Ding Liren has become China's first men's world chess champion, after defeating Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Ednews informs via DW that Ding, 30, won a rapid-play tiebreaker after 14 first-stage games at the World Chess Championship in Kazakhstan.
He succeeds Norway's Magnus Carlsen, the five-time champion who said he was "not motivated" to defend his title.
Carlsen accused a US opponent of cheating last year in a row that rocked the chess world. He remains number one in the rankings.
Ding's victory makes him the 17th winner of the world chess tournament, while Nepomniachtchi, who had previously made a grand final, fell at the final hurdle for a second time.
Ding said he was "quite relieved" after his victory, according to comments shared by FIDE, the International Chess Federation.
"The moment Ian resigned the game was a very emotional moment. I couldn't control my feelings. I know myself, I will cry and burst into tears. It was a tough tournament for me."
His victory was celebrated by chess fans and patriots in China, which is a growing chess power.
"One Ding to rule em all," tweeted fellow grandmaster Anish Giri after Ding's victory.
China's General Administration of Sport, a government department, also posted a warm congratulatory message, praising Ding for "winning glory for the motherland and its people".
A native of Wenzhou, China's "chess city", Ding triumphed in dramatic circumstances in Astana, the Kazakh capital.
The opening 14 games were played over three weeks. Ding and Nepomniachtchi each won three, with eight draws.
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