Sleep, coffee, mother's advice: Secret of Ding's quick turnaround in World Chess Championship

The moves top-level chess players make over a board might leave an average human puzzled, but there is nothing too complicated about how they solve everyday puzzles. Reigning world champion Ding Liren is a classic example.

Journalists, who queued up after his match-levelling win in Game 12 of the World Chess Championship against D Gukesh, were eager to know the secret behind his quick turnaround. Ding was in danger of surrendering his title to the young Indian after losing Game 11 and trailing the match 5-6. But Ding's responses were simpler than his moves played out with computer-like precision.

"Last night, I slept earlier, and it gave me a lot of energy," Ding said at his post-game press conference. "I took a cup of coffee before the game, which helped me gain some energy," added the unassuming Chinese, bringing about a chain of laughter in the hall. "Also, I spent some time in the players' lounge to take some snacks, rest a little bit, and maintain my energy levels."

The 32-year-old also listened to his parents, who have been accompanying him to the venue daily. "My mom said I did it last time, and I can do it again." She was referring to a connection between the ongoing championship and the 2023 edition at Astana in Kazakhstan, in which he defeated Russian's Ian Nepomniachtchi to win his first world title.

Just like here, Ding trailed Nepomniachtchi after Game 11. Like here, he won Game 12 to level the match and went on to clinch the tie-breakers that made him the 17th world champion. In Astana, Ding had been trailing since Game 7, which was exactly the halfway stage in the match, and there were four subsequent draws before he found the crucial win in Game 12. In Singapore, though, Ding went behind in Game 11, and coincidentally, he found a decisive result in Game 12.

That prompted a journalist to wonder if 12 was his new favourite number. "If there is a lucky number for me, it is 17. But there is no 17th game in this match," Ding said with a chuckle. Another journalist stepped up with a follow-up. "Why is number 17 so special for you?" he asked. "..because I'm the 17th world champion," said a smiling Ding.