Although Ian Nepomniachtchi seemed as the obvious winner at multiple moments of the 2023 FIDE World Chess Championship, Ding Liren held his nerves to clinch the title by winning the rapid tiebreaker to take home the winner prize money
Just when everyone thought the FIDE World Chess Championship 2023 was going to be decided through blitz, Ding found one last opportunity to play for a win in the decisive rapid tiebreaker game. For Ding, who never led until Ian Nepomniachtchi withdrew in the last seconds of the match, it was the conclusion of an unbelievable journey.
FIDE World Chess Championship 2023 winner prize money, Ding Liren vs Ian Nepomniactchi tiebreaker results and score
Self-pinning for immortality. Congrats Ding!! https://t.co/pswA5g6bz9
— Magnus Carlsen (@MagnusCarlsen) April 30, 2023
— Chess.com (@chesscom) April 30, 2023
2023 FIDE World Chess Championship Ding Liren vs Ian Nepomniactchi tiebreaker, match events, & champion
In the decisive rapid tiebreaker game of the 2023 FIDE World Championship, GM Ding Liren defeated GM Ian Nepomniachtchi to become the new world champion. After a nail-biting 14-game classical match that ended in a 7-7 tie, the decisive rapid game was won by Ding using black pieces in spectacular fashion. For the first time since 2013, GM Magnus Carlsen’s rule is over, and Ding, the 17th world champion, has taken over.
Few people anticipated that Ding would try to press with Black in the final game with the scores locked at 1.5-1.5 in a match that White had statistically dominated overall. Ding rolled his pawns up the board to victory in a manner that will henceforth be associated with his tenure as the 17th world champion. On the 68th move, a handshake signaled the conclusion of a remarkable game that almost required blitz tiebreaks to separate the players for the first time in chess history.
| Date | Event |
| 7 April | Opening ceremony |
| 8 April | Media day |
| 9 April | Game 1 (Draw) |
| 10 April | Game 2 (Win: Ian Nepomniachtchi) |
| 11 April | Rest day |
| 12 April | Game 3 (Draw) |
| 13 April | Game 4 (Win: Ding Liren) |
| 14 April | Rest day |
| 15 April | Game 5 (Win: Ian Nepomniachtchi) |
| 16 April | Game 6 (Win: Ding Liren) |
| 17 April | Rest day |
| 18 April | Game 7 (Win: Ian Nepomniachtchi) |
| 19 April | Rest day |
| 20 April | Game 8 (Draw) |
| 21 April | Game 9 (Draw) |
| 22 April | Rest day |
| 23 April | Game 10 (Draw) |
| 24 April | Game 11 (Draw) |
| 25 April | Rest day |
| 26 April | Game 12 (Win: Ding Liren) |
| 27 April | Game 13 (Draw) |
| 28 April | Rest day |
| 29 April | Game 14 (Draw) |
| 30 April | Tiebreaks (Win: Ding Liren) |
| 1 May | Closing ceremony |
World Chess Championship 2023 prize money pool distribution
According to reports, the 2023 FIDE World Chess Championship had net prize money of €2 Million and since the winner was decided only after the tiebreaker, 55% will go to the new champion Ding Liren. Hence, Ding will bag €1.1 Million as rewards and the runner-up Ian Nepomniachtchi will earn respectable total of €900,000.