The Thousand-Eyed Monster Rampaged in Prague Too!
May 1986, Basel. The exhibition match Kasparov – Miles ends in a crushing victory for the world champion, 5.5 : 0.5. Kasparov may have seen it as a light warm-up for his next title match against Karpov. The devastated but honest Miles then uttered a memorable sentence: „I thought I was playing the world champion. In reality, I was facing a monster with a thousand eyes, which sees absolutely everything.“ Decades later, fans felt they saw another such „monster“ in Carlsen. But he is gradually stepping back from classical chess. After another success for Uzbekistan’s number one in Prague, however, it seems the baton already has a new bearer. Nodirbek Abdusattorov possesses practical strength that is – without exaggeration – terrifying. Continue reading
Lasker's Last World Championship Game, or the Traditional Historical Mistake
On the 105th anniversary of the Capablanca–Lasker match (Havana 1921): In official lists of world champions, we still encounter the claim that Emanuel Lasker reigned from 1894 to 1921, a full 27 years. This figure is repeated so routinely that it has acquired the status of an axiom. Yet, on closer inspection, it is a simplification, if not an outright historical error. Contemporary documents convincingly show that in 1920 Lasker formally resigned the world champion title in favour of Capablanca. If we accept this act as legitimate, then Lasker’s reign did not end in 1921 after losing the match, but already a year earlier – after 26 years. Continue reading
Wijk aan Zee: Black Takes, Cognitive Radiation and Another Nodirbek Triumph
There are countless possible names for what happened this year at the Wijk aan Zee tournament, but none can fully capture everything we witnessed. I must admit, in all my years of following elite tournaments, I have never experienced anything quite like it. Where to begin? The incredibly low average age? The incomprehensible statistical data? The fact that almost every one of the 14 participants in both tournaments suffered several setbacks? Or the record number of blunders outside of time trouble, including one-move errors? I often respect the principle of Occam's razor, that the simplest explanation is usually the most likely. All right, let's try: „Because of computers and engines, players are forgetting how to calculate variations!“ Or: „Weapons tests affecting thinking were being conducted at the venue.“ Or is there a more down-to-earth explanation? Only one suggests itself: chance, fluctuation. Yet we have two certainties. First: Nodirbek Abdusattorov won another tournament with a commanding lead. Second: it is hard to find more interesting and exciting battles than these. Continue reading
The Twilight of Chess Art: Beauty Gives Way to Speed
A quick glance at chess YouTube makes it clear: eight-minute blitz analyses attract tens of thousands of views, while videos devoted to deep chess studies are watched only by a handful of enthusiasts. Speed triumphs over depth, instant entertainment over patient pursuit of beauty. Is it the price of a rushed age? Laziness to think? Or just a change in taste? Yet there are works that prove chess can truly be an art. One such is the magnificent study by Leonid Ivanovich Kubbel – a gem for which this article was written in the first place… Continue reading
Carlsen's Speed Monopoly Continues!
After nine years, the world elite gathered once again in the Qatari capital to test their strength in rapid and blitz. More than 250 players took part! After a year-long „New York denim break“, Magnus Carlsen once again claimed both titles. We may have many reservations about his behaviour, or we may admire him unreservedly, but two main qualities that made him a legend cannot be denied: the character of a model fighter in the Alekhine mould, and a genius, almost Capablanca-like intuition. The only other double medallist at the World Championship, Arjun Erigaisi, said a few years ago: „It's clear that today chess is played better than in the past.“ I, on the other hand, think that the overall quality of play – especially in blitz – is gradually declining. Rapid and especially blitz, however, are above all spectator entertainment. And there was certainly no shortage of that this year… Continue reading
Loyd's Cat in a Box: A Quantum Paradox on the Chessboard
Schrödinger's world-famous cat in a box, with which the brilliant physicist in 1935 sought to highlight the absurdity of the then interpretation of quantum mechanics, only to achieve quite the opposite, is known to almost every reasonably educated person. Well, let's not play with cats! Yet almost no one knows that the king of humorous chess puzzles and problems, Samuel Loyd, had created his own demonstration of quantum paradoxes for chess players several decades earlier, in the form of a three-mover. Of course, it's an exaggeration, though I'm not alone in sensing a clear analogy in his composition. And besides… it is New Year's Eve, so why not, right? And for those who aren't keen on quantum mechanics, the second problem by Alexey Troitsky offers a return to the world of simple logic… Continue reading
As If Off the Leash
When we look at the table and games of Nodirbek Abdusattorov from the London Classic, this idiom also comes to mind. After weaker results and missed chances to qualify for the Candidates Tournament, Nodirbek appeared in London in full force. Not only did he win the closed nine-round tournament by a two-point margin ahead of Firouzja, but he also added another astonishing feat: six wins in a row!... Continue reading
Deserved Winners… But in Which Discipline?
For almost a month, we were able to follow the gigantic contest of 208 participants in the knockout World Cup in Goa, India. The closer the end came, the less clear it became – at least to me – what discipline was actually being played. Chess? Yes. But classical chess, the „real“ kind as known to history? Hardly. And since for all three winners, Javokhir Sindarov, Wei Yi and Andrey Esipenko, success means automatic qualification for the Candidates Tournament for the world championship in classical chess, it makes little sense that in the vast majority of cases, qualification was decided by 15+10 or 10+10 rapids, including final time scrambles… Continue reading
Goa so far reports a harvest of blunders and the fall of many favourites
The World Cup tournament has only just passed its halfway point, but it already offers an unexpectedly rich harvest of blunders and drama. Many favourites bowed out earlier than anyone would have expected – and it seems that this year in Goa, India, the one most likely to win is the one who avoids the last blunder. So, before and during the fourth round, I put together a slim, harmonious mosaic of what I consider the most interesting moments of the battles so far… Continue reading
Absolute World Champion: A New Crown in the Era of Time Trouble, Blunders, Threats and Disputes
Events are moving at such a pace and the flood of information is so overwhelming that even daily – perhaps even hourly – news coverage could hardly keep up. Sometimes I wonder what my favourite writer and philosopher Zdeněk Mahler would have said about it; back in 2002, an interview with him was published entitled „The flood of information proves the world has gone off its hinges.“
Two prestigious tournaments have ended. The US Championship this time brought a host of wonderful experiences – and for me personally, the firm conviction that a new, only 15-year-old super-talent is emerging. And the European Club Cup? Above all, the top board was a real first-class treat! It is not impossible that „Gukesh25“ really is gradually returning to his form of last year.
However, I cannot fail to mention in this article the tragic death of the popular American grandmaster and streamer Daniel Naroditsky…
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Samarkand belonged to Giri and experience – but the youngsters pressed hard
A battle to the last bullet and nerves stretched to breaking point – such were the final rounds of the Samarkand Grand Swiss. Steady nerves, coolness in critical moments and the ability to overcome fatigue were decisive. The top of the tournament was extremely close, with no clear favourite. The winners deserve recognition, but so do those who did not succeed – because if the cards were dealt again, the podium order would almost certainly be different. The selected examples are again arranged thematically, but this time we will focus on both the lucky and the unlucky. So let's begin… right from the end… Continue reading
Grand Swiss: Clash of Generations at the Halfway Mark
At the halfway point, the Samarkand Grand Swiss turns into a dress rehearsal of courage. Youth is surging forward, great legends have already fallen – and leading the way is the „veteran among the youngsters“, 25-year-old Iranian Parham Maghsoodloo…
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Chess quote
Chess is the touchstone of intellect.
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Chess quote
Chess, like music and love, has the power to make a person happy.
Siegbert Tarrasch
Siegbert Tarrasch