Yes, that was some nutty interview. It’s clear that Niemann uses paranoia and victimhood to drive himself, which reminds me ever so slightly of Fischer.
That said, he was mostly able to contain himself after being soundly trounced by both Carlsen and Nakamura in the blitz championship.
Speaking of Levy, I would be so thrilled if he is successful in his quest to become a gm, but man does it seem like a long shot.
I’m not a huge fan of his (Ben Finegold is my goto chess YouTuber) but sure, why not? He beat Caruana in a blitz game the other day. I’m not sure his tubing is the best way to focus on becoming a GM, but gotta make a living I guess, and doing that via chess must be better than a non-chess job in terms of studying and practising.
I think he’s the person that’s made the most money from chess, so I’m sure he’ll keep doing youtube even if it’s interfering with another thing he’d like to do.
We’re ten rounds into the Olympiad; D Gukesh is playing first board for India, has played all but one round, and has scored a ridiculous 8/9, i.e. seven wins and two draws, including beating world number two Fabiano Caruana today.
Ding on the other hand has also been on first board, but has sat out three rounds, and has six draws and a loss.
if this form holds up, it’s going to be an ugly world championship.
Round 11 - women’s event. Iran was paired with Israel. It looks like Iran forfeited, since the score was 4-0 Israel, and no moves were made. I would have thought that the two Israel players with the White pieces would have made their first move, and waited the one hour (maybe it’s less at the Olympiad) until claiming victory. Maybe Iran had already announced that they wouldn’t play the match?
I didn’t know about that, but that must be what happened - looking at a picture of the arbiter stepping in, none of the clocks even ran.
Every sport needs a villain
I missed this, but earlier this year A24 spent seven figures for the rights to a book about the Carlsen-Niemann controversy that has not yet been published.
What is happening.
A24, operating on its new mandate to act aggressively in the pursuit of projects, just outplayed the Hollywood studios and streamers in order to pick up Checkmate, a hot feature package centered on a book proposal by Ben Mezrich, the author whose books were adapted into films such The Social Network and Dumb Money.
If deals close, Checkmate will reteam Emma Stone with Nathan Fielder, who both adorned the most recent edition of The Hollywood Reportermagazine and the stars of the Showtime series The Curse. Fielder is attached to direct, while Stone will produce along with her husband and partner Dave McCary via the duo’s Fruit Tree banner. It also reunites the pair with A24, which backed The Curse. Sources say the book deal is closing or has closed while the talent deals are still being hammered out.
Chess 9LX (a cute way of saying 960) is a tournament with top grandmasters playing with randomly sorted (but symmetric) starting positions for their pieces. What make it notable is having Kasparov back in play, which has been really fun to watch. (he just lost a game today, but is middle of the pack)
tl;dr new Kasparov games! Just weird starting positions.
Chess 9LX 2024: Live Coverage - All the Information - Chess.com
AIUI, the term Chess 9LX was created by the St. Louis Chess Club for the purpose of trademarking. See Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis Trademarks :: Justia Trademarks and Chess 9LX: Kasparov amid stellar lineup in Saint Louis | ChessBase.
Makes sense, thanks for clarifying that.
Why 960? Wouldn’t there be 5040 different ways of arranging the back rank?
The king must be between the rooks (so some form of castling is available). Obviously the bishops must also be opposite colors, but I think you figured that in already.
There are 4x4 ways to put the bishops. There are 20 remaining ways to put the king between the two rooks. There are then 3 places to put the queen and the knights have to go in the last two spots. 4x4x20x3 = 960.
This is funny. Sam Sevian plays past his obvious loss, with Kasparov in a standard endgame win that even I could finish, and finally Kasparov interprets a motion of Sam’s hand as a resignation and seizes on it.
I’m not 100% sure I could finish that endgame vs. a grandmaster. But I am 100% sure that Kasparov could finish it against anyone or anything.
I mean, the white king just starts walking towards the black rook starting with f5, and it’s over…
Playing most GMs, when offered a draw, you accept. Playing Kasparov, when offered a chance to resign, you accept.
One year, playing in the British Championship, I managed to finally reach a drawn endgame against a Grandmaster. (I am a FIDE Master and had been under pressure the whole game.)
With a feeling of relief, I offered a draw. The Grandmaster (who I knew) gave me a look, sighed and agreed.
Afterwards he said to me "It’s customary to let the Grandmaster offer the draw. If we hadn’t have been friends, I would have played on - just to teach you a lesson. 
"
When I faced Kasparov in a clock simultaneous event that I had organised at my school, I got off to a good start. However my position suddenly deteriorated and I resigned with mate looming.
The man is definitely a genius - apart from chess he speaks three languages fluently and gave two lectures to our pupils on other occasions (one on chess - the other on the invention of the stirrup!)