DING LIREN IS THE NEW WORLD CHAMPION!

DING!

As always, an image can tell a story.
Ian Nepomniachtchi had just resigned the fourth Rapid game, making Ding the 17th Chess World champion.
Ding is trying not to burst into tears, as he said during the press conference.
An emotional rollercoaster that led the 30-year-old super-GM from Wenzhou to become the first Chinese World Champion in History.

Liren won the last rapid game with a surprising move, which even the Numero Uno Magnus Carlsen commented on:

The first three rapid games - with time control 25+10 - went away more or less without great jolts, with the players being very careful and playing good chess without mistakes.
The fourth game of the first tiebreak started again rather calmly, and Ian proposed repeating moves to go into the second tiebreak (Blitz 5+3).
Ding thought about it but then saw something that may have a different outcome and pinned his rook to the king!

It's nothing dangerous for Black. But refusing the repetition threw Nepomniachtchi off. Ian started thinking too long, and with seconds remaining on the clock, he blundered away the game and the match.
It's impossible not to feel for Ian, at his second attempt to become World Champion.

Here is the decisive game:

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STAY TUNED! GM Miguel Illescas will produce a final amazing video on the match! Check the ICC YouTube Channel for all the videos on this fantastic event and much more!