Bearded wrinkly teenager becomes chess champion

[Paddy]

Bearded wrinkly teenager becomes chess champion
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/crl3d5gyxr7o

[jamesbrown]

Rf2 was obviously a massive blunder, but Ding was looking a bit shaky anyway and the earlier move ba8 was also dubious and led to this sequence.

[Paddy]

Are you jealous because aside from your wrinkles, your wife has a better beard than you?

She's Greek and looks like her dad.

[ladymuck]

Rf2 was obviously a massive blunder, but Ding was looking a bit shaky anyway and the earlier move ba8 was also dubious and led to this sequence.

[jamesbrown]

Well, yes, if you don't play chess it's all gobbledygook In summary, the game was easily drawn out of the opening, but one player made an amateur mistake late on that lost him the game and the overall championship and a decent amount of prize money too. Pressure, I guess.

[vetran]

Are you jealous because aside from your wrinkles, your wife has a better beard than you?

obligatory Blackadder reference.

[vetran]

honestly didn't you see the depth of Ding's mistake.

Playing on black, Dommaraju won the game after Ding, who had been in a solid position, made a fatal foolish move that gave up his last powerful piece.

His blunder delivered victory to the 18-year-old, who until now had been ranked fifth in the world and second in his own country.

blimey these reporters are a bit up themselves!

[Paddy]

I was shocked reading this without my specs..
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cv2gr1y4xklo

[quackhandle]

Ding never looked comfortable with being Chess WC*, heavy is the crown etc. Gukesh is a phenomenal player for someone so young.


* Possibly a moot title since x 5 Chess WC winner Carlsen, World #1 in most formats and arguably the best player ever, decided not to bother anymore.


qh

[jamesbrown]

Possibly a moot title since x 5 Chess WC winner Carlsen, World #1 in most formats and arguably the best player ever, decided not to bother anymore.


qh

Maybe, but Chess at that level is a game for (very) young people and Carlsen has definitely deteriorated with time, likewise Hikaru, although they are both still incredible players and can beat anyone on any given day, probably just not consistently for a WC. From a career POV, it's difficult to argue against Carlsen as best. Probably not for that long, though, as Chess education has been completely transformed with engines and online tools/puzzles etc. The resources available today are completely different than even 10 years ago. Although the competition gets harder too, so it does need to be judged relatively.