French Chess Player Says Magnus Carlsen is Stronger than Ding Liren: Report

Ding Liren’s opponent called Carlsen a stronger chess player

Frenchman Alireza Firouzja noted that Chinese Ding Liren is a strong grandmaster, but it is easier to beat him than Magnus Carlsen

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It is easier to beat the current world chess champion Ding Liren than the 16th champion Magnus Carlsen, about this declared French chess player Alireza Firouzja after defeating a Chinese grandmaster in the game of the fifth round of the Grand Chess Tour tournament in Bucharest.

“Beating this world champion is easier than beating Magnus! Of course, Dean is very strong. I am happy with this victory,” said 19-year-old Firouzja.

The tournament in Bucharest is the first stage of the Grand Chess Tour – 2023.

In the first four rounds, Ding Liren ended all games in a draw. For Firouzja, the victory over the Chinese was the second in this tournament. In the last round, the Frenchman defeated the Romanian Bogdan-Daniel Diac.

The prize fund of the tournament in Bucharest is $350,000.

Ding Liren became world champion on April 30, beating Ian Nepomniachtchi in a tie-break match for the world chess crown. The Chinese entered the tournament due to Carlsen’s refusal to defend the title and the disqualification of Sergey Karyakin, who was suspended for six months by FIDE for supporting a special operation in Ukraine.