Niepómniashi glimpses glory after another Firouzja disaster

The wind is blowing strongly in favor of Ian Niepómniashi to be Magnus Carlsen's challenger again.

It is true that he takes advantage of that impulse in an impeccable way, but also that his rivals help him.

The one who most, Alireza Firouzja, 19 years old, unhinged by his failure, who again (as in the 1st round) led with a suicide attack another victory for the Russian, a very prominent leader with three rounds to go;

the 12th will be held this Friday at the Palacio de Santoña (Madrid).

As Carlsen said in December that he would only defend his title if the winner of the Candidates was Firouzja, the interest now turns to the fight for 2nd place.

The mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida, canceled his visit at the last minute (and without explanation) to take the kick-off in the Firouzja-Niepómniashi game;

he was replaced by former soccer player Pedja Mijátovic.

If he had attended, he would have heard the talk of the day: the young Franco-Iranian had spent the night (until five in the morning) playing 263 bullet-games online (only half a minute per side), at a higher average pace at two movements per second.

During her live commentary for Chess24, the Hungarian Judit Polgar, the best player in history, unequivocally criticized Firouzja's useless waste of energy.

And her broadcast partner, the German grandmaster Jan Gustafsson, clarified that this lack of professionalism would be borderline justifiable if it occurs the day before a rest day, as a way to relieve tension -in this case, accumulated frustration.

But never when you have to face the runner-up in the world ten hours later.

The facts make it very clear that Firouzja's mentors and coaches did not include any kind of psychological preparation in their work prior to a competition as demanding as the Candidates Tournament.

One thing is that Firouzja lacks any experience in very tough fights like this, and therefore is not capable of taking the first prize;

and another is that he faces the best in the world as if he were playing with his childhood friends, in a field and beach plan.

Ian Niepómniashi, during his game against Alireza Firouzja this ThursdayPhoto Chess

What he has done against Niepómniashi in the two games between them is no longer daring, but impudence.

In which the mayor was lost, Firouzja launched a flank attack without respecting two basic rules that every chess player with a level somewhat higher than a beginner knows: the deployment of his pieces was worse than that of his rival, and the center it was unstable.

The predictable happened: the runner-up in the world struck down the center with violence as precise as it was lethal, and tore his mad opponent to shreds.

And then he tried not to be offensive in the live interview for Chess.com, but he was clear: "It's good that Alireza likes to attack in every game, but sometimes he does it without any sense."

The tournament may still have some excitement in the fight for victory because Ding, with black, defeated Caruana after a fight of more than six hours with several turns on the side with the advantage.

Nakamura tried to beat Rapport for more than five, but he didn't succeed either.

This Friday he faces, with black, Niepómniashi;

in the unlikely event that he wins, there would still be a lot of cloth to cut in the last two days;

especially if Ding wins Firouzja with Black.

Otherwise, all the spotlight will be on Carlsen: will he confirm that he relinquishes the title so he doesn't have to defend it again against Niepomniashi?

Classification

(after the 11th round): 1st Niepómniashi 8 points;

2nd Ding 6.5;

3rd Nakamura 6;

4th Caruana 5.5;

5th Radyabov 5;

6th-7th Rapport and Doubt 4.5;

8th Firouzja 4.

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