Kids Prevail: Sivanandan, Radzimski Defeat Nemo, Kazarian

The Kids, WFM Bodhana Sivanandan and CM Antoni Radzimski, defeated the Stars, WGM Nemo Zhou and FM Anna-Maja Kazarian, by a five-point margin in the second edition of Kids vs. Stars. 

While the Stars scored their share of victories, the Kids ultimately prevailed, largely due to Sivanandan's endgame prowess and Radzimski's tactical awareness. 

Match Scores - Final

Two popular streamers and formidable players made up the Stars team, Nemo and Kazarian. Nemo hosts one of the most-watched chess streams on Twitch with over 300k followers. When she was a chess youth herself, she won gold at the World Youth Championship in the Girls Under-14 section. 

Playing the BEST kids in the world right now with @ChessKidcom 👑 will be playing titled Tuesday on https://t.co/x1kwp7IplD right after! Thank you @elfcosmetics and @PaidiaGaming for supporting chess players 🥰🥰🥰 #sponsored pic.twitter.com/rk60CiAWXI

— Nemo (@akaNemsko) July 16, 2024

Kazarian is a popular content creator on Twitch and YouTube. She won the 2020 Dutch Women's Internet Championship. Also successful in her youth, Kazarian was the Girls Under-16 European Youth Champion. 

The Kids team featured two rapidly-rising talents. Sivanandan is currently the highest rated 9-year-old girl in history as well as number three in the world regardless of gender. Last year, she won triple gold medals at the world youth championships, capturing the classical, rapid, and blitz titles for Girls Under-8. She's set to compete in the upcoming Olympiad as England's youngest ever representative. 

Radzimski reached number five in the world for 12-year-olds in May. Last month, he won gold both individually and for his team at the European Youth Team Championship in the Under-12 section. 

• Match 1: Sivanandan vs. Nemo, Radzimski vs. Kazarian 
• Match 2: Sivanandan vs. Kazarian, Radzimski vs. Nemo

Match 1: Sivanandan vs. Nemo, Radzimski vs. Kazarian

Kazarian scored the first victory with a tactical strike that began in the center and radiated into Radzimski's kingside.

In round two, the Kids went 2-0. Sivanandan had the last word in an ending where both players promoted, taking the first lead of her match. Nemo reflected afterwards: "She is very good at endgames. I guess that's how you become the highest rated age [9] girl in the history of the world."

I guess that's how you become the highest rated age 9 girl in the history of the world.

—Nemo Zhou on Bodhana Sivanandan

All the players drew game three. Radzimski carefully eliminated all of Kazarian's pawns to reach a rook and knight vs. rook ending. As he searched for winning chances, back-to-back disasters befell the players. 

In the next game, Sivanandan found a tactical hole in Nemo's attacking play and stretched her lead to two points. Meanwhile, Kazarian and Radzimski set off dual king hunts, chasing the enemy monarchs out of their castled positions. The Star prevailed, reclaiming her lead. 

Sivanandan and Nemo finished in a peaceful fashion with two close draws. Meanwhile, Radzimski and Kazarian continued to duke it out, trading victories in two more attacking duels. 

Sivanandan's undefeated score and Radzimski's tactical wins secured the Kids a one-point lead as they headed into the second match. 

Match 2: Sivanandan vs. Kazarian, Radzimski vs. Nemo

Unfortuntely for the Stars, the once close matchups soon became a dire fight. After half-time, the Kids returned to achieve back-to-back 2-0 rounds. Closing in on Kazarian's side of the board, Sivanandan found a critical defensive move to seal her advantage in game one.

In round two, unfazed by his substantial material deficit, Radzimski countered by setting up vicious attacking threats. 

Radzimski won again in game four. Yet, Kazarian scored the first victory vs. Sivanandan of the day to hold off the Kids reaching a decisive 12.5 score. With two rounds left, the Stars found themselves in a must-win-all position. Could they score their own double 2-0?

Radzimski dashed their hopes in the very next game. While the Kids clinched the match, Kazarian set off a blazing mating attack to finish with a bang. 

When asked what the key to their victory was, Radzimski revealed: "We didn't give up."

In their interview, the Stars reflected on the experience of once being chess kids themselves to competing against them now. Nemo started the discussion:

Funnily enough, Anna and I are basically exactly the same age to the day. She is one day older than I am. We've been playing chess together forever. I remember seeing Anna at like 2010 in Greece. We've been in their shoes... It's always interesting seeing all these kids and thinking: 'Back in my day...' It's really fun seeing young talent because they keep getting younger and younger.

WGM Keti Tsatsalashvili added a shocking fun fact: "Back in 2016 when you guys were at the peak of your rating, Bodhana was only one year old."

Back in 2016 when you guys were at the peak of your rating, Bodhana was only one year old.

—Keti Tsatsalashvili

Kazarian also shared: "It was an awesome experience. Playing against these kids, now I have a good chance against them, but maybe in a few years, it's over for me!"

Loved playing against Bodhana and Antek! I’m fortunate to have gotten some points off of them, because in a few years I won’t stand a chance anymore!

The games had great quality and I’m really proud of it. Can’t wait for the next edition! 😊 https://t.co/eVX0PGE8g0

— Anna-Maja Kazarian (@AMKazarian) July 16, 2024

Kids vs. Stars is a new series of matches between the generations of bright young talent facing your favorite stars and content creators. The players will battle it out in a team match. The kids will play each star six times in a 3+1 time control. The team with the most points at the end of this 24-game clash will win the match.

Previous coverage:

• Kids Take 1st Victory: Atwell, Paragua Beat Nemo, Cramling