Early in the Covid-19 pandemic shelter-in-place period, there was one bright spot, something to look forward to (almost) every day: the 2020 FIDE Candidates Tournament. What is that, you ask? It is one of the most important chess tournaments, held every two years, because it determines who will be the next challenger for the world championship. You don't get to be the world champion unless you win this tournament first.
It was still happening, the tournament was still proceeding, despite the virus. I'm not sure how to explain this, other than to share some text messages I shared with a friend as this unfolded, as I tried to explain why this was important--to me at least.
So here goes, with selected texts. These were sent on or around March 26, 2020.
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me:
Bad news: The chess tournament I was following got cancelled. :(
friend:
Tom
The fucking Olympics got cancelled.
The Spelling Bee got cancelled.
Fucking life has been cancelled.
me:
But the chess tournament was proceeding. It was a bright spot.
And one of my favorite players, Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, was in the lead.
And MVL was going to play Fabi today.
I'm seriously bummed.
You don't understand.
friend:
Tom, I totally do
me:
Let me explain.
The tournament is half over. 8 players, double round-robin (you play each of the other seven players twice, so 14 rounds).
This is one of the most important tournaments in the game. It is the "Candidates Tournament." The winner wins the right to be the challenger for the world championship. You don't become world champion without winning this tournament.
Fabiano Caruana, the lone American, is the highest rated player in the tournament, the world #2 ranked player. He won this tournament two years ago (it's a 2-year cycle, so that was the most recent time this has been played), but *narrowly* lost the championship match.
He came in as perhaps the favorite, although all the players are very strong, so it would just be a slight favorite.
But anyway, I'm rooting for Fabi. Fabi won one game, lost one game, but drew 5 games (remember, these players are *all* good). So 3.5 points out of 7 rounds.
Apart from Fabi, one of my very favorite players, MVL (Maxime Vachier-Lagrave, from France), barely snuck into the tournament.
He was only allowed in because one other player who qualified chose not to attend. MVL was essentially the first alternate.
Incidentally, that other player who declined, did so because of the virus. Imagine how he feels now. He was right, perhaps, to decline. But now he's out of the tournament.
Anyway........... MVL, who barely made it into the tournament, was in second place. And in Round 7 he played an *amazing* game to take down the leader and move into a tie for first place (and first on tiebreaks, so he's leading the tournament).
That's not super-shocking, by the way. MVL is ranked 6th in the world. He just didn't do well in the qualifying tournaments leading up to this tournament, but he's really good.
Anyway...... Fabi, the American, is known for his meticulous preparation. And MVL is known for specializing in some of the sharpest openings in the game. He plays exciting games and never backs down from the fight.
\Everyone knows exactly what MVL will play (Grunfeld defense against pawn to Queen four, and Sicilian Defense Najdorf variation against pawn to King four). Because everyone knows what MVL will play, they can prepare something sneaky, study things at home. And even though MVL knows he's always going up against home preparation, he plays those openings anyway. He never backs down.
ncidentally, both of those openings MVL plays were favorites of Bobby Fischer, one of the best players in history *and* another player who never backed down from anyone. Just to show you the fighting spirit MVL has.
So today, with MVL's specialty openings, and with Fabi's meticulous preparation, we were undoubtedly in for an absolute treat of a game. Everyone was wondering what Fabi was going to come up with to test MVL today. Plus, they are two of my favorite players, period. And then it didn't happen. :(
Not to mention the standings. If MVL holds a draw (as black, you don't expect to play for a win at this level), he remains in control of the tournament. But if Fabi wins, he's back in the hunt to win the tournament.
In short, the game had everything.
I was kind of amazed they started the tournament in the first place. But once they did, I thought they would continue it.
They are basically holed up in hotel in Russia, not even in Moscow by the way. Farther east.
Everyone was getting tested. No audience. Basically they were a closed group, so I believe it was a safe situation for them.
And now it's stopped, and all the players are scrambling to fly home.
People were saying, hmm, what happens if they all get trapped there, after the tournament (which was scheduled to last until April 4 or so). And one comment resonated with me. Basically, one dude would win. And, knowing chess players, once the winner was determined, all the other players would probably then help that winner to prepare to play Magnus Carlsen (the current world champion) in December. Basically, help him study Magnus' games, prepare opening traps, etc.
It wouldn't be ideal. But it wouldn't be the worst situation. It would be like if I got trapped on a job site somewhere with some great co-workers and some great engineers with our suppliers (like RS) and we spend a couple months talking about engineering.
Side note: MVL might also be the most "normal" person in the tournament. Less of a nerd than the others, another reason I'm a fan. Look at his Twitter self-description:
MVL
@Vachier_Lagrave
French Chess player, ranked 7 in the world. Sports aficionado. Cards junkie. Twitch: mvlchess
me:
I want you to watch two things first.
Only a few minutes each.
But let me set up the videos I want to share. Background: The St. Louis Chess Club has done live videos every day during the tournament. Why St. Louis? Because some rich guy gave them a shitload of money and it's now an important club in the world.
friend:
I love it
me:
They have some grandmasters doing commentary, including Yasser Seirawan, a famous American grandmaster who's a little older now, but used to be one of the top players in the world. In short, Yasser is "in the club," he knows everyone.
And he's also a super nice guy.
Anyway, he and his buddies (also grandmasters, but not nearly at Yasser's level) are doing a live commentary show. And because Yasser is so highly regarded, the top players in the world, 30+ years younger than Yasser, know him and actually call into his show.
It would be like Tom Brady calling into some dude's football show after a playoff game.
So...... Maxime must know and like Yasser, because he calls into their show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ffQywUc5KM8?t=5100
I loved watching this, as Maxime toys with the interviewers, the people on the show. At 1:26:40 of the video he shares a line with them. He sets it up and says "I let you finish." It's hilarious, because he had to see all of this over the board, no help from computers or friends or visualizing by moving the pieces. All in his head, all alone.
He just waits, chuckling, as they three people on the show try to figure it out. Watch.
\Watch the look on his face.
Beautiful sequence of moves. And hilarious how Maxime toyed with the people on the show. :)
Sadly, in that game they were discussing, MVL missed a brilliant win.
Second video, no chess for you to digest.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YRkLn74YGh8?t=7405
The game they discuss is the one where he beat the leader of the tournament. Brilliant. But there was a funny part later in the interview. Where the commentators said, well, you had this won at some point. MVL said you never know, his opponent could have come back.
2:12:20. Commentator asked, was this a "must win" situation? Maxime says, hey, the tournament is only half over. Many things can happen.
Then at 2:13:15, it's only halftime. At 2:13:30 he compares it to the Super Bowl, where there was the huge comeback two years ago, to make it relevant for the Americans. And the American nerds were like, Super Bowl? They had no clue. It was hilarious.
