chessentials

Got blocked by Kramnik yesterday, so thought I would celebrate it by making this parody video :). It is not perfect, but I spent way too many hours on it! I did entertain myself - so I hope I can also entertain you :).

MEGA BIG NORMS?!!??!! What's next? "Norm Factory Tournament?" :D :D :D Although, judging on the games, maybe they should have renamed it to "MEGA FAST DRAWS?" (Yes, this ain't too bad as far as closed tourney are concerned but still...)

@biophilo @AMKazarian Almost as if someone tried to match the subtitles to the german text... :D

@Chessentials_ @AMKazarian If you understand German, hearing "the war is lost" while reading "even Levy has run out of clickbait titles" is so funny 🤣🤣

It's been a while since I made one of these, but Candidates 2026 seemed like a decent opportunity to do so. Forgot how much fun it is to make them.

@ClamBakeSkank I don't need to go that deep to find out you are an ass

@Chessentials_ I’d prefer if you likewise checked my anal cavity 🙏

17 year old IM Roman Dehtiarov has just won clear first at the European Individual Championship with a 2750+ performance, after beating 6 2600+ GMs. Dehtiarov was 126th seed (!!). Is this one of the biggest upsets ever? Crazy!

@ClamBakeSkank Can also check you for brain damage

@Chessentials_ Check him for anal beads

If anyone has real paying work, I would consider that. I applied for a job fairly recently in the chess world, couldn't even get an interview, even though I thought I was absolutely ideal. I'm 60 next month, will have to work into my 70s, so now is the time to find something.

@SchulzePaul2 Not by a mile. She had incredible luck in some games (most notably in the game vs Tan).

@Chessentials_ Praggs sister has been playing the best chess in the women section

Heartbreaking. Really hope Anna can somehow win the whole thing, feels like she has been playing the best chess overall. If not, this one + the game vs Divya are going to haunt her for a long time. Such a wonderful endgame, too...

@vlad_chess It is easy to miss 65.Kg4 Kg2 66.Rh5!, which is the only winning move.

@Chessentials_ You can acknowledge that burning the entirety of the thinking time (save for 8 seconds) in that position was suboptimal and probably caused her to blunder horribly. This was probably overthinking, Kg4 is what you play in bullet.

@PHChess Isn't it connected to the same thing - risk management? Obviously, Sindarov is not going to go all-in in the tournament situation. While Nakamura also seemingly doesn't have any ambition left, either. Can happen even in Freestyle, no?

@Chessentials_ I think that is 2 different things. My example is due to the nature of modern engine based preparations, the latter very different.

Yeah, thank god top players in Freestyle never want to avoid big risks in situations where it suits them.

@vlad_chess I am not sure whether replying: "Yeah, it is really baffling how someone can not find the only winning move after several hours and 12 long rounds with 30 seconds and nerves at its peak" or simply "You are a legend", would do your reply more justice.

@Chessentials_ Going Ra2 instead of Kg4 is a baffling decision. Normally I wouldn't feel qualified to critique a GMs endgame technique, but I won R vs 3 connected passers in classical chess already and studied the technique prior to it.

@FedeBauC OFC individual cases are possible. But these "coincidences" happen way too often to be ignored. I think FIDE should implement harsher measures in that regard.

@FedeBauC There are 16 forfeits in the last round of Menorca only. Must be some nasty flu going around.

Dear chess players, Can we please stop doing this? Not appearing at the games you are paired for is rude and unsportsmanlike, even when it doesn't fuck up somebody's chances for a GM norm.

@FedeBauC reddit.com/r/chess/commen…

@Chessentials_ Reports are Faustino was very sick, but I obviously have no way of confirming this, so take it as you may. I do agree with the frustration in general.

@rumpael reddit.com/r/chess/commen…

@Chessentials_ one should critique the system that incentivizes this behavior instead of the players themselves. introduce a (strong enough) penalty and the behavior will immediately stop. e.g. penalize an inexcused missing as if it was a loss for the player.

@chessfan_9 reddit.com/r/chess/commen…

@Chessentials_ You can. By not showing up when there is no upside for you to play form

It is very sad to see people missing their norm opportunities because of forfeits, and it is unfortunately common in big open events. I can count 16 forfeits in the last round of @ChessMenorca. Is there something that can be done for these situations @EmilSutovsky?