Chess

[Lucumo]

Why did Magnus retire anyway? I don't really follow chess but watch a chess streamer (ChessNetwork) on Twitch from time to time.

After more than 10 years of first trying to gain the title and then maintain it after he won it, he just lost motivation. Plus, it's a lot of physical and mental strain to prepare for and then play a WC match, and he did it 5 times already. Does he really need to prove himself anymore against the players of his generation? But yeah, I guess the main reason is, it stopped being fun for him.
Of course he didn't retire from chess, he just doesn't participate in the WC cycle anymore, but for example he took part in the speed chess world championship last december and won both the rapid and blitz titles.

Thank you. It absolutely makes sense. Personally, my biggest issues would probably be all the media with their interviews after each match and all the photos etc etc. Playing the same opponents over and over again in formats that take forever certainly seems draining. Considering that chess skill seems to be longer-lasting, wouldn't it make sense to have a WC match every four years, or so?

 

[Syl]

And the new world chess champion is:

Spoiler

Ding Liren

Congratulations to him.

 

[and 8 others]

And the new world chess champion is:

Spoiler

Ding Liren

Congratulations to him.

Indeed, congrats to Ding.

I can't help but feel bad for Nepo though. He's won the candidates tournament twice, gone through the brutal prep for the world championship twice, only to lose in the tiebreak on his 2nd attempt, after a very close match.

When he lost I suddenly realised I was hoping for him to win it, as a redemption after the match against Magnus.

 

[Syl]

Yeah, I was rooting for Nepo too.
And I would have loved to see Naka get the second place in candidates, but that's another story.

The match was more entertaining that the last, with many victories and less blunders.

Not a redemption but it's some kind of revenge for Ding after he couldn't participate in the previous candidates because of the insane covid rules in China.
I guess that's why he was so emotional after winning. At some point, he probably thought he missed his chance as he was favorite to challenge Magnus.

Speaking of Magnus Carlsen, I wish he finds the motivation to win the next candidates and challenge Ding (and win his title back of course).

 

[Butter]

I usually dismiss the Mandela Effect as people just being retards with faulty memory, but I could've sworn Nakamura had placed second in the Candidates and was supposed to be in this match. Still, I recall thinking a few years ago that Ding looked like WC material, and it was just a shame that he had to be contemporary with Carlsen (in the same way Korchnoi had the misfortune to be contemporary with Karpov). I think Magnus would've wiped the floor with him if he'd cared to participate, so he got lucky with the timing I suppose.

 

[Seigneur Locklear]

Man, Nepo's reaction during the final game was really some heart wrenching shit, like him or not. The knocking off the pieces with a shaky hand, the blank stare of dismay and disbelief, the struggle to get up from the chair..

 

[Rocket-Propelled Game]

I wish as many people played Stratego as chess since the former is practically an upgraded version of the latter.

Then again it's easy to see why as chess is ancient and in public domain whereas Stratego is copyrighted.

Chess is the soccer of board games.

 

[odrzut]

Soccer is the best team sport tho?

 

[Rocket-Propelled Game]

Soccer is the best team sport tho?

I meant it was like soccer in that just about everyone knows the rules and you can find a game just about anywhere.

(Although now that I think about it maybe checkers is more the soccer of board games so my analogy was dumb from the get go IGNORE ME.)

 

[odrzut]

Nah I think you're onto something. Chess and soccer are very swingy. One bad or brilliant move turns the game on its head. Which makes watching and playing it interesting.

Games where you mostly win if you have early advantage are boring.

 

[KIss My Ass]

I was rehab chess champion for a while. Felt good.