Grandmaster Ding Liren from China competes during the first game of a 14-game match to decide who will be the new 17th World Chess Champion in Astana. AFP PHOTO

Ding Liren became China's first world chess champion on Sunday after a rapid-play tie-break victory over Russia's Ian Nepomniachtchi in Kazakhstan.

Ding, 30, takes over as winner of the World Chess