Ding, who was bottom of the table on 2.5 points at the halfway stage, recorded a third win on the bounce.

The world number three finished the tournament on seven points and in fifth position.

Nepomniachtchi - who wrapped up the title yesterday - remained top on 8.5 points.

France's Maxime Vachier-Lagrave ended his campaign on a high too, defeating China's Wang Hao to move onto eight points, just half a point behind the winner.

Wang, who inversely to his compatriot lost his last three matches, finished on five points at the bottom of the standings due to Kirill Alekseenko of Russia's win over The Netherlands' Anish Giri.

Alekseenko moved onto 5.5 points, while Giri finished on 7.5.

Giri finished the tournament with two successive defeats, with the loss in round 13 versus Nepomniachtchi seeing the Russian clinch the title.

Alexander Grischuk of Russia tied with Fabiano Caruana of the United States in the final match of the competition.

Grischuk finished on seven points, while Caruana was just ahead on 7.5 points.

As the winner of the tournament, world number four Nepomniachtchi now gets to face Norwegian Magnus Carlsen for the world title in a contest scheduled to take place in Dubai in November.

Carlsen, who like Nepomniachtchi is 30, will be defending the title for the fourth time.