A brief biography of Ian Nepomniachtchi

Ian Nepomniachtchi was born on July 14, 1990, in Bryansk, Russia. A chess prodigy from a young age, he won several European and World youth titles before earning the grandmaster title in 2007. He’s known for his quick, intuitive play and isn’t afraid to take risks — which makes his games exciting to watch. Ian made a big name for himself by winning the Candidates Tournament twice in a row — in 2020/21 and again in 2022. This earned him two shots at the World Championship. In 2021, he faced Magnus Carlsen but lost the match. In 2023, he had another chance, this time against Ding Liren, and after a very close battle and tiebreaks, he finished runner-up again. Despite these tough losses, Ian remains one of the strongest and most consistent players in the world. Off the board, he’s a fan of video games (especially Dota 2), has a sharp sense of humor, and often contributes to chess commentary in a fun and relaxed style.