Dear echephiles, since the first official match counting for the title of world chess champion between Steinitz and Zukertort in 1886, these encounters have been the Holy Grail for the strongest professional players on the planet.
This 2023 edition is no exception to this rule, especially since Carlsen's abandonment of his crown has reshuffled the cards.
This year, in his absence, his runners-up, Ian Nepomniachtchi of Russia and Ding Liren of China, respectively No. 2 and 3 in the world rankings, see a unique opportunity to climb the last of Olympus.
After having duly qualified for the Madrid Candidates tournament in 2022, Ian Nepomniachtchi, nicknamed Nepo by his admirers - and also by journalists who cannot write his name -, and Ding Liren face off in fourteen classics (plus rapid game tie-breaks and blitzes in the event of a tie at 7-7) in Astana, Kazakhstan since April 7.
Read alsoLa Diagonale du Figaro N°24: The lady and the “poisoned pawn”
On paper, the Russian and Chinese champions display a CV…
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