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I am rooting for Nepo because I always root for Nepo.
youtu.be/VAZwjzC-p6k?feature=shared&t=34
That's what I meant when I was saying that Nakamura is not entirely honest with himself. Look at his moving expressions after Nepo's Bxg3 in the 7th round. Minutes of childish disillusion, and for just a brief moment he shows himself on the verge of tears [*].
And he was not even loosing! Nakamura played a terrific game against the most experienced challenger to the world title in the present days, and on his own favourite ground, the Petrof. And Nakamura missed a terrific victory not even by blundering, only just by missing a couple of key moves that we know of thanks to computer aid, while Nepo found a series of incredibly brilliant sacrifices that allowed him to snatch a draw by the skin of his teeth.
That's not a reaction of a player who "literally doesn't care". I think Nakamura cares an awful lot, and not only for maybe missing the chance to boost up his loot of youtube followers by winning the title. He cares so much that he couldn't stand the pressure and invented himself as a streamer to relieve its otherwise intolerable effects. But by trying to remove his deepest feelings while keeping on with the competition, that's the way to "damage one's own soul"... like Dumbledore would say. I can expect an even more crude series of beginners stalking videos, if Nakamura doesn't win the final match, like he absolutely deserves.
[*] By the way, those close-up front cameras on the edge of the board right behind the queen and king... So intimate and intrusive, real pornography. I feel sorry for the players, they are forced to accept all this by this modern videostreaming dictatorship.
That's what I meant when I was saying that Nakamura is not entirely honest with himself. Look at his moving expressions after Nepo's Bxg3 in the 7th round. Minutes of childish disillusion, and for just a brief moment he shows himself on the verge of tears [*].
And he was not even loosing! Nakamura played a terrific game against the most experienced challenger to the world title in the present days, and on his own favourite ground, the Petrof. And Nakamura missed a terrific victory not even by blundering, only just by missing a couple of key moves that we know of thanks to computer aid, while Nepo found a series of incredibly brilliant sacrifices that allowed him to snatch a draw by the skin of his teeth.
That's not a reaction of a player who "literally doesn't care". I think Nakamura cares an awful lot, and not only for maybe missing the chance to boost up his loot of youtube followers by winning the title. He cares so much that he couldn't stand the pressure and invented himself as a streamer to relieve its otherwise intolerable effects. But by trying to remove his deepest feelings while keeping on with the competition, that's the way to "damage one's own soul"... like Dumbledore would say. I can expect an even more crude series of beginners stalking videos, if Nakamura doesn't win the final match, like he absolutely deserves.
[*] By the way, those close-up front cameras on the edge of the board right behind the queen and king... So intimate and intrusive, real pornography. I feel sorry for the players, they are forced to accept all this by this modern videostreaming dictatorship.
I'm not rooting for anyone this time around. Last time I was kind of rooting for Ding, but wasn't expecting him to get very far. This time around, I don't know who I like. Or who I would root for in a WC final with Ding.
But Nepo seems to be very much in form so far. And if it came to a rematch with Ding, I don't know which I would cheer for. A lot to be said for each of them. Is it too early yet to say that this is his candidates to lose?
I think it's make or break time for Caruana. He's been a worthy candidate and a worthy WC challenger, but time is not on his side, and there are a lot of hungry young wolves nipping at his flanks. At this particular tournament, his experience and the stability of his character are positive assets. Next time around they probably won't be as much.
Among the hungry young wolves, I kind of like Gukesh, but I really don't know enough about him, or any of the other young guns. Except Firouzja, who is extremely talented, but also just too young to be taken seriously. Kind of like Fischer in 1959 or 1962; plenty of talent, but.
But Nepo seems to be very much in form so far. And if it came to a rematch with Ding, I don't know which I would cheer for. A lot to be said for each of them. Is it too early yet to say that this is his candidates to lose?
I think it's make or break time for Caruana. He's been a worthy candidate and a worthy WC challenger, but time is not on his side, and there are a lot of hungry young wolves nipping at his flanks. At this particular tournament, his experience and the stability of his character are positive assets. Next time around they probably won't be as much.
Among the hungry young wolves, I kind of like Gukesh, but I really don't know enough about him, or any of the other young guns. Except Firouzja, who is extremely talented, but also just too young to be taken seriously. Kind of like Fischer in 1959 or 1962; plenty of talent, but.
I've never really been much of a Nakamura fan, but I'm rooting for him. He's getting old enough that this is possibly his last chance.
Now it seems like Ian is on track to win a third time, but Gukesh is still keeping up
everyone apart from Nijat and Alireza could win it, but I am keeping my eyes on Nepo, Gukesh, Hikaru, and fabi
Vidit is the wild-card, he is capable of beating and losing to anyone, his (and to a lesser extent Abasov's) score could decide the entire tournament
everyone apart from Nijat and Alireza could win it, but I am keeping my eyes on Nepo, Gukesh, Hikaru, and fabi
Vidit is the wild-card, he is capable of beating and losing to anyone, his (and to a lesser extent Abasov's) score could decide the entire tournament
@MarkIorio
Yeah, it's a bit of a childish attitude on his part. Nobody believes that he's not affected.
Anyway.
I believe that at this point, with only 5 games left, it will be very hard for any player other than Nepo, Gukesh or Pragg to win. This is just due to the round robin structure of the tournament. Say Hikaru comes out with a +2 performance (drawing 3 and winning 2), then even just a +1 performance by either Nepo or Gukesh would be enough to stay ahead (a +1 difference only amount to +0.5 points, of course, since drawing is 0.5).
Yeah, it's a bit of a childish attitude on his part. Nobody believes that he's not affected.
Anyway.
I believe that at this point, with only 5 games left, it will be very hard for any player other than Nepo, Gukesh or Pragg to win. This is just due to the round robin structure of the tournament. Say Hikaru comes out with a +2 performance (drawing 3 and winning 2), then even just a +1 performance by either Nepo or Gukesh would be enough to stay ahead (a +1 difference only amount to +0.5 points, of course, since drawing is 0.5).
I would like Nepo to have a chance to be WC , I think he's the most deserving but seeing Nakus game against Caruana , I'm beginning to wonder .
Nepo and Goryachkina