The moment Ding Liren became the FIDE World Champion 🥹🏆 pic.twitter.com/FSu9rsVg49
— Chess.com (@chesscom) April 30, 2023
The global chess community has been aware of China’s Ding Liren for quite some time. In 2009, he became the country’s youngest national champion at 16 years old. Several years later from August 2017 through November 2018, Liren was unbeaten in 100 competitions. At the time, this was the longest unbeaten streak in chess history. By 2021, Liren had become the 2nd-ranked player in the world.
But on Monday, May 1st, Liren reached the ultimate heights of chess as he became China’s first men’s world champion defeating Russia’s Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Afterwards, he said in this article, “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.”
As I read Liren’s comments, I was reminded of just three of the prices all leaders must be willing to pay if they wish to be successful:
- Leaders must be willing to pay a Physical Price – It took Liren fourteen first-stage games played over three weeks to win the championship.
- Leaders must be willing to pay an Emotional Price – This was likely accelerated by the physical price Liren had paid. After winning the championship, he was greatly relieved and had an understandable release of raw emotion. Liren admitted he couldn’t “control his feelings” and “burst into tears.” In short, Liren gave everything he had. Athletes would say that he left it all on the field.
- Leaders must be willing to pay the Price of Competitive Stamina – It was fourteen years from the time Liren became a national champion until he became a world champion. Think about the discipline, resilience, and singleness of focus required to continue competing at an elite level over that length of time. How many child prodigies have you seen become cautionary tales after achieving early success? Too many to count, right? Well, Liren did not choose to take a wayward path. He fulfilled his potential.
For a deeper dive into the leadership price you need to pay, read 5 Prices No One Talks About That Bill Belichick Paid To Become A Championship Coach.
A Physical Price. An Emotional Price. Competitive Stamina. Are you willing to pay these three prices of leadership? If so, you may achieve the heights of your profession as well.
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