
Losing to an 8-year old
yes, on the 31st January I lost an Internet blitz match to an 8-year old Tykhon Cherniaiev @PeshkaCh with a catastrophic score 3-9.
partly, because of my disconnects and internet problems in several games.
partly, because of my bad play even somewhat below my usual standards.
mainly, because he just played stronger on that day.
or look at the games (below), make your own conclusions, whatever, and it's not necessary to tell me what do you think.
so, well. what to do.
in 1995, when I was a professional player (albeit not in blitz) I lost in a close fight in a series of 10-game blitz matches to an 11-year old, Ruslan Ponomariov.
it was in Alushta; I acted as a trainer at the chess federations' session with talented Ukrainian children - also: future GMs Fedorchuk, Kovchan and others - and it was successful. I remember how we analysed the Kasparov vs Anand match games after moves were published in a newspaper, and many other things. (later, in 1996, I was still able to win a classical/long control training match vs Ruslan, 3.5-2.5).
It's cool that now Ukraine has such an incredible chess talent as Tykhon. I believe that I asked for the match timely: next year it could be 12-0 for him maybe? still, most probably, we will play one more blitz match, i.e. rematch, later this week.
Tykhon's stream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jpg5VwnHjt8
all games: