Ding Liren, the former FIDE World Champion, is set to return to chess action at the Chessable Masters after a hiatus following his title loss to D Gukesh in December last year.

What happened?

Ding Liren has signed with Chinese esports organisation LGD Gaming and will represent Hangzhou Mind Sports Team.

LGD Gaming, one of China's oldest esports organisations, is also based out of the same city.

Why it matters for Ding Liren

The only Chinese man to be crowned as the World Champion, Liren now joins other big names in the list of stars who have signed with an esports team ahead of the Esports World Cup.

India's Arjun Erigaisi, and United States' Fabiano Caruana are among the big stars who have joined Esports teams.

Arjun has signed with Gen.G Esports, while Caruana will ply his trade for Team Liquid.

What comes next?

Chessable Masters, which begins February 16, is the first of two qualifying events for the Esports World Cup.

The other qualifying tournament for the World Cup will be held in May.

The top 12 from these two tournaments alongside four players from the ‘Last Chance Qualifier’ will lock horns in the Esports World Cup where chess prize will be $1.5mn.

And with this move, Ding Liren is looking to make a strong comeback in the chess world.

But he will face tough competition from other top players.

So, the Chessable Masters will be an exciting event to watch.

Ding Liren's return to chess action is a significant development in the chess world.

The former World Champion is known for his exceptional skills and strategy.

As he prepares to represent Hangzhou Mind Sports Team, fans are eagerly waiting to see him in action.

The Esports World Cup is scheduled to take place later this year, and it will feature chess as one of the events.

This will be a great opportunity for Ding Liren to showcase his skills and compete against the best players in the world.

With a prize of $1.5mn, the stakes are high, and the competition will be fierce.

But Ding Liren is a seasoned player, and he has the experience and skill to perform well under pressure.

As the Chessable Masters approaches, fans are excited to see Ding Liren in action.

The event will be a great opportunity for him to make a strong comeback and prove his skills.

And with his signing with LGD Gaming, he has taken a significant step towards achieving his goals.