Does anyone like Nepo?

It seems to me that Nepo isn't the favorite player of many chess fans, not to mention that he got mocked quite a lot even after winning the second candidates. I can see that on many comments in chess.com, youtube, lichess, youtube, twitter, etc. 

Only in r/chess in reddit that he got praised.

He has cool hair

On balance, Nepo is a good role model for the game. If you watch him in interviews you can see that he shows humility and modesty and treats his opponents with respect. There are many games that you can find that demonstrate mastery of all aspects of the game: tactics, strategy, endgame etc 

The only negative is what Magnus brought up before the first World Championship match which is when he is getting beaten he can tilt and turn a match into a rout.

Hopefully he will go into the next one with better mental resilience and we will see a closer contest.

He is the best of the candidates, no discussion.
Smyslov and Spassky also needed 2 matches to dethrone Botvinnnik and Petrosian.

I like Nepo.

He is, what few people would dare to question, a chess player of outstanding quality.

Yes, he showed some weaknesses during last year's world championship match, but he dealt with them like a true champion: friendly, humble - and yet full of fighting spirit. To come back stronger after such a defeat and to win another candidates' tournament in even more convincing manner, that what makes him a real champion.

Not a world champion, but who knows...

#7
Carlsen has trailed in a WCM
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1848549 

Nepo could have won game 2 against Carlsen
https://www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=2122755 

Most English comments are dumb Naka fans who are under age 12 and under 1000 rating.

I haven't seen any comments mocking Nepo, but I don't read comments because 99% of them are garbage... so maybe Nepo mocking comments exist (?)... and if they do then it's because what I said

But people who actually play chess have nothing bad to say about Nepo other than his WC performance was embarrassingly bad. He's obviously a very good player, and a worthy challenger.

I'm sure he'll score better in the next wc match if it happens.  I'm starting to think it will.  I think he'll lose to Magnus again but the score will be a lot closer. 

Certainly more likeable than people such as Magnus or Nakamura.

A sad display....is  FIDE testing the waters? 

This is how many people are interested in Nepo only. OK, you might add 10 to see him alone. 'But its very clear that it is the hundred of thousands are interested in Magnus.

You listen here, and think it was Nepo who got the defeaning round of applause....which was worse delusion then biden fever. The odds of a Carlsen victory probably is 99.5 to 1.

If someone is a hater, then dont they want a solid win to vanquish Carlsen? "Nepo could have won game 2"...whaat? You start to think Nepo is a big loser because of his fans making excuses.

So this is the new and improved Nepo? Who is his coach? Still is high school swim coach? Or is it the guy who is banned? If anyone can remember that guys name. Meanwhile Magnus highest rated ever.

The thing is this could be over quick. If Magnus doesnt play him, that would be ...wow. But thats where we are now. And again, if he were a fighter, and champ  I would negotiate to play Magnus. Not hide behind FIDE. Because if I think Im going to win, I get nothing if he doesnt play.

Nepo is the [early '90s] Buffalo Bills of CHESS...always getting to the "Big Game", but never winning it all...

Nepo has a decent chance if Carlsen decides to play.
Nepo is better now than before. His recent Candidates' win at Madrid is with 5 wins and not a single loss more impressive than his previous Candidates' win at Yekaterinburg.
Carlsen has motivational problems.
Smyslov and Spassky also needed 2 matches to become World Champions.

 99.5 to 1? No way, you are over exaggerating. There isn't such difference between Carlsen and Nepo, Nepo is not a 2000 elo playing a WC.

 Difference is not 99.5 to 1, and while Magnus has the advantage, specially after the latest series, I would say it's close to 60 to 40. Why? Last series was very equal and drawish until Nepo blundered. Then he seems to have lost his mental fortitude. But 99 to 1? Lol.

#17
Life ratings: Carlsen 2864, Ding 2808, Nepo 2792
Rating differences: Carlsen - Nepo: 72, Ding - Nepo: 16
Win expectancy 1 game: Carlsen - Nepo 60% - 40%, Ding - Nepo 52% - 48%
Win / draw / loss 14 game-match: Carlsen - Nepo 83% - 9% - 8%, Ding - Nepo: 52% - 32% - 16%

 That's just a probability model, and reality will differ. There is no such huge skill gap between Magnus and Nepo that will result in Magnus winning 83 out of 100 14-game series.

#19
That is probability calculated based on prior results.
Reality might differ in both senses.
The same probability calculation would not have predicted Nepo to win Candidates undefeated with 9.5/14, but live ratings incorporated that result.

@Pamela_Escobar He's my hero

I have nothing against Nepo, personally.  He seems like a good guy and has played some excellent chess over the years.  My problem with him as a player is that he has the same problems I have with consistency and at times playing too fast.  No one wants to see me play Magnus for the world title, so personally I would have preferred someone else.  I was rooting for Fabi, but he seemed to go all-in on the "first or nothing" strategy in the second half of the tournament.

Now, I am hoping Nepo's performance is enough to motivate Magnus to defend his title and we get a more exciting match than last year.

Nepo has had a bit of a known weakness that he tends to crumble under pressure if the competition is long or he takes a difficult loss. Mental state is a huge factor for any player in fact, which is why on the biggest stage like candidates many dont play their best chess. Obviously he didnt lose on purpose, he lost one hard fought game that he felt he shouldve drawn and he couldnt recover mentally. Many blunders followed.

Nepo at his best however, is definitely the most dangerous challenger to Magnus because he can play very fast and accurate and put some pressure on him.

Maybe there were a few games Nepo got handed a win by bad play, but winning the candidates twice in a row is a ridiculous feat of which Magnus himself would be proud. If Nepo plays at his level anything can happen. Having already been in a wcc match may just be the decisive factor as it might allow him control his nerves better.

Cmon dude, everyone knows you are Nepo, your shades and cap don't fool us.