Magnus Carlsen's PUNCH-OUT!!
Note: I published this blog shortly before Magnus decided not to defend his title. I updated the original blog accordingly.
Intro
Congrats to Ian Nepomniachtchi for winning the 2022 FIDE Candidates Tournament in dominating fashion. This proves that Nepo is currently the second best chess player in the world after Magnus Carlsen.
Many will tie Nepo's legacy to the humiliating "PUNCH-OUT!!" he suffered to Carlsen in the world championship match. However, I think Nepo's loss had less to do with his shortcomings as a chess player and everything to do with Carlsen’s once-in-a-generation talent.
Blown-up by "Kid Dynamite"
Mike Tyson is another generational talent. He was so dominant that he was immortalized in the classic Nintendo video game Mike Tyson’s PUNCH-OUT!!.
In the late 1980s, I was the first kid in the neighborhood to make it all the way to the "Dream Fight” against Tyson. And then THIS happened...
Nepo must have felt the same way against Carlsen.
What should be Nepo's legacy?
Losing to Carlsen in the world championship should not define Nepo's legacy. Nepo is one of the greatest chess players of all-time. The only question is how great? To find out, let's put Nepo "in the ring" for a 2-game bout against the four generational talents of chess: Capablanca, Fischer, Kasparov, and Carlsen!
🥊 Round 1
In Game 1, Capablanca easily holds a draw on the black side of a Caro-Kann with flawless endgame technique. Confident that victory is in his pocket, Capablanca paints the town red that evening. Meanwhile, Nepo works diligently on an opening novelty in the Ruy Lopez that he springs on Capablanca with decisive effect in Game 2.
Result: Nepo wins 1.5-0.5
🥊 Round 2
Fischer forfeits Game 1 after he complains to the arbiter that Nepo's "man bun" is making too much noise. To appease Fischer, Nepo agrees to cut his hair so the match can continue. In Game 2, Nepo forces a draw by repetition in a highly theoretical line of the Sicilian Najdorf - Poisoned Pawn Variation.
Result: Nepo wins again 1.5-0.5
🥊 Round 3
In Game 1, Kasparov wins a brilliant attacking game with the King's Indian Defense. In a must-win situation, Nepo strikes back in Game 2 with the Grunfeld Defense! As a tiebreaker, the two play an armageddon game with Kasparov having draw odds with black. In a dead equal position in the QGD, Kasparov loses his concentration while contemplating war, peace, and institutions of democracy. He commits a terrible blunder and loses on the spot!
Result: Nepo wins on tiebreaker 2.0-1.0
🥊 "The Dream Fight"
In Game 1 of the de-facto world championship re-match, Carlsen makes an easy draw with the Berlin Defense. In the next game, Carlsen bamboozles Nepo with an opening curve ball. Instead of the customary 1. e4 or 1. d4, Carlsen reaches for Harry the h-pawn to play 1. h4?! Clearly flustered, Nepo decides to fianchetto his bishop and castle short; Carlsen responds by castling long! Harry makes his presence felt by opening the h-file, then sac, sac, mate! I guess 1. h4!! isn't nonsense after all!
Result: Carlsen wins 1.5-0.5, but decides to vacate his title!
Still determined to become world champion, Nepo hires the best coach money can buy and begins training hard for his title match versus Ding Liren!
