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?
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.
Another reason not to follow the match? FIDE is not only run by Russian fascists, it’s a totally corrupt organization that is actually hurting chess. BAN FIDE WORLDWIDE! Don’t say the “F” word…FIDE!
Both these super GMs will be making a supreme effort to prepare for one another, and I will be looking forward to seeing their openings, innovations and the interesting play that will surely follow. I try to separate politics from what happens on the 64 squares. When one of the GMs moves e4 or d4, what does that have to do with politics? In general, I believe in making a distinction between art and politics.
When I was a teenager I watched Wrestling. The wrestlers had to get into the ring to hold the belt of heavyweight champion or tag-team holder. Even if I thought one wrestler was the best, to hold onto the title meant getting in the ring. I think the promotion of the event is really why there isn't hype.
Although silly Imagine the following:
Ding the King of King's Indians Liren, is facing the Petroff Wall of a Russian Machine: TEAM NEPO!!!! Ever since Bobby Fischer there hasn't been someone working so hard to prove a lone genius can take on the Russian Machine. Ding's a wiley fighter who can take a chess fight. Losing in the Candidates early last year only to pull through on sheer individual grit, Ding Liren is the Man With a Plan to take the Chess Title of Titles, The world Championship.
And on this Side of the Chess Board Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi !!! Undefeated at the Candidates, Ian has a hunger to redeem himself after a Humiliating Match against the previous Title holder Magnus "Drunkenstien" Carlsen. Ian is a serious contender but has a reputation for a "glass jaw" He just can't handle a loss. But you have to beat him first! and that's no mean feat. He's been training hard and looking to show that he's got it all.
The Title World Champion is on the line and only one man will come away Victorious. Who has what it takes to walk away from this grueling match with the trophy?
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BTW Chess needs a Ring like a super-bowl ring that the champ gets at the the end so that afterward you get a nice visual reminder when you play that the guy across from you is a monster.
All of which is to say I think the hype has to come from the organizers. Absolutely gotta pump up the crowd. Ding's my man for this match.
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.
Another reason not to follow the match? FIDE is not only run by Russian fascists, it’s a totally corrupt organization that is actually hurting chess. BAN FIDE WORLDWIDE! Don’t say the “F” word…FIDE!
Both these super GMs will be making a supreme effort to prepare for one another, and I will be looking forward to seeing their openings, innovations and the interesting play that will surely follow. I try to separate politics from what happens on the 64 squares. When one of the GMs moves e4 or d4, what does that have to do with politics? In general, I believe in making a distinction between art and politics.
When I was a teenager I watched Wrestling. The wrestlers had to get into the ring to hold the belt of heavyweight champion or tag-team holder. Even if I thought one wrestler was the best, to hold onto the title meant getting in the ring. I think the promotion of the event is really why there isn't hype.
Although silly Imagine the following:
Ding the King of King's Indians Liren, is facing the Petroff Wall of a Russian Machine: TEAM NEPO!!!! Ever since Bobby Fischer there hasn't been someone working so hard to prove a lone genius can take on the Russian Machine. Ding's a wiley fighter who can take a chess fight. Losing in the Candidates early last year only to pull through on sheer individual grit, Ding Liren is the Man With a Plan to take the Chess Title of Titles, The world Championship.
And on this Side of the Chess Board Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi !!! Undefeated at the Candidates, Ian has a hunger to redeem himself after a Humiliating Match against the previous Title holder Magnus "Drunkenstien" Carlsen. Ian is a serious contender but has a reputation for a "glass jaw" He just can't handle a loss. But you have to beat him first! and that's no mean feat. He's been training hard and looking to show that he's got it all.
The Title World Champion is on the line and only one man will come away Victorious. Who has what it takes to walk away from this grueling match with the trophy?
---
BTW Chess needs a Ring like a super-bowl ring that the champ gets at the the end so that afterward you get a nice visual reminder when you play that the guy across from you is a monster.
All of which is to say I think the hype has to come from the organizers. Absolutely gotta pump up the crowd. Ding's my man for this match.
I won't stream it. But I'll check the results.
Go Ding! Boo Magnus!