang</a>, and managed to win the game, therefore the match. “I lost the second game just to make it a bit more exciting, and get to Armageddon; my favorite part so far. I hope I did a little bit better than yesterday!” Leinier Dominguez told Simon Williams and Jovanka Houska after his win.</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633550951133896704">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633550951133896704</a></p><p>In a joyful mood, Dominguez joined Fiona Steil-Αntoni at the press room and talked about the match, his favourite place to play, and also gives himself a rating as a trash-talker!</p>
<p><a href="https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633742632282193922">https://twitter.com/theworldchess/status/1633742632282193922</a></p><p>Tonight at 19:00 CET, GM Simon Williams aka “ginger man”, and IM Jovanka Houska will comment on 2 more exciting matches; Welsey So against Renato Terry and Jose Martinez against Andrew Tang. Which two players will be eliminated from the World Chess Armageddon Championship Series?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ANtcFQhLhfo&ab_channel=WorldChess" class="wchess_button">Watch the Armageddon</a></p>


Sam Shankland and Leinier Dominguez are through to the next round of the Armageddon

Armageddon Championship Series: Americas Day 3 WATCH LIVE