World Chess Championship: Meet D Gukesh’s father and Ding Liren’s mother – the Grandmasters’ most important seconds | Chess News
The lift opens and a smiling Ding Liren emerges, flanked by his seconds Ni Hua and Richard Rapport. They seem to be engrossed in a serious chess conversation understandably, since they’re on their way to a serious battle that’s afoot to retain the World Championship crown. As the camera moves with Ding and his two lieutenants there is a fourth figure who stays a couple of steps behind, wanting to stay out of the glare. But it’s a futile attempt, as Ding pauses mid-step, turns back, smiles, and waves her an innocent goodbye. It’s Ding Liren’s mother, Ye Xiaoping, the woman who introduced the 17th world champion to chess at the age of four in China’s Wenzhou. In another life, Ye Xiaoping used to work as a nurse in a hospital. These days she spends her time being a travel companion to her 32-year-old son. A few minutes later, the man presently occupying the most real estate in Ding Liren’s mind – D Gukesh – also power-walks his way into the playing hall past screaming …
