Ding Liren can’t travel to Berlin

The top favourite of the Grand Prix Ding Liren didn’t get his visa application complete in time to reach Berlin before the first round on Friday. If FIDE doesn’t switch him into the remaining two Grandprix tournaments or if another player concedes his place in the Candidates, the world number three will loose out again on a big chance to become challenger. Radek Wojtaszek replaces Ding in Berlin, whereas Dmitri Andreikin who tested positive for Covid-19, passes on his place to fellow Russian Andrej Esipenko.