Chess’s biggest event starts next week. The reigning champion, Ding Liren, is seen as an underdog compared to an 18-year-old competitor.

When Ding Liren competes for the world championship chess crown in Singapore over the next three weeks, the likeable Chinese player will not — like most of his predecessors — be sitting at the board as the top player.

The clash between chess titans Ding and Indian challenger Gukesh Dommaraju kicks off at the Resorts World Sentosa on Nov 25, with the best-of-14 series to end on Dec 13.

Gukesh Dommaraju could become the youngest chess world champion in history, but those who know him best say his success wasn't preordained

It does not matter if Ding Liren is struggling for form or is at his best, D Gukesh knows he needs to be the "best version of himself " in every game against the Chinese during the World Chess Championship clash,

As Ding Liren prepares to face India’s D Gukesh in the 2024 World Chess Championship match in Singapore, we take a look at how the Chinese grandmaster became the world champion in 2023.

Liren's last victory against Gukesh came earlier this year during the Tata Steel Chess tournament in Wijk Aan Zee, The Netherlands. He beat Gukesh in the same event in 2023

India's chess prodigy D. Gukesh is on the verge of making history as he prepares to face reigning champion Ding Liren for the World Chess Championship

For the first time in 138 years, two Asian players, D Gukesh of India and Ding Liren of China, will compete in the World Chess Championship. Gukesh emphasizes preparation and self-improvement, while Liren candidly acknowledges his recent form struggles.

The weight of expectations sits lightly on his teenaged shoulders and Grandmaster D Gukesh would bank heavily on his calm mind when he takes on Chinese Ding Liren in the World Championship showdown

Ding Liren noted he was at peace and 'with a lot of energy' as he prepared to take on the youngest ever challenger to the World Championship crown.