In an interview with Chessbase India, Ian Nepomniachtchi shared his concerns about Ding Liren’s health and recent performances ahead of the World Chess Championship match against Gukesh D.
Nepomniachtchi, who in 2023 lost the World Championship Match against Ding, noted that the reigning champion hasn’t been in top form, raising questions about his readiness for the upcoming battle.
“It’s really hard to discuss at this point… Let’s be straight, to fix his health condition… I played in Saint Louis against him and Wijk aan Zee already this year, he didn’t look great. It was obvious that he isn’t feeling great. So if he would be more or less like good physical conditions, then he can discuss some chess related questions.
I think his Olympics performance wasn’t… He got some good positions eventually but he didn’t convert it. Of course, he is a great chess player. I’d say if he would be able to at least show like the level which he was still maintaining in our match, it was like very random, lot of ups and downs.
If he would be at least like remotely at this level, probably it would be some fight. You know so far what I am seeing is you know quite sad and I mean I am still sort of considering, if he is going to show up probably…
I don’t know what happened to him exactly, but I’d say whenever I see him out of a chess board, he is a quite joyful and happy, whenever he has to play, it doesn’t feel like he is enjoying, to say the least…” – Ian Nepomniachtchi on the upcoming World Championship Match between Ding Liren and Gukesh D.
