Chess - Path towards World Chess Championship (Gukesh Dommaraju vs Ding Liren)

[Sweater of AV]

Magnus is incredible.



Round Robin is over. Knockout stage begins.

 

[Sweater of AV]

 

[Sweater of AV]

GOAT level blunder by Hikaru to lose game 1.

 

[Sweater of AV]

 

[Sweater of AV]

Ju Wenjun successfully defends her title and is the women's world champion.

 

[Sweater of AV]

The GOAT is back. Arrives with Kramnik for Grenke Freestyle.

 

[Sweater of AV]

It didn't need to be emphasized but Freestyle really highlights just how good Magnus is relative to everyone else.

 

[Madmick]

It didn't need to be emphasized but Freestyle really highlights just how good Magnus is relative to everyone else.

Take theory and prep out of the equation (in our computer age) and none of his contemporaries can stalemate him.

He's the GOAT. I'm so tired of listening to guys closer to my age like Ben go on their swooning, nostalgic rants about Kasparov. Kasparov wasn't even Fischer's equal, Ben, if we grade them by dominance relative to their peers in classic.

Magnus is just as dominant if you put an unsolved puzzle between him and any other Super GM. He's also the greatest across time formats which is something those guys never had to deal with. And he's the most accurate player of all time in classic. Objectively.

He's the GOAT.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Fedoseev completely crushed Superbet Rapid & Blitz Poland. Good lord.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Take theory and prep out of the equation (in our computer age) and none of his contemporaries can stalemate him.

That's not really true and not quantifiable anyways. Everyone uses theory to some extent. Freestyle takes opening theory out of the equation but one still needs general theory and high level calculation and intuition. Magnus played extremely well at Paris and Grenke but he finished third at Weissenhaus (lost to Keymer in the semis) and has only won one Freestyle Friday. I believe Arjun Erigaisi has won the most. Magnus will always be considered the favorite at any tournament but he can definitely lose.

He's the GOAT. I'm so tired of listening to guys closer to my age like Ben go on their swooning, nostalgic rants about Kasparov. Kasparov wasn't even Fischer's equal, Ben, if we grade them by dominance relative to their peers in classic.

The arguments for Kasparov are typically centered around longevity and accomplishments. Not many people still believe at this point that Kasparov would beat Magnus at their peaks. Funnily, Magnus did a lie detector video where he was asked who the GOAT is. He said Kasparov and it was deemed a lie. It's always more out of respect for what Garry contributed to the game and how long he was at the top. Deep down, most people know Magnus is the best player ever. I watched Kasparov play and definitely didn't think someone would come along this quickly and dethrone him. It might be hard for some people to let go (I'm not sure which Ben you're referring to but I assume it's Finegold).

Magnus is just as dominant if you put an unsolved puzzle between him and any other Super GM.

He actually isn't the best at puzzles relative to his peers but it's also something the top players don't care as much about. Many of the puzzles are also unrealistic scenarios that seem odd to someone like Magnus who thinks very much in terms of the flow of the game rather than just a random configuration on the board plopped in front of him. MVL is one of the best I've ever seen at solving puzzles. Magnus, and Hikaru as well, often struggle more than one would expect.

This is a good video that shows how ridiculous someone like MVL is at solving puzzles quickly.

He's also the greatest across time formats which is something those guys never had to deal with.

This is something that really highlights how great Magnus is. Overall, he just has an amazing combination of calculation, intuition, and general understanding of the game that allows him to be dominant in any format. Where Magnus really shines is his endgame play. He can grind out wins that often seem impossible. His accuracy in endgames and time scrambles is incredible. Alireza is probably the closest to having these abilities from this generation but he isn't quite as dedicated or consistent.

 

[Madmick]

That's not really true and not quantifiable anyways. Everyone uses theory to some extent. Freestyle takes opening theory out of the equation but one still needs general theory and high level calculation and intuition. Magnus played extremely well at Paris and Grenke but he finished third at Weissenhaus (lost to Keymer in the semis) and has only won one Freestyle Friday. I believe Arjun Erigaisi has won the most. Magnus will always be considered the favorite at any tournament but he can definitely lose.

"Theory" is generally used by grandmasters as a colloquiallism for opening theory. Strategy, tactics, and general principles are typically discussed separately. I recently saw him give an interview where he said he only began taking freestyle more seriously in the past year.

He actually isn't the best at puzzles relative to his peers but it's also something the top players don't care as much about. Many of the puzzles are also unrealistic scenarios that seem odd to someone like Magnus who thinks very much in terms of the flow of the game rather than just a random configuration on the board plopped in front of him. MVL is one of the best I've ever seen at solving puzzles. Magnus, and Hikaru as well, often struggle more than one would expect.

Tactics are for beginners, warmups, and tryhard teenagers.

This is a good video that shows how ridiculous someone like MVL is at solving puzzles quickly.



This is something that really highlights how great Magnus is. Overall, he just has an amazing combination of calculation, intuition, and general understanding of the game that allows him to be dominant in any format. Where Magnus really shines is his endgame play. He can grind out wins that often seem impossible. His accuracy in endgames and time scrambles is incredible. Alireza is probably the closest to having these abilities from this generation but he isn't quite as dedicated or consistent.

Magnus is the GOAT.

 

[Sweater of AV]

"Theory" is generally used by grandmasters as a colloquiallism for opening theory. Strategy, tactics, and general principles are typically discussed separately. I recently saw him give an interview where he said he only began taking freestyle more seriously in the past year.

Tactics are for beginners, warmups, and tryhard teenagers.

Magnus is the GOAT.

There is a very, very big difference between "theory" and "opening theory," even according to grandmasters. Regardless, you clearly are nowhere close to being a grandmaster and to imply you're allowed to use them interchangeably without being corrected is hilarious.

There's a great deal of theory written about virtually all aspects of the game. You would greatly benefit from perusing something like Dvoretsky's Endgame Manual instead of sounding like a childish try hard Unfortunately, I fear you would drown in it very quickly.

 

[Madmick]

There is a very, very big difference between "theory" and "opening theory," even according to grandmasters. Regardless, you clearly are nowhere close to being a grandmaster and to imply you're allowed to use them interchangeably without being corrected is hilarious.

What's ironic is that I grew up in an era when books were actually still relevant.

 

[Sweater of AV]

What's ironic is that I grew up in an era when books were actually still relevant.

Concession accepted.

Now you can run back to your video games and swimming lessons, son. Leave the thinking to adults. You're trying way too hard to be something you're not.

 

[Madmick]

Concession accepted.

Now you can run back to your video games and swimming lessons, son. Leave the thinking to adults. You're trying way too hard to be something you're not.

LOL. I smell a The Queen's Gambit casual.

 

[BJ@LW&WW]

if only there were a way to settle this through some sort of online competition relevant to the topic of argument

 

[Sweater of AV]

LOL. I smell a The Queen's Gambit casual.

 

[Sweater of AV]

Ivanchuk bless.

 

[idrankyourbeer]

It didn't need to be emphasized but Freestyle really highlights just how good Magnus is relative to everyone else.

magnus may be the goat but he is no match for my trademarked wayward king opening attack. the moment i move my king up again after throwing up the bongcloud he would be reaching for his resign button. he wouldn't be prepared for or know how to react to someone who makes such bold and probably stupid moves as i do.

 

[Sweater of AV]

magnus may be the goat but he is no match for my trademarked wayward king opening attack. the moment i move my king up again after throwing up the bongcloud he would be reaching for his resign button. he wouldn't be prepared for or know how to react to someone who makes such bold and probably stupid moves as i do.

I have no doubt you'd utilize various strategies from The Art of the Draw to stalemate Magnus with hilarious ease.