Post-game Press Conference with Hikaru Nakamura and Ian Nepomniachtchi | Round 7 | FIDE Candidates

[@maqla-fy7qx]

wow, lets appreciate how the interviewer stood back and let them cook without interrupting the conversation

[@XoPlanetI]

She had no clue

[@guest_informant]

Yes. 100%. She's very good at this. She lets the players speak. Many chess press conferences are excruciating, this is mind-blowing, and a lot of that is thanks to her.

[@soundmoney4all24]

Lol it just sounds like they're mumbling. You have to play it at 0.75 speed.

[@GavinTheMistborn]

She warmed up a ton after the first interview of the tournament, since then she's been excellent. Allowing the players to really flex their knowledge, while bringing timely/quality questions that seem off the cuff. The adjustment period seems necessary in hindsight, since the players start speaking in super GM language haha.

[@leodii6441]

@@XoPlanetIin any given comment section, there is one child that has to hate for absolutely no reason.

[@hughJ]

You can watch the match at 2.0x, but need to watch the press conference at 0.25x

[@ragnorak56]

Look at you Mr. Genius with your fancy 0.25x video. I have to pay a stenographer to transcribe the video, lol

[@isaacbugalho]

Naka: -This is basically a memory test. Nepo: -Done.

[@korethoe262]

Finally, two competitors with strong personalities and time to "discuss." Glad the interviewer understood she's in the deep end and talking would mean death.

[@jmk5638]

This isn't a press conference. It's two goats nerding out in chess

[@markrobertson3054]

Goat?

[@chakrbd79]

So they played another 20 games in this 20 minute interview

[@elementsofphysicalreality]

Lmao true

[@XoPlanetI]

20 variations

[@Kharaman.V]

Best press conference so far

[@ChessDoc263]

The way Ian speaks so fast is insane . Makes it all seem so easy

[@vsevolotti]

3:44 Nepo: "New to lichess, yeah?" lol

[@derekw1267]

Nepo is savage

[@gamensch2629]

@@derekw1267 not in a positive way

[@hm20250]

3:44 “New to lichess yeah?”

[@Arsenic_99]

And how funny it is he just casually goes back to chess talk in a millisecond after that xD

[@Carl-Gauss]

Absolutely savage

[@sachinlamichhane644]

That's why he's my favorite. He casually talks and have great personality with so much of chess knowledge

[@aluminiumknight4038]

Thats how you react when nö 9ne laughs at your joke ​@@Arsenic_99

[@andreypetukhov4250]

@@aluminiumknight4038man even the interviewer laughed)

[@ddenti99]

They continue the battle, now with words

[@bruceazumbrado5387]

GM Nepo is very impressive. I only understood about 10% of what he was saying, but it sounded good. I think that the interviewer gave up on trying to follow what he was saying so "How does the weather effect the game?"

[@mrflamingo1004]

And the press officer is no joke either, she's a WGM. Just goes to show how strong these top players are.

[@Budha3773]

They’re best friends in another universe

[@ChessJew]

They're friends in this universe - Nepo is pretty well loved by everyone

[@emresar983]

@@ChessJew everyone i saw hates nepo

[@kennyborefjall6125]

@@ChessJewerm no definetly not actually

[@ChessJew]

@@emresar983 Who?

[@elena__sh]

They are like half-brothers in a parallel universe

[@djfootfoot]

I wish interviews like this were the norm.

[@inemanja]

And not only for chess, but a few other sports. I would like to see this in Tennis or even Formula 1 sometimes.

[@bananeneter999]

Really cool to see how these guys go over the lines they were so deeply thinking about in the game. This game was sick!

[@NathanLipetz]

I love Nepo taking charge of the interview

[@Viewer13128]

the actual reason is because the mouse is on the right hand side of the interviewer so Nepo has to keep shooting out moves making it seem like he's nonstop talking, but it's just cause the mouse is not on his side.

[@CodeAlpaca]

Absolutely fantastic press conference. Amazing to see both of them discuss their ideas and show all the different moves.

[@gregorymorse8423]

I enjoyed how excited they both were at discussing these lines they clearly are incredible experts at.

[@Yusuf-the-wanderer]

its like two of your big brothers disgussing builds in an online game and you have no idea what they say but you know its exiciting.

[@huanzhouzou564]

I think this interview is very indicative of Nepo's personality. He always finds counterplay and likes his chances in slightly worse positions, to a point to even overestimating his chances. Very good for candidates tournaments where weaker opponents may be milked for points, but doesn't work as well against the super methodical players who can exploit every minor inaccuracy, especially in a championship fight where the opponent has studied you very intensively. I would love to see the players clash more in the interview, just to get a better sense of what they were thinking in the match.

[@rhysjones4250]

But is there really anything wrong for the game if a player still 'goes for it' even if they are slightly behind? The result is they can lose worse instead of 'only just' losing. A loss is a loss and fireworks in every game is far better for the sport. Or we could settle for draw draw draw. Id love to see super GMs in front but have to handle insane pressure to still see out the win. Look at gukesh and alireza for example

[@d4slaimless]

@@rhysjones4250 they can miss a chance for a draw when overestimate chances. Like your position is worse and you could go for draw playing resilient moves. Instead you "go for it" and loose. But of course complications is good for faster player who can also relay on time trouble for opponent. And Ian is a fast player.

[@rhysjones4250]

@d4slaimless ye i hear you and of course a couple of draws over loses could be enough to clinch the win. But i do stand by my point that more fireworks would be good. Also as we heard from hikaru and ian they didnt really know for sure how much better, equal or worse they were in some positions anyway. So wanting a win and going for it is great. No computer = no sure clarity. Humans vs humans duking it out.

[@d4slaimless]

@@rhysjones4250 yeah sure, being forceful you can confuse your opponent and press for advantage. It is like Agadmator sometimes says in his videos (usually about Magnus) "He played move that doesn't work, but opponent trusted him that it should work". Anyway, good player should know when to go for a draw and when to risk it.

[@rhysjones4250]

@d4slaimless yes the physiological aspect! I love that. They call it the 'magnus effect'? Anyone could do it if they looked supremely confident playing a move. At the moment everyone in the candidates looks scared when they play a move.

[@BobbyPartson]

wow so glad she asked about the weather

[@grownupgaming]

that was the only part of the interview i understood

[@epicchess2021]

😂

[@Yusuf-the-wanderer]

😂😂😂​@@grownupgaming

[@jonibravo99]

​@@grownupgamingOkay, thats funny😂

[@Bozowomp]

Holy shit… dude just hearing them talk about the potential lines

[@qfgerg5775]

I feel like they could be best friends, it must creates bonds to have their dreams crushed for years by the same guy

[@TheUltimateLegend7]

😂😂

[@roncho]

Brooo nepo is a monster of calculation

[@XoPlanetI]

You can see that nepo is a beast

[@Viewer13128]

3:51 but Hikaru said the line he wanted to play but didn't and Nepo confidently said his moves but he's just losing.

[@gucciv1]

And Magnus still whipped him

[@TristramPagot]

@@Viewer13128 Yeah apparently some top players are known to spit out lines very confidently at press conferences, which make them seem like geniuses, but afterwards it turns out they're really objectively bad lines. And no one realizes but other 2750+ players. Not saying that Nepo is like that, but it's something to keep in mind.

[@XoPlanetI]

@@TristramPagot how many players are above 2750? So whatever these guys are discussing is not fully understood by everyone in the world except handful of GMs

[@TristramPagot]

@higherbeingX haha I overstated it a bit you're right.

[@DENNISADLER]

Этот Турнир Претендентов уже можно назвать Интересным.... В т.ч. из-за этой партии, а сколько трагически-трагичных моментов уже́ насобиралось к середине события ☝🏻🫰🏻

[@jonibravo99]

I love how they talks about it like its obvious. Every. Single. Time

[@williamshake7559]

Nepo is incredibly in form. In fact from this interview, it may appear that he is even more in form than Nakamura. Given that people were saying how Nepo was not in form prior to candidates and that Nakamura was, it makes one wonder what form Ding will be by the WCC.

[@lexer_]

This is way more interesting than the forced interview-like post-game conferences!

[@danitaga5591]

Fantastic game

[@brandonhiles5885]

Best post-game analysis, you really get an insight into what both players were thinking during the game.

[@vipulgupta]

3:44 Nepo 🤣

[@brianbailey3374]

Best recap this candidates, love the battle between these two, draw fair result.

[@UpperChores]

Interviewer has the "wtf is happening" look. I know it all too well.

[@binks2413]

They rattle off moves and it takes me longer to find the square 😂

[@florin.lupascu]

Ian overcooked the memory test :D

[@isaaccastro7853]

This is gold

[@thepoofication]

Deez guys are monsters. Love how the interviewer just let them do the talking, she understands it's much more valuable to everyone that way

[@ShpanMan]

This was the most hilarious "press conference" I've ever seen. 😂 Literally just the players having fun with the engine while the interviewer sits there stunned.

[@Viewer13128]

3:51 I thought Nepo saw everything but actually Hikaru's line was winning.

[@SenatorBluto]

I'm starting to understand why Fischer said he hated classical chess.

[@Budha3773]

This was my favorite classical game to watch ever.

[@GiorgiElashvili-p4x]

cuz he knows what chess is all about:)

[@MemserRokin]

dont like most top player "hate" classical once they reach a certain threshold? its why kasparov retired at 42 while magnus stopped participating in the wcc

[@detectivemarkseven]

Because at high level its all memorization about theory

[@xkizmikie309]

Still so many unique games. Hikaru with a brand new position on move 7 yesterday, pragg with an F5 Spanish. Computers are helping evolve chess as much as they hurt it

[@markrabideau4067]

i wanted to see a new challenger, but after today i really want to see Nepo bring this home

[@OwainTD]

This game was unreal…

[@djo-dji6018]

It's tempting to wish your opponent may not remember something, if his surname his Nepomniachtchi...

[@SuhasSreehariOnline]

Nepo’s calculation abilities are insane.

[@sachinlamichhane644]

Sagar shah asking genuine question

[@greggnardozza]

The highest level of human chess thinking... crazy!

[@naira7700]

bruh I don't even know what I'm doing here

[@gabriel-uc1uz]

Great game

[@Hiproportion]

I think kramnik would find this interview interesting

[@macchocolateatable]

Yup just take take take take take

[@soloark7430]

Personen in the middle is me in a group project

[@amoldivo]

These 2 seems like the best pairs... Imagine either of them discussing lines with Magnus 😅😂

[@nadirgueddouh4732]

The variation that nepo saw at the beggining of thé line is magic. ENGINE LINE

[@amirhosseinetemad3094]

new to lichess yeah? GIGACHAD

[@amirhosseinetemad3094]

3:44

[@splenzid]

okay i am one of the 0.01% in the world who could follow everything they said so I request that I should be given the title GM for this achievement. Please petition FIDE on my behalf.

[@KhasPhus]

0:37 was that Mr Campbell from Peaky Blinders 😳

[@306pako]

So good!

[@bones8087]

What it must feel like to sit between these two goliaths and act like you can keep up with their calculations lol crazy

[@rnbPGTV]

Yeah yeah, they are right...

[@artificercreator]

Nice talk!

[@gh3meister]

If the second half is played in the same order, the last game hikaru vs Isn could determine the winner

[@Veptis]

This is rhs sequel we want: chess with talking.

[@plet774]

What if each player places 1 piece down at a time for starting position. And only rule is rooks on each side of king and pawns on 2nd row.

[@dionlindsay2]

A variation on Fischer Random chess you mean? Or after each player has seen his opponent's last piece placement?

[@yurisun8500]

I think that can talk in representation of the population of the Earth: "i dont understand nothing"

[@gh3meister]

I see you don't understand double negatives

[@НепоНял-э6п]

​@@gh3meistersome languages have standard that double negative = still negative. Even some native English speakers can use it, I heard Eminem used it in one interview and then interviewer was like "Excuse me, what did you just say?"

[@soxnation1000]

This makes my brain hurt lol. Have no idea what they're talking about

[@TheOneRealTom]

It feels like they can't talk fast enough for the words to catch up with their minds... ^^"

[@elementsofphysicalreality]

Can you imagine if they were allowed to talk during these games?!

[@dionlindsay2]

A few years ago a super-GM tournament had a soundproofed video booth where players were encouraged to record their feelings for a minute or two during the game. It was fun to watch on KZbin.

[@peterparker6377]

Host: what's going on😂

[@MA-qz1sd]

I notice Naka over and over thinks of best move and makes the slightly worse move for some reason. He needs to trust his instincts more

[@adiedits8027]

As much as he’s improved since he started streaming, I think there are some weak points in his mental game that make him a bit inconsistent.

[@BobbyJean-rk5sf]

Who is Hikarus second?

[@haggaisimon7748]

Nepo will win the candidates, I wonder if Ding will play the match. He’s too stressed recently. Maybe Naka and Nepo will meet in the match. In classical I’d give a narrow edge to Nepo, but if the match will go to the fast time control, Naka is a clear favourite.

[@simonkotchou9644]

Ian just flexing that he is the Petrov master now. He has surpassed caruana and karjakin

[@siswantoy7499]

For a moment i thought they were conversing in English…😂

[@binks2413]

Chess frienemies

[@darockguitar1]

Hikaru should play these type of lines against lesser experienced players. He might surprise them and get some “easy” wins. Then he has less stress coming in for Nepo. Might be a change of strategy. Then again, all these players in the candidates are amazing.

[@koford]

When Ian says a line and then says: I mean. Notices that he often says that.

[@dmitripogosian5084]

It is very from Russian, to caveat a statement, it is basically IMHO. I usually say 'I think' all over the place :)

[@d4slaimless]

@@dmitripogosian5084 actually a lot of people, who are not native English speakers use "I mean". But sometimes even native speakers do it a lot - heard from some American commentators. I don't know why exactly "I mean". I prefer to say "I think" and I actively try not to overdo with it. But you are right in a way that this is just an introductory phrase people use without adding any actual meaning to the sentence. Around 13:40 Hikaru also says "I mean" when answer the question.

[@vishaalkumaranandan2894]

The interviewer had no idea what was going on

[@maiconoliveira4221]

me neither

[@kahwigulum]

nepo just being nepo

[@mjp3186]

Very nice guys.

[@johnny-of5eb]

3:44 🤣🤣🤣

[@andrewroberts8139]

For those of us who are not strong players this is hopeless. Neither Naka nor Nepo have us in mind, nor is the interviewer getting involved

[@thelurker3795]

"have us in mind"? lmao what does that even mean? Are you perhaps referring to the fact that moat regular players cannot properly follow their discussion because of their quick calculations? I mean what are you expecting for them to explain everything like their teaching chess to a patzer? it's a Candidates press conference dude not a video tutorial on the Petrov. 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@andrewroberts8139]

@thelurker3795 It depends whether you want chess to build on the success of stuff like the Queen's Gambit or not. As I intimated, if the players are wrapped up in ten-move lines, It's incumbent on the interviewer to explain or preferably show it for a wider audience

[@thelurker3795]

@@andrewroberts8139 it doesn't depend on shit actually, there is time and place to promote chess "to a wider audience", the Queens Gambit series as you mentioned is one, chess content creators like Levi is another one, chess drama coverage is another way, twitch events like pogchamps is too, the Candidates isn't; this is an elite tournament with super-GMs trying to qualify for the WC spot, you cannot expect them to fall down to the casual players level on such a serious tournament just for the sake of "promoting the sport", either you're INTO chess and you're somewhat able to follow their press conferences or go watch football or something :/

[@andrewroberts8139]

@@thelurker3795 Can you think of any other sports that take this elitist attitude?

[@okoyechukwunwike2958]

It is obvious that nepo knows the complexities of this line than hikaru that prepared it . I think nepo is very underestimated

[@aymandanaroma3971]

But he took a lot of time compared to hikaru

[@_circuitry_4738]

Two time world champion finalist who ran into the greatest performance of dings career that will never be matched by him ever again and the greatest chess player in history. Not shabby.

[@greenhat7618]

2 times candidates winner wdym underrated😂

[@Jojels]

What a dumb comment lol. No one is underestimating nepo.

[@vidvilla4541]

10:38 😂got me

[@masterwurm4513]

Haha the moderator is such an NPC

[@magnusclaesson5843]

Geniuses!

[@skl5532]

nakka - turned up for this. AWOL after a loss of course. nakka

[@tipu._.9245]

Bros are speaking in chess

[@michaeloconnor6264]

Ian stepping all over Naka

[@thomasbolsee]

13:37 Such a disdainful question. I will never understand the urge to ask those weird questions to the players. Like what do you expect Hikaru to answer

[@bring-out]

Considering Hikaru's frequent assessment he only plays for views I think it's an appropriate, although spicy, question.

[@d4slaimless]

It was elite question asked exactly at the elite timestamp.

[@jaypraxxz7375]

I thought Naka was a beast in calculation. Hearing Ian, damn dudes overlord beast

[@НепоНял-э6п]

Basically every top GM is a beast in calculation

[@peterpetrov6522]

I just became a Nepo fan! New to lichess, yeah? Ahahahahahhaahaaaa! What is this savagery?

[@FunkyPhunk]

From a strategic point of view it'd be smarter to play your best lines against the weakest opponents. Considering the risk reward.

[@matthis8888]

Not everybody plays the same openings that's not how it works... Ian is the only one who plays the Petrov. consistently at least...

[@FunkyPhunk]

@@matthis8888 Yea but I'm talking in general, i'm sure there is more than 1 prepped line, for example, in the following scenerio. Lets say Ian is cheating (he is not but let's assume for the scenerio) and let's say Gotham is playing the same tournament. Hikaru if he plays his bestest line in the italian against Nepo (who is cheating) it will end up in a draw or possibly nepo winning. Yet If he uses his best line against gotham is without a doubt most likely a win. Meaning the best lines are more effective anti-proportionally to skill level. Strategically, It'd be better for Hikaru to do his bestest prep against the lower end of the table.

[@FunkyPhunk]

@@matthis8888 In other words, if hikaru uses his prep lines against fabiano and nepo than it'd still most likely be a draw and he would have lost the advantage of having the prep line.

[@krazzed3243]

​​@@FunkyPhunk1) Hikaru has said in his review that this line only works within the Bd6 system rather than the Be7 system Nepo played in 2022 Candidates against him, so saying use your best prep against worst opponents generally is nice in theory but hard in practice when you can only go into lines that are influenced by opponent. This petrov line doesn't work if they play caro-kann or Nc6 setups or Sicilian or the vast array of other game openings. 2) Hikaru is a full game behind points leaders for the tourney who at the time of game start was Gukesh and Nepo so using a good line to potentially beat Nepo prevents somebody ahead from getting additional points and closes the gap. If Hikaru won this game with the way the rest of the games shook out we'd have a multi way tie for first ending the first half of the Candidates which is a much better spot than 1 full point behind.

[@FunkyPhunk]

@@krazzed3243 yeah I'm saying general. I know his oponent might not allow it due to a different variation. But I mean hikaru has more than 1 prepped line. In general it'd be more strategic because word championship tend to be drawish so why not get all the points where you can.

[@hedrakamel7121]

Nepo is scary

[@KK-tc6xq]

Nepo is sounding overconfident and smirky

[@kevin-7091]

More like confident and assertive. These players are among the top in the world, they are definitely quite confident in their ability to evaluate chess positions

[@warehousedave7937]

Nepo's arrogance really shows during these post game press conferences. Hikaru has a higher rating. Maybe let him talk a bit.

[@TheAlleycat0909]

Nepo to Naka - new to the chess?

[@gh3meister]

He was saying that to the interviewer

[@bobw7076]

I have to be honesy but she is the worst interviewer I have ever seen , I have followed chess for a long time and have seen a lot of interviewers after games , I have never seen someone this bad . I even saw the interview in the Gukesh game where she was so rude to him despite the loss in the game

[@quincunx1443]

Nerds

[@tolgacetiner1243]

Hikaru will win the candidates

[@dansbike1]

Maybe, but not this year

[@soundmoney4all24]

Hikaru takes too many risks

[@phd.inanime3427]

If Hikaru wins tomorrow by pounding Fabiano, he will win for sure. If tomorrow again a draw or lose, he stands no chance.

[@codrutteodorsitea8376]

nah