‘I had some medicine to make sure I fall asleep’: Ian Nepomniachtchi on his epic battle with Ding Liren

Ding Liren defeated Ian Nepomniachtchi to become 17th world chess champion.

Game 12 of the 2023 World Chess Championship between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren ended with the Chinese GM drawing level with the Russian at 6-6.

Ian Nepomniachtchi (right) reacts after realising he's about to lose Game 12 of the 2023 World Chess Championship to Ding Liren. (Photo: FIDE/Stev Bonhage)

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China’s Ding Liren was crowned on Sunday as the 17th world chess champion in a tense match against Russian-born Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana, Kazakhstan.

Thirty-year-old Ding won the rapid chess playoff by 2.5 points to 1.5, capitalizing on Nepomniachtchi’s mistakes in time trouble in the last of the shorter-format games, following the pair’s 7-7 tie in a psychological battle across 14 longer “classical” games.

Ding admitted that he was depressed after the first match, while Nepo revealed that he had to take sleeping pills.

Ding Liren is the 2023 FIDE World Champion! 🏆♟️👏

Ding prevailed over Ian Nepomniachtchi in the last rapid tie-break game of one of the most exciting and dramatic matches in chess history. #NepoDing pic.twitter.com/WB7oaiLOXG

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) April 30, 2023

“I had some medicine to make sure I can fall asleep. And at 1 am I found it had vanished. I guess the lady who cleaned the room, just …”

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“It was also sort of a lottery because there were three or four different pills. But the priceless one was just gone. It was sort of unlucky, I guess. I really hope it was a coincidence,” Nepo was quoted as saying by The Guardian.

Ding’s triumph means China holds both the men’s and women’s world titles, with current women’s champion Ju Wenjun set to defend her title against compatriot Lei Tingjie in July.

The 2023 FIDE World Championship officially ended with the closing ceremony. #NepoDing

Ding Liren has claimed the ultimate chess title and now proudly holds the crown, joining the few that have made it to chess eternity!
Congratulations! 🎉 👑 ♟

📷: Stev Bonhage pic.twitter.com/DB3t5EMb3e

— International Chess Federation (@FIDE_chess) May 1, 2023

“The moment Ian resigned the game was a very emotional moment, I cannot control my feelings,” the new world champion said in a press conference.

Ding, a man of few words said he has still not able to process his title triumph.

“It’s already changed my life. Because now I have play for two more years,” he said.

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Ian Nepomniachtchi had high praise for his rival. He said: ” Despite having no real ideas, or deep preparation, he managed to put up a fight. And I should give him very huge credit for that. In some games he was nearly on the ropes, but managed to play very precisely which saved him many points.”

Ding ranks third in the FIDE rating list behind Carlsen and Nepomniachtchi.

The new champion will attend from May 4 the first tournament of the Grand Chess Tour in Bucharest, Romania, after being almost inactive since 2020 due to COVID-19 lockdowns in China.