Ding Liren becomes the first Chinese world chess champion. The 30-year-old beat Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi in Astana, Kazakhstan.
He succeeds Norwegian Magnus Carlsen, who has held the title since 2013. China has been one of the most feared chess nations for several years, with Ding Liren taking a leading part in both editions of the Olympiad, the most important competition between nations in the discipline. But the Covid-19 pandemic, which is ongoing in China, is putting a halt to its trajectory.