Chinese chess player Ding Liren plays with Levon Aronian from Romania during the FIDE World Cup final in Tbilisi, Georgia, on Sept 27, 2017. The 11th ranked Ding was defeated by the 4th ranked Romanian player but secured the second spot. (Photo/Xinhua)
Chinese chess player Ding Liren, 24, won the second place at the just concluded FIDE 2017 World Cup final in Tbilisi, Georgia, marking the best-ever record by a Chinese chess player.
He also became the first-ever Chinese player to reach the Candidates Tournament, the penultimate stage in the World Chess Championship.
Ding, ranked 13 on the world's top 50 list, became a black horse to the final for the first time after 20 years' training.
Ding and two other teammates, Bu Xiangzhi and Wang Hao, grabbed three spots of the final 16 in this year's World Cup. Bu also defeated Magnus Carlsen, a Norwegian chess grandmaster and the current World Chess Champion during this year's game.
Chinese chess team head coach Ye Jiangchuan said Ding's performance was "amazing". He also said that his proteges are capable of winning more glories.
The Chinese Chess Association has adopted a gradual approach in promoting the sport in the country where the chess tradition is less. After the women players' success on the world stage, China now aims to emulate that on the men's circuit.
