An East vs. East Battle of Minds: Can Ding Liren and Nepomniachtchi Capture Chess Fans' Attention?
The upcoming World Chess Championship match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren, might be the least anticipated title clash in recent chess history.
This lack of anticipation can be attributed to several factors that have contributed to a somewhat dampened enthusiasm for the event. I have searched for an official website for the match and I cannot find it, maybe it is hidden somewhere on the dark web?
As of now, there doesn't seem to be an official site for the match, and FIDE only has over two weeks to build hype before the match starts on April 7th in Astana, Kazakhstan.
I’m torn about whether I should follow the match or not. I have tried to list some reasons that in my opinion explain why there is so little hype about the match:
Magnus Carlsen's absence: As the reigning World Champion and arguably the best chess player in the world, Magnus Carlsen's decision not to participate in this championship has left a vacuum. His absence has undoubtedly diminished the appeal of the event for a significant portion of the chess community. Furthermore, Ian Nepomniachtchi's clear loss to Magnus Carlsen in their previous World Championship match does not help either.
The Russian-Ukrainian war: The ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine has had a negative impact on the perception of Russian chess players. As a result, this may affect the enthusiasm of chess fans around the world, particularly those in the West.
Nationality of the Players: fans might struggle to connect with or support either player due to the current political climate and its impact on international relations, especially in light of Xi Jinping's recent state visit to Russia. While some argue against mixing chess and politics, it's difficult to avoid the intersection in this East vs. East showdown.
Ding Liren's low profile: Known for his reserved demeanor, Ding Liren has remained relatively out of the public eye. Also affected by the strict COVID policies in China. This lack of visibility may contribute to a diminished sense of excitement surrounding his participation in the championship match.
FIDE's struggles with marketing and sponsorship: The current state of FIDE, influenced by Russia, has made it difficult for them to effectively market the match and secure sponsors. Many sponsors might be hesitant to associate themselves with the event due to the ongoing war, further contributing to the limited anticipation of the championship match. The Match is sponsored by Freedom Holding Corp.
So, that is a lot of headwinds for making the upcoming match a success. As said earlier I’m torn if I will be following the match or not. Most likely I will, but it will not be with the same excitement as with earlier matches. Will you?
I would be interested to hear your opinions about the match in the comments.
Before you go, remember that you can ask questions to GM Noël Studer in the Say Chess Chat until Sunday:
/Martin
An East vs. East Battle of Minds: Can Ding Liren and Nepomniachtchi Capture Chess Fans' Attention?
Carlsen is still the world champion, everyone knows he's the #1 guy whoever wins this match is going to be in his shadow like Karpov after Bobby Fischer forfeited in 1975.
If people have a negative perception of Russian players they are imbeciles in my mind. Whatever your position on the war in Ukraine, chess has nothing at all to do with the complex geopolitics of that conflict, which actually began in 2014 following the euro maidan coup. It’s in my opinion so idiotic that the chess federation removed the flags of Russia. You’re not doing anything by resenting or trying to disempower russian chess players. I wonder how American players would feel if the US flag was banned because of the objectively much more destructive war in Iraq and Afghanistan. Russian chess has produced the best chess players in the world for the last century of chess and it’s so disrespectful to the legacy of Chess in general that they idiotically ban the Russian flag and that there’s a perception that chess players have anything at all to do with the war.