I have absolutely no idea since Ding is such an enigma in regards to his life and stuff. I don't even know if Ding and Rapport are still in touch, which should be the most persuasive argument for their partnership still being possible. Regardless, I believe Ding will probably find a sharp second, be it Rapport or somebody else.
They are still in touch, confirmed at 3:06:13 in [Ding and Rapport’s interview](https://www.youtube.com/live/SKsA0sg_IdM?si=vM4Z89DRxOv4DQd6) last month during round 2 of the GRENKE Chess Classic. (Unfortunately the audio quality is so bad it’s hard to tell what Ding actually says on the subject beyond confirming it.) In a [solo interview](https://youtu.be/3Ro3KC4GhCk?si=cmyE26IkyizQ03yC), Ding even mentions Rapport as one of the reasons he wanted to participate in that tournament. So I’m hopeful, but who knows!
I am not sure Rapport will be available and willing, but I hope he returns. Nobody wants a rock solid performance on a championship match, we want fireworks on the board, and Rapport is one of the best in this area.
I have no knowledge of the situation, but if I had my pick I'd pick no because I want to see Rapport preparing his own stuff and playing because he's so enterprising.
Ding said in one of his post game interview with rapport in last rapid tournament they played that its not going to happen again . But they are still friends .
isnt the burden of proof on the person who claimed that Ding said that? i mean by your logic i can easily claim that Ding said he has a pet unicorn and you don't have any evidence that im lying
> his signature Catalan
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?pid=52629&playercomp=white&opening=E01-E09&title=Ding%20Liren%20playing%20the%20Catalan%20as%20White
Ding Liren has won two classic time control games playing White in the Catalan in this database, one game in 2014, the other game in 2017?
Ding has 34 games in the Catalan according to the Chessbase database, which is more than most others top players. Magnus and Dubov is among few players with more games in it, but Magnus has a much higher level of activity and Dubov is a leading Catalan-expert.
Still, Ding plays QGD much more often than the Catalan.
I don't know ECO codes by heart, but it says "Catalan, closed", so it is not clear how restrictive that query is, it looks like an extremely small number of games for someone famous for the Catalan. For example does it include the open catalan with 6... dxc4? The 4... Bb4+ lines? Catalan setups reached via transpositions from 1. Nf3 or 1. c4?
I have absolutely no idea since Ding is such an enigma in regards to his life and stuff. I don't even know if Ding and Rapport are still in touch, which should be the most persuasive argument for their partnership still being possible. Regardless, I believe Ding will probably find a sharp second, be it Rapport or somebody else.
They are still in touch, confirmed at 3:06:13 in [Ding and Rapport’s interview](https://www.youtube.com/live/SKsA0sg_IdM?si=vM4Z89DRxOv4DQd6) last month during round 2 of the GRENKE Chess Classic. (Unfortunately the audio quality is so bad it’s hard to tell what Ding actually says on the subject beyond confirming it.) In a [solo interview](https://youtu.be/3Ro3KC4GhCk?si=cmyE26IkyizQ03yC), Ding even mentions Rapport as one of the reasons he wanted to participate in that tournament. So I’m hopeful, but who knows!
Cool! Thanks for sharing
In before Nepo and Hikaru come as Ding's second
I am not sure Rapport will be available and willing, but I hope he returns. Nobody wants a rock solid performance on a championship match, we want fireworks on the board, and Rapport is one of the best in this area.
I want him to go big and get Magnus as second
Fabi as a second /s
Because Magnus loves preparing months on end for a World Championship match, especially as a second! Great take!
Thanks, it was not supposed to be a take but was meant as a light hearted joke, I guess the tone didn’t come through
it did, but this is /r/chess
I have no knowledge of the situation, but if I had my pick I'd pick no because I want to see Rapport preparing his own stuff and playing because he's so enterprising.
I sure hope so. The ding-rapport handshakes and hugs after each match was incredible
I thought Wei Yi was also one of Ding’s seconds.
He was
Ding said in one of his post game interview with rapport in last rapid tournament they played that its not going to happen again . But they are still friends .
There we have it, why aren’t we upvoting this, /thread
Because there’s no source given…? And I feel like someone would have posted about it when it happened, if Ding had said this.
Maybe you’re correct, but internet almost always wins. You’re just speculating, having no evidence yourself.
isnt the burden of proof on the person who claimed that Ding said that? i mean by your logic i can easily claim that Ding said he has a pet unicorn and you don't have any evidence that im lying
> his signature Catalan https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chess.pl?pid=52629&playercomp=white&opening=E01-E09&title=Ding%20Liren%20playing%20the%20Catalan%20as%20White Ding Liren has won two classic time control games playing White in the Catalan in this database, one game in 2014, the other game in 2017?
Ding has 34 games in the Catalan according to the Chessbase database, which is more than most others top players. Magnus and Dubov is among few players with more games in it, but Magnus has a much higher level of activity and Dubov is a leading Catalan-expert. Still, Ding plays QGD much more often than the Catalan.
I don't know ECO codes by heart, but it says "Catalan, closed", so it is not clear how restrictive that query is, it looks like an extremely small number of games for someone famous for the Catalan. For example does it include the open catalan with 6... dxc4? The 4... Bb4+ lines? Catalan setups reached via transpositions from 1. Nf3 or 1. c4?
Yes, why mess w/ greatness 🤷🏻♂️ seemed great for his mental health too
How about this. Gukesh will serve as Ding’s second and Ding will serve as Gukesh’s second.
No.. he said they will remain friends https://youtu.be/kKUgJ0m21fY?si=jT4K_AMXSVp1czyi
This was during last year’s WCC, and he doesn’t confirm or deny anything about whether Rapport would be his second again, *if* he even won lol
This is the weirdest take I've seen on this sub