The FIDE World Chess Championship 2023 is a highly anticipated event in the chess world, set to take place in Astana, Kazakhstan. The event will see two talented chess players, GM Ding Liren and GM Ian Nepomniachtchi, compete in a 14-game match for the title of World Champion. For the first time in 16 years, FIDE will crown a new Classical Champion, not named GM Vishwanathan Anand & GM Magnus Carlsen.
With the reigning World Champion, Magnus Carlsen, abdicating his throne without being defeated, there are questions about the legitimacy of the World Champion – as they have not beaten the previous champion and arguably the greatest player in the history of the game in a straight match. However, with or without Magnus, it promises to be an excellent match between two intriguing competitors. In this blog post, we will take a closer look at the upcoming FIDE World Chess Championship 2023 and the players that will compete to claim the ultimate prize in chess.
What is World Chess Championship?
World Chess Championship, or alternatively FIDE World Chess Championship, is the most prestigious and coveted title in the world of chess. While there are many types of chess championship that chess players can win – nothing can match the pride and glamor of the Classical World Championship. It is a biennial tournament organized by the World Chess Federation (FIDE) to determine the world chess champion. The championship has a rich history that dates back to the 19th century, and many legendary players have won the title over the years. The coveted list of World Chess Championship Winners includes some of the greatest players the game has ever seen; GM Garry Kasparov, GM Bobby Fischer, and GM Anatoly Karpov are just some of the many notable winners of the event.
The championship attracts the world’s most talented chess players, who compete in a series of matches using a variety of formats. The tournament is widely regarded as one of the most prestigious and challenging events in the world of chess, and winning the title is considered the pinnacle of achievement in the sport.
A Brief History of the World Chess Championship
The FIDE World Championship is like the Olympics for the game of chess. It brings together the best chess players from around the world to compete for the title of world champion. The fascinating story of the World Chess Championship began more than a century ago when the greatest minds of the time would gather for unofficial matches. The first official world championship match was held in 1886, with Wilhelm Steinitz emerging victorious and earning the title of World Chess Champion.
As the popularity of the game grew, the World Chess Federation, also known as FIDE, organized the first official world chess championship tournament in 1924. Alexander Alekhine won the tournament in 1927, becoming the first FIDE world champion. However, controversy and disputes marred the early years of the FIDE championship, with some top players refusing to participate and claiming their own world champion titles.
The FIDE world championship became more established in 1948 when Mikhail Botvinnik won the championship tournament and went on to defend his title in a series of matches against challengers. This tradition continues to this day, with the current world champion Magnus Carlsen defending his title four times since 2013, with his last victory against Ian Nepomniatchi in 2021.
| Player | Game 1 | Game 2 | Game 3 | Game 4 | Game 5 | Game 6 | Game 7 | Game 8 | Game 9 | Game 10 | Game 11 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Magnus Carlsen (NOR) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 1 | 0.5 | 1 | 7.5 |
| Ian Nepomniachtchi (RUS) | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 0 | 0.5 | 0 | 3.5 |
Magnus Carlsen abdicating the title in 2022
Magnus Carlsen is widely regarded as one of the greatest chess players of all time. However, in January 2022, he stunned the chess world by announcing that he would be abdicating his title as World Chess Champion. This decision was a surprise to many, as Carlsen had held the title since 2013 and had successfully defended it in four consecutive matches. Carlsen cited a lack of motivation as the primary reason for his decision to step down.
The decision was formally announced on International Chess Day on July 20th, 2022, making Magnus Carlsen the third World Chess Champion to abdicate his title – after Bobby Fischer in 1975 & Alexander Alekhine in 1948 (he died in 1946). Ding Liren, courtesy of his 2nd place finish in the 2022 Candidates tournament (behind Ian Nepomniatchi), was announced as the second challenger for the 2023 World Chess Championship.
The Challengers: Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi
Ding Liren, the Chinese grandmaster, is known for his solid and consistent play. However, recent cracks have started to appear in his game, with disappointing performances in the 2020 Yekaterinburg Candidates and the recent Tata Steel Masters 2023, where he lost 23 rating points. Nevertheless, Ding is still one of the world’s top players and has been preparing for this match for months. He will undoubtedly give Nepomniachtchi a tough fight.
Ian Nepomniachtchi, on the other hand, is one of the most creative and aggressive chess players of his generation. He has been a promising player from a young age, and his interest in esports has made him stand out from other players. He has recently won the Tata Steel Masters 2023, a tournament where Ding Liren struggled. This win has boosted Nepomniachtchi’s confidence, and he is currently the favorite to win the FIDE World Chess Championship 2023.
Head-to-Head
In classical games, Nepomniachtchi has won three times against Ding Liren, while Ding has won twice, and eight games have ended in draws. In their most recent encounter during the 2022 Candidates tournament, Nepomniachtchi won one game, and one game ended in a draw.
| Classical | Nepomniachtchi wins | Draw | Ding Wins | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nepo with White | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 |
| Ding with White | 1 | 3 | 2 | 6 |
| Total | 3 | 8 | 2 | 13 |
In blitz, rapid, and exhibition games, Nepomniachtchi has won 13 games, while Ding has won 9, with 17 draws. It is clear that Nepomniachtchi has had more success in faster time controls.
| Format | Nepomniachtchi wins | Draw | Ding Wins | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blitz/Rapid/Exhibit | 13 | 17 | 9 | 39 |
Odds for the match
According to leading bookmakers and experts, Ian Nepomniachtchi is the slight favorite in this match, with odds of around 55-45. However, with Ding Liren’s solid and consistent play, he cannot be discounted as a serious contender. In fact, in an interview with Lex Fridman, current World Champion Magnus Carlsen gives Ding Liren a slight edge over Ian Nepomniachtchi.
Format
The FIDE World Chess Championship 2023 match between Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi will consist of up to 14 classical games, with a time control of 120 minutes for the first 40 moves, 60 minutes for the next 20 moves, and then 15 minutes for the rest of the game, with an increment of 30 seconds per move starting from move one. The players will be awarded 1 point for the win, 0 for a loss, and 0.5 for a draw. The first player to reach 7.5 points will be crowned the champion.
In case of a tie after 14 games, there will be a series of tiebreaks, including rapid games, blitz games, and an Armageddon game if necessary.
Schedule
The schedule for the match is packed, with games starting at 15:00 local time (EKT) on most days and a rest day after every two games. The opening ceremony will be held on April 7th, followed by a media day on April 8th. Game 1 will take place on April 9th, with the final game scheduled for April 29th. If necessary, tiebreaks will be played on April 30th. The closing ceremony will be held on May 1st.
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| Friday, 7 April | Opening ceremony |
| Saturday, 8 April | Media day |
| Sunday, 9 April | Game 1 |
| Monday, 10 April | Game 2 |
| Tuesday, 11 April | Rest day |
| Wednesday, 12 April | Game 3 |
| Thursday, 13 April | Game 4 |
| Friday, 14 April | Rest day |
| Saturday, 15 April | Game 5 |
| Sunday, 16 April | Game 6 |
| Monday, 17 April | Rest day |
| Tuesday, 18 April | Game 7 |
| Wednesday, 19 April | Rest day |
| Thursday, 20 April | Game 8 |
| Friday, 21 April | Game 9 |
| Saturday, 22 April | Rest day |
| Sunday, 23 April | Game 10 |
| Monday, 24 April | Game 11 |
| Tuesday, 25 April | Rest day |
| Wednesday, 26 April | Game 12 |
| Thursday, 27 April | Game 13 |
| Friday, 28 April | Rest day |
| Saturday, 29 April | Game 14 |
| Sunday, 30 April | Tiebreaks |
| Monday, 1 May | Closing ceremony |
How To Watch World Chess Championship
The World Chess Championship match between Ian Nepomniachtchi and Ding Liren will be broadcasted live on various platforms. Fans around the world can catch the World Chess Championship stream on the official website of the World Chess Federation (FIDE) as well as on the FIDE Chess YouTube channel. Additionally, chess fans can follow the games live on various chess websites, including Chess24, Chess.com, and Lichess. The match would also be broadcasted live on several YouTube and Twitch channels.
Conclusion
The FIDE World Chess Championship 2023 is just around the corner. All eyes are on Astana, Kazakhstan, where Ding Liren and Ian Nepomniachtchi will battle it out for the coveted title of World Champion. While the absence of reigning champion Magnus Carlsen has raised some eyebrows, there’s no denying that the tournament remains one of the most exciting and challenging events in the world of chess.
Dating back to the 19th century, the World Chess Championship has a rich history, and winning the title is the ultimate achievement in the sport. So if you’re a chess enthusiast, make sure to tune in and witness these two incredible players go head to head in a battle of wits and strategy. You certainly would not want to miss it!
Update (Apr 10, 2023): Ian Nepomniachtchi wins Round 2 & takes the lead in the world championship. Read here.
Update (Apr 13, 2023): Ding strikes back in Round 4; the score is tied at 2-2. See how the match unfolded here.
Update (Apr 15, 2023): Nepo surges ahead with a flawless victory in Game 5. Follow the moves here.
Update (Apr 16, 2023): Ding makes another comeback; wins Round 6. Score is tied at 3-3.
Update (Apr 18, 2023): Ding loses out in a time scramble; Nepo takes Round 7.
Update (Apr 26, 2023): After four consecutive draws, Ding with a massive upset in Round 12. Score is now tied at 6-6.
Update (Apr 29, 2023): Match ends in a tie; 7-7. Tie-breaks to decide the new world champion.
Update (Apr 30, 2023): Ding wins Tie-Break; crowned World Champion.
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