‘He’s frozen’: Chinese star Ding Liren ‘malfunctions’ in world chess championship

A global sporting championship took another twist as Chinese star Ding Liren ran very low on time in a tense position.

Ding Liren plays Ian Nepomniachtchi. Picture: Chess.com

Chinese chess star Ding Liren has frozen at the board in a crucial moment, wilting under tremendous time pressure.

Playing in game seven of the world chess championship in Astana, Kazakhstan, Liren surprised many by using the French Defence against Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi.

The game quickly progressed into an extremely sharp position.

Ian Nepomniachtchi got a strong attacking position early in the game. Picture: Chess.com

The Russian pointed his bishops towards the enemy king, creating big threats early.

Liren managed to find some strong defensive moves but quickly used up his clock.

Nepomniachtchi kept mounting the pressure and Liren gave up the exchange to hold off the attack and the position was dynamically equal.

With nine moves to make before the time control, Liren took an enormous amount of time.

The Chess.com commentators urged Liren to make his move.

Ding Liren ran out of time and “froze” at the board. Picture: Chess.com

“I’m about to jump out of my seat,” American grandmaster Daniel Naroditsky said.

“He’s frozen, it’s a tension thing. His body has frozen. He’s frozen completely,” Dutch grandmaster Anish Giri said.

“He’s under a minute, what is he doing?

“He broke, he broke. He malfunctioned, Ding broke.”

Liren was left with just 45 seconds when he finally moved - and he had eight moves to make before flagging.

When he finally did move, it was a huge blunder, 32. Rd2.

Ding Liren blundered with the move 32. Rd2 in the game against Ian Nepomniachtchi. Picture: Chess.com

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Nepomniachtchi, with time left on his clock, took a free pawn and Liren’s position was untenable.

Liren threw in a spite check but Nepomniachtchi’s king was safe and Liren resigned after the move 37. Qxc3.

The commentators were stunned by the turn of events.

“His algorithm broke, his body language broke. He froze in a very weird way and just couldn’t make a move,” Giri said.

It was a sad meltdown for the Chinese star, who previously admitted to having emotional problems dealing with the pressure of the contest.

There’s still time for Liren to mount a comeback, which he has already done twice in the topsy-turvy match.