Alireza Dominates In St.Louis | C2 | EP.69

[@monasautes4665]

Every time an ep. is filmed outside Fabi’s much more alive and expressive 😊

[@Harley.1]

it’s because he’s a vampire

[@leredrasscul]

he's happy cuz it's ep 69

[@evilsdouble]

You have to sun and water the chess players

[@Caleb-zu1pk]

“Pretty flowers need the sun, that applies to everyone”

[@TristramPagot]

This was like one long rant from fabi😂 Loved it!

[@MJ-xg2ow]

I love Fabi's self awareness 3:26. Some people say Alireza got lucky in Sinquefield Cup but no-one talks about how Fabi snatched a full point from Nepo. Nepo's blunder/mistake was a miss/slip. I love how self aware and honest he is. Respet that.

[@Ngoc-e6p]

Cristian : I am jumping in the pool Fabi : Ok

[@theowalcott102]

Fabi seems to be delighted when you are filming outdoors!

[@elonif4125]

Isn’t this true for all of us? We aren’t build to sit indoors as much as we do

[@seya_2]

Try sitting outdoors early in the morning. It's amazing. Therapeutic

[@lesilluminations1]

Guys, this was the best pod in awhile.

[@Najdorfc5]

I wish you guys will do more content, best chess podcast by far.

[@BigBrother2012]

Ding has put himself in a perfect position regarding the wc match. There are no pressures on him. Everybody is expecting him to lose.

[@gametime2473]

Ding is now one spot ahead of Hans Niemann on the FIDE live ratings

[@user-vt4hd8hb4v]

Impressive for Ding

[@Jordan-ud4qv]

Though to be fair that’s because Hans is 11 places higher not because Ding’s position changed

[@pg9687]

The future first American World Chess Champion has been climbing up the ladder !

[@hugobeswick3558]

@@pg9687Fischer???

[@dogukantopal4809]

​​@@hugobeswick3558 Isnt he icelandic?

[@FongYukYu]

Wake up babe, a new C2 pod just dropped!

[@ssep327]

Damn it was pleasant to film outside. Chess topic is so much dry in itself, stage design becomes much more important

[@baka1984]

24:35 I am friends with Ian on Steam and during in the past 2 weeks he played ~35 hours worth of Dota 2. He stopped playing the day after he lost too. Clearly he burnt out from Chess at the moment or something else.

[@gasaidjohn3499]

This is big if true

[@Phymacss]

Oh wow

[@NON_biodegradable]

Interesting

[@Sickerror]

I think he worked extremely hard to try to win the candidates (and he came extremely close), now he just can't be bothered anymore. Its clear he just wasn't interested in playing in the Sinquefield Cup

[@Phymacss]

@@NON_biodegradable Vivaldi!!! I love your music man.

[@carltonthompson9359]

Love the outdoors on this one. Great vibe

[@dragosbalan1738]

I don't think it's about luck or bad luck in winning a chess tournament, magnus has been proving us for more than 10 years

[@wl4dymir]

It is for most people except Magnus 🤣

[@bluefire6470]

He is by far the best player, he doesn't count.

[@elawchess]

you are using an exception to define the rule

[@seya_2]

Magnus is an exception. That being said he has his fair share of luck.

[@nikhildawani2913]

You named the Only player who is an absolute exception

[@Apopjak]

finally normal looking angle :D

[@Phymacss]

@@Apopjak ikr😭😭

[@jonathanace7950]

The Fide Circut is a typical case of good idea gone wrong - i like the idea to measure how the players did over a year and sometimes that works - for example fabi was the best player of 2023 and won it by a mile but this year too many strange regulations

[@jalalkhosravi6458]

Fabi is great analyser 👌

[@kieran1990able]

Ding will defend world championship. Just mark my words. I am putting him 70/30 against gukesh. He surprised the world and he will surprise the world again.

[@mysticaldevotion863]

If he plays like last championship, or like any Event he played in the last year, he has no chance to win unless Gukesh chokes like Nepo.... The only think ding has going for him is experience if you can prepare months in advance against a young player.

[@Corteum]

I'd just like to see him back to form to be honest.

[@TheAluvisify]

At his current level, it's honestly a 50/50. If DIng can play close to his peak, then it's heavily in his favor.

[@ClarkPotter]

He didn't surprise the world. He was 2810 and Magnus wasn't playing. His country also did the Firouzja thing for him and gamed the qualification to reach the requisite number of games.

[@kieran1990able]

@ClarkPotter jus cuz he was 2810 doesn't mean he was bound to win candidates. Nobody expected him to win, yet by luck he won and then world title against nepo. Lol that is surprising to the world.

[@rtt1961]

Always love the insights you guys give.

[@weevilunderwood149]

25:14 "good sushi" Woooah Fabi!!! 😉

[@ethanlal4517]

Ep 69. Nice

[@Corteum]

You guys should get Jose on to tell us about what happened with his match against Kramnsies.

[@hngeh7021]

Ding's getting good positions out of the opening but being way too happy to convert them into draws. Sounds like the ability is still there but he simply lacks in confidence in his ability to actually pick up wins and is afraid of messing things up and giving the game away in a prolonged struggle. If you think about it, being happy to take a draw in a position where you're better is more typical when you're a weaker player playing a stronger one, and for the same reason - you lack confidence in your ability to convert and are afraid of messing up.

[@theowalcott102]

Or perhaps he is being super sneaky, making everyone else think that he is in bad shape, and all of a sudden when he plays Gukesh, he's gonna be a beast!

[@DishaGupta-yd5eu]

​​@@theowalcott102 But in this process he is losing a lot of ratings, if he proceeds to play like this in the olympiad tournament also, he would drop to 2650-2700 elo which I don't think will be worth it .

[@MindfulSages]

Love this guys, making chess feel more punk and cool for the mainstream, it's palpable, thank you.

[@trymuk8816]

Welcome back boys

[@azctw]

Ding is sucking you all in. He's gonna make a killing betting on himself.

[@christofferore6285]

😂😂 mby:p I always believe in ding

[@Corteum]

He seems like that type of guy, doenst he lol

[@gus8696]

Haha can you imagine

[@seinundzeiten]

ding ding

[@rtt1961]

@@Corteum Yes, very good comment: I agree.

[@CarlosRodriguez-ez3ls]

Being a professional chess player is WORK.

[@illum-nati9806]

Was thinking about a video on this. And here they are again with amazing analysis. Always enjoy listening to you two. Fabi you played really well. Your ascendance was commendable. 😊

[@pauls.2679]

i find Fabi way more relaxed in this episode

[@peterhardie4151]

Maybe he had a wee dab of speed before the podcast.

[@Ksan15]

great podcast as always

[@VaRag98]

Great episode, enjoyed it wholeheartedly ❤👍

[@pierQRzt180]

The moment when Fabi realizes the venue of the Rapid and Blitz is in the middle of Manhattan. That is, it will be expensive AF. (next time do it in Philly!)

[@avalagum7957]

What microphone are they using? The sound quality is very good. I don't hear any noise from outside.

[@mwegankanda6594]

What if Ding is playing mind games, then turns up at the WCC match with his brain muscles super jacked

[@hfwatts]

Agadmator is showcasing your legendary run in 2014, Fabi. ❤❤

[@haimkichik]

Fabi is amazing,

[@janesjanes4553]

Fabi looks so good here

[@lush1us]

What a nice episode

[@dollishillwork]

Gukesh and Pragg became too friendly with Anish Giri the draw master and look what happened - both drew every single game.

[@Jayhawk99]

Great episode, if you swing by for coffee in NY I just might catch you guys!

[@MaunShComb]

It’s good to see Fabi spicy.

[@zexisak4085]

37:40 if you know you know...

[@xxAutoFlowxx]

Fabi you can stay by me in Queens. Train over the bridge 25 min

[@davidjames149]

nice to see that you all enjoyed a swim together after the tournament

[@christofferore6285]

You guys are too strong👏🏻🔥 you make us all want to get stronger

[@n8nx868]

Why some episodes like 65 or 66 arent on Spotify?

[@fbshiloh777]

episode 69?? niceee

[@nexesses1548]

I feel so bad for Ding man… I can’t. We know he can be SO good and consistent. Sad to see

[@MohammedKazem-b3p]

The dream is not over. I am sure Fabiano will become world champion. ❤❤❤❤❤

[@ali_wali_]

What if Ding is saving his ideas or hiding his prep in the lead up to his clash with Gukesh?

[@aerukei]

Is it the microphone or does Fabi sound different?

[@TechTessellator]

They are outside. Its crazy that the mic can block out all the wind. That's a really good mic.

[@yogi2543]

Is Ding implementing the "Art of War"? (When you are strong, appear weak) Maybe he's losing so many games on purpose to catch Gukesh by surprise with his actual strength. Is it possible?

[@peterhardie4151]

No. He has mental health problems. I say this wishing him the best but he is struggling to cope.

[@strikercool911]

You're playing for money here, no room for childish mental gymnastics

[@yogi2543]

@@strikercool911 That's a good point. The prize pool for this tournament was significant

[@ogarniamtowmig3070]

You are looking at this day break in terms of a person playing and spending this time in New York, but from the perspective of a fan who would like to follow such an important event this extension of the tournament will make it difficult to follow at the end due to different time zone and the celebration of the new year 😢

[@lindap.6067]

Very nice setting 👍

[@macleadg]

Alireza won nicely, but I wouldn’t say he “dominated”. In 2014 Fabi won 7 in a row & drew the last three. ~ That’s ~ domination.

[@movieshistory768]

Alireza dominated because he won rapid and blitz a few days before the classical even ,he also won the grand chess tour for the second time, just to let you know only 3 players have won GCT twice .this is domination.

[@macleadg]

@@movieshistory768 If that’s what makes your naughty bits tingle for him, I can’t stop you fan-boy… 😂😂😂

[@pierQRzt180]

Would be nice that if you complain on the FIDE circuit (that is a very good idea, it needs only some more polish) you would be precise on its rules.

[@jimmyandersen742]

YMCA is still open doe guest and its relatively cheap!

[@jesseburstrom5920]

I want back to Kos beatiful view

[@dennisjang8374]

PATH trains from NJ are nowhere near as dangerous as Christian suggests.

[@MiniProfides]

I think Ding is becoming kinda uninterested in chess and he's kinda right. Fide is not doing things very good, right now. He just needs motivation, if someone can motivate him. What I like about Ding is that he is very creative like Fisher, while Magnus is more engine like studying and playing. I have allot of feelings about Chess.

[@nikhildawani2913]

Are you mad??magnus is way more creative than ding ot fischer

[@Iwachu420]

@@nikhildawani2913 You are clearly triple digit elo

[@Fabio_Rage]

Great episode! keep up the pace!

[@josecueto1757]

I didn´t enjoy the acceleration of the audio-video.

[@FongYukYu]

😬 I cringe every time I hear the quote about Ding being 'permanently broken'. It's reductive and insensitive on a human level. Life has ups and downs, people going through it, and people with mental health issues aren't 'broken'. That's just... yuck. It's 2024. Do better.

[@prcbras]

Completely agree. First of all, it's tactless and downright mean to use that language. 2nd, no one knows the future, anything is possible, especially when his struggles seem to be personal issues and not skill based. Losing 2 games is hardly reason to call a chess player broken, especially when he was better in several games against players in better form. Like, are people calling Anish and Nepo broken also?

[@slylataupe4272]

Magnus is from Norway, Christian from Romania, they are a bit raw in their use of English, they use words they should not like permanently broken without thinking much i think.

[@miroslavjanecek9993]

I understand it as permanently broken chess-wise.

[@NotQuiteFirst]

The problem is that Cristian mis-quoted Magnus. Magnus didn't say Ding is "permanently broken", as is implied by the way Cristian presented it here. Ding was in a clearly very bad form (after the disastrous Weissenhaus tournament) and had been quite open in saying he's depressed and not in a good condition. He was at the time at least temporarily "broken" in terms of his chess ability. When asked about it, Magnus was saying it can't be assumed that it's a temporary thing, it's possible that he never returns to his former playing strength, and therefore it remains to be seen if it will be "permanent".

[@akumezzy1092]

Agreed

[@PaulMorphy-n1f]

Alireza🏆🐐👑🎖

[@altamistral]

LOL, they are talking about NY like it's in Sinaloa, Mexico. I lived there, it's not that bad.

[@tennisCharlzz]

@csqpod It's too bad they don't host in cheaper cities. Host it in Charlotte near Danya, or wherever he's located.

[@christofferore6285]

Its the saintlouis rapid and blitz

[@rexfariss5653]

@@christofferore6285 No, this is the World Rapid and Blitz Championships

[@adifferentusername999]

@@christofferore6285they’re talking about world rapid and blitz I think

[@michaeloconnor6264]

Daytime subway ok Financial district is fine.

[@Aleslee-t7w]

ALi..R... KING...OF......D......FAST 🎉

[@paparatzz7531]

They didn't talk about Hans against the world?! No one had any theories or anything, omg Fabi

[@Phymacss]

@@paparatzz7531 they did in the previous episodes

[@michaeloconnor6264]

Manhattan don't take the subway. Lyft or walk.

[@tougherguy]

No discussion of Niemann now that he's entered top 20?

[@cptmaj]

I will discus him if you want

[@answeris4217]

Wasn't Ding playing poorly before the world championship when he won? It might be a tactic to not shoe Gukesh his prep.

[@deejkeithanmusic]

Is it more likely Ding is just sandbagging in a title defense year? If he defends his title does it silence the critics?

[@kpNov23]

Ding is done. Caput. Fine. The End.

[@jesseburstrom5920]

New world order I like how it is seemingly from event to event that decides who really is best. Ok Gukesh - Ding must be win ???

[@botwin5977]

You’re judging Ding openings on this event. Didn’t came in mind to you that Ding didn’t want to use his championship openings and preps ? (Same for gukesh with his 50%) What I Saw is that he got good position at the end of the openings every times with white, and then did not want to play.

[@lollycopter]

19:17 "I don't see evidence of work in Ding's play". He also did mention Gukesh showing work. Ding is still not on same level right now.

[@afterneet4421]

No hate to fabi or alireza but magnus not playing in croatia ,st louis ,sinquefield gives them a lot of chances to win

[@movieshistory768]

Magnus withdrew from Croatia otherwise he attends all GCT events, nonetheless Magnus is old and about to retire ,there is a new king in the town called Guccireza

[@neilvita3230]

NYC Trains aren’t that dangerous I live there

[@chessexpansionseriesYT]

Hey Fabi and Chirila. I sent you a message for a possibility of a podcast togheter. Hope you will look into it. Thank you. Also its a very interesting podcast and a deep discussion in this video. Really pleasant to listen to.

[@lode6737]

The video is 4 minutes short

[@FongYukYu]

😥 Nooo... Disappointing and shocked to hear Fabi checked out after the first game. WE WERE ALL ROOTING FOR YOU à la Tyra Banks

[@costanza2492]

I agree with Christian when he says you need luck to win. But I feel this is said much more when Alireza wins than when Magnus or Fabi win. Let’s be careful.

[@Lucas-gb9jg]

Outside vibes

[@bahramkishi3018]

Ding's personal life ,may be the problem for him...that has made him so depressed lately.

[@jsrob]

Wesley-Ding=draw,draw,draw

[@yogi2543]

New York City has gotten worse since Cvid. But during the day the subways are ok because they have the national guard down there during peak traffic periods. i'm sure during the holidays, it will be even more locked down. Just keep an eye out for pick pockets and don't be dumb. It will be after the elections though, and its possible that city explodes for a few months if there is a political transition. Book hotels early, there are less hotels than usual available in the city because some have become shelters. And obviously lots of tourists are going to be booking them too. I don't know who's brilliant idea it was to have the tournament during the holidays in the most touristy city in the United States. It may turn out to be prohibitively expensive for a fair number of people, but the energy in the city will for sure add to the excitement. And if they allow a live audience, I might drop by

[@kebichlact6677]

Episode 69 and no 69 jokes. Amaretures…

[@EliL-se3bh]

Free hotel for 2750 and above? If they really want a competitive tournament, they need to reduce the threshold. Hotels are too expensive in NYC

[@justingross5500]

I received autographs from all of the players, except for the only one playing out of my hometown St. Louis. Fabiano. Very disappointed to wait for days and get the same excuse. At least sign in your city man, it’s not a good look.

[@JohnBucella]

Rainman 2

[@RapierNeedleCrime]

Ding's bad form really is perplexing, he's less than 10 elo points away from not even being a top 20 rated player anymore :(

[@gelatinousjoe7979]

It’s really strange to me, maybe it’s just a lack of passion or perpetual nerves. I’m not sure why his strength has plummeted after winning the World Championship. I know he wasn’t peak strength before and during the Match but it was a good level.

[@Corteum]

The Chinese need to upgrade him, genetically. lol

[@compositeur8455]

@@Corteum The upgrade is wei yi

[@Phurngirathaana]

It's because it's not Ding but Xiao Wang who's playing instead

[@Corteum]

@@compositeur8455 Yes, i feel Wei Yi s the strongest of the Chinese GM's today, probably for some time

[@thomasdequincey5811]

Nah, I don't think Alireza's Chess is evolving. He's a streaky player, and at the moment, like when he hit 2800, he's on a up streak.

[@kc910]

I would *strongly* recommend players *not* depend on walking or subway for travel in NYC. It’s just not safe currently and not worth the risk.

[@vampireducks1622]

Christian, in your R1 post-game interview with Fabi during the Sinquefield Cup he said he had an "explanation" for why he took the rook in the endgame against Alireza, but you didn't ask him what it was. I assumed you were saving that for this podcast, but you didn't ask him here either... Forgot? Free Palestine.

[@imeprezime1285]

Alejandro approved this video

[@user-ts2co4ov5h]

These podcasts are boring and unnecessary

[@dwightPhoenix]

Wow.....Very Negative

[@Scaw]

So that's why you never look at them, or even bother to comment on them.

[@user-ts2co4ov5h]

@@Scaw I tried watching. I wanna see Fabi play. Not hear Christian just ramble on and on...

[@amaanpirani6031]

@fabi if y’all need my studio in nyc will be open!