And the victory at the World Blitz Championship, which was held in New York on New Year’s Eve, only proved that Nepomniachtchi is in good shape and truly motivated to fight.
This was confirmed to the RG correspondent by Vladimir Potkin, an international grandmaster, European champion, who at various times was part of the coaching staffs of our contenders Sergei Karyakin, Alexander Grischuk and, of course, Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Nepomniachtchi noted that for the first time in a long time he was specially preparing for the World Rapid Chess Championship. You know Yan well – is this the secret of bronze in rapid and gold in blitz?
Vladimir Potkin: Throughout this year I have kept in touch with Ian. His main ambitions were connected with the Candidates Tournament in Toronto and getting to the World Championship match. But it was not possible to do this. Then he began to look for other goals for himself, because he is, in principle, an ambitious chess player. A new challenge for him was to play well at the World Rapid and Blitz Championship in New York. Coincidentally, Jan qualified for Magnus Carlsen’s Champions Chess Tour series (he lost to the Norwegian in rapid play in the final stage of the final stage on December 21. – Note “RG”), which took place in Oslo also in December and also in the rapid chess format. Therefore, Ian really prepared and concentrated on the shortened control. I immediately had the feeling that he could show a good result. Nepomniachtchi was highly motivated and charged. Besides, I wasn’t tired. It often happens that by the end of the year, due to a busy schedule, chess players are no longer able to perform at their maximum. And Ian’s calendar was unloaded. This allowed me to accumulate energy, new ideas and play to the limit of my capabilities.
How did you feel about the division of first place between Nepomniachtchi and Carlsen, who did not finish the tiebreak?
Vladimir Potkin: I think the outcome is positive for us and for Ian. He became the world champion. And besides, he broke the chain of failures in tiebreaks. Of course, I would like to see the sole leadership of a Russian. But sharing such a title with Carlsen is also an achievement. Overall, it seems to me that this is a good sign from Magnus that in such a situation he is ready for diplomacy at the board with our chess player and offers him a draw. And I’ll emphasize once again: it is Ian’s great merit that he made an incredible comeback in the final, losing 0:2. I think Magnus was subconsciously preparing to win, but Ian returned to the match and took the third and fourth games. It was clear that Magnus was uncomfortable. He stopped controlling the situation in the match, and this is important for him. The Norwegian was no longer sure that he would be able to bring the matter to victory in the tiebreaker. In this nervous situation, he offered to share first place.
Could this precedent have any global consequences for chess, for the rules?
Vladimir Potkin: This is an exceptional case. I saw the reaction of many chess players who recalled their games and said that under similar circumstances they could also offer a draw. But here we still need to look at the general situation at this tournament. Carlsen was already ready to refuse to participate in all FIDE competitions, sever all relations with the international federation and, possibly, create his own alternative organization. I understand that the head of FIDE, Arkady Dvorkovich, made titanic efforts to keep Carlsen in the fight, in the blitz tournament. Colossal nervous tension has already created in New York. And then another emergency situation arose. Carlsen proposed a draw, turned to the judge, but the decision remained with Dvorkovich. He agreed to award the title to both grandmasters. An exception to the rule that will definitely not happen again for several decades.
The situation became tense due to the denim scandal. Again a controversial topic, including special conditions for Magnus…
Vladimir Potkin: The dress code in chess has existed historically, dating back to the first world championship matches in the 19th century, when a business suit was natural. The match for the crown is always played in costumes. But at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, a dress code was recently introduced. The Saudi Arabian organizers increased the prize fund, but in return players were asked to wear a jacket and trousers. It seems to me that if a chess player looks decent – jeans and a jacket, business casual style – there is no need to find fault here. On the other hand, when there are rules, they must be followed. But I don’t think Carlsen broke them on purpose. Perhaps all his thoughts were about the upcoming wedding. Immediately after the World Cup, Magnus got married in Oslo. So he put on jeans, was already in the gaming room, getting ready for the game, which is why he reacted so nervously to the request to change clothes.
Carlsen failed to defend his rapid title. Our young chess player Volodar Murzin became the new champion. How unexpected was this result?
Vladimir Potkin: The victory was unexpected. Still, the composition is colossal, the competition is enormous. Played in New York, all the strong chess players from the USA were represented, including Nakamura, Caruana, Dominguez, Niemann and many other recognized masters of fast play.
In terms of class, Ian Nepomniachtchi is among the best chess players in the world. Although the new generation, led by 18-year-old champion Gukesh, is hot on its heels
Winning gold and taking clear first place is a brilliant achievement by Murzin. I must say that I am watching Volodar. The progress over the past year has been very noticeable. He plays confidently in tournaments, especially rapid chess. He won in rapid and reached the quarterfinals in blitz, where he lost to Nepomniachtchi. It seems to me that Volodar has a good chess future. He has sound positional play and keeps his cool when playing the seconds in the endgame. This quality was especially evident in the game against Pragnanandha, when the brilliant chess player from India had every chance to win, but he became nervous.
The ending of 2024 was very intense. What do you expect from 2025?
Vladimir Potkin: This year has been especially successful for our youth. Many medals were won at the Asian Championships and at the World Championships among young children. Kolya Kleimenov won gold and silver at the World Rapid Chess Championship among boys under 12 years old, Roma Shogdzhiev became the world champion among boys under 10 years old in classics and blitz. Volodar Murzin, an 18-year-old guy, brought gold to the World Rapid Championship.
The girls are making progress. Alexandra Goryachkina brilliantly won the last stage of the Grand Prix. And if it maintains the same form, it will represent a formidable force.
Well, Ian Nepomniachtchi pleasantly pleased me. He proved that he can again fight on equal terms with Carlsen. The title shows that Ian will be fully prepared for the championship cycle in classical chess and will fight to get into the Candidates Tournament. Such an opportunity will present itself, for example, at the World Cup. And here we will root not only for Nepomniachtchi, but also for Vladislav Artemyev, Arseny Nesterov, Evgeny Nayer, Daniil Dubov, Andrey Esipenko.
But the story of the challenger Nepomniachtchi is special. Does he want to continue?
Vladimir Potkin: For Ian, motivation and determination to fight have always been important. He needs to see a goal in front of him. He set a goal not only to get into the top three at the World Rapid and Blitz Championships, but also to win gold. And he achieved his goal. Now the new goal is the Candidates Tournament. Of course, he will do his best to win it for the third time and get to the match for the crown. Still, in terms of class, Yan is now among the best chess players in the world. Despite the fact that the new generation, led by 18-year-old world champion Gukesh Dommaraju, is hot on the heels of the generation of Nepomniachtchi and Carlsen. But Jan has all the reserves and strength to compete in both the World Cup and the FIDE Big Swiss in the next championship cycle, which are part of the selection for the eight contenders.
Vladimir Potkin (right) was also part of the staff of Sergei Karyakin, who played the championship match in 2016. Photo: Mikhail Pochuev/TASS
Number
6 medals won by Russian chess players at the World Rapid Chess Championship in New York. In men’s rapid, our grandmasters – Volodar Murzin, Alexander Grischuk and Ian Nepomniachtchi – took the entire podium. Nepomniachtchi became the blitz champion. Ekaterina Lagno won bronze in both women’s tournaments.
Regulation
New selection system for the 2026 Candidates Tournament
These are not the first changes to the rules, but the main innovation from the reformers from FIDE is this: the loser of the match for the world title will no longer automatically receive a ticket to the next candidates tournament. Ian Nepomniachtchi, by the way, used this right twice.
So, the eight strongest grandmasters will still play in the Candidates Tournament, but their strength and status will be assessed differently:
- three places go to the best chess players of the FIDE World Cup;
- two places are awarded to the best according to the results of the “Grand Swiss”;
- one place will be taken by the best grandmaster according to the average world rating (the rating will now be taken into account not for the year, but for the last 6 months, so that players are not tempted to artificially increase their rating through additional tournaments at the end of the year, as Iranian Alireza Firouzja did at the end of 2023 , playing for France);
- two places – the best according to the FIDE Circuit system in 2024 and 2025 (the first ticket has already been given to the contender for the title of 2018 world champion, American chess player Fabiano Caruana).
Source: rg.ru
