Ding Liren is back. After vanishing from classical chess following his December loss to Gukesh in the World Championship match, the former champion finally returned to over-the-board play at the Chinese Team Championship in Daqing.
He wasted no time shaking off the rust. Playing five games for his team, Ding scored 4/5 with a draw mixed in. His performance rating sits at 2795, the kind of number that belongs to someone playing like a world-class engine.
The choice of venue matters here. Ding didn't jump into some marquee super-tournament with the world's elite. He picked a team event, something lower pressure where he could ease back into classical chess without the full glare of the World Championship spotlight. Smart.
The real question now: is this a one-off tune-up, or does Ding have genuine momentum heading forward? A 2795 TPR over five games is excellent, but five games is a small sample. Still, the fact that he showed up with that kind of precision suggests his mind is sharp and his motivation intact.
Gukesh might want to watch this space. Ding's not the type to go quietly.