Greetings Chess Players. My name is Chris Torres and this is my Daily Chess Musing for Monday, November 15th, 2021.
In fewer than ten days we are going to witness a clash of geniuses with conflicting destinies. Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi will square off in a World Championship Match in what will likely be the most viewed world chess championship match ever. In order to understand the excitement around this particular match, it’s important to understand the history that exists between World Champion Magnus Carlsen and his challenger Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Magnus and Nepo have a decades-old rivalry dating back to their childhood battles at prestigious youth chess tournaments. During those formidable years, Nepo clearly had the upper hand. While Magnus has obviously improved immensely since the days of competing as a youth, the memories of those childhood defeats have almost certainly had a profound and lasting effect on the world champion’s psyche. But, Magnus need not look back to his childhood to re-examine crushing defeats at the hands of his Russian nemesis. For it was just last year that Nepo orchestrated ultra-complicated complications and crushed Magnus after the World Champion crumbled under the Russian’s fierce attack.
And with that, I bid you adieu. My name is Chris Torres and this has been my Daily Chess Musing. Before you go, please remember to hit the like and subscribe buttons.
Carlsen Magnus (NOR)
Result: 1 - 0