FIDE Chess.com Online Nations Cup

[David Sedgwick]

There doesn't seem to be a thread about this event yet, so here goes:

https://www.fide.com/news/493

https://www.fide.com/news/497

https://www.fide.com/news/509

[Matt Mackenzie]

"hear, here"

[David Sedgwick]

"hear, here"

Whoops! Duly edited.

[Chris Rice]

Day 1 results and China off to a flyer:

Europe 2 - 2 Russia
India 2-2 USA
China 3-1 RoW
Russia 1-3 USA
Europe 1-3 China
RoW 2.5 - 1.5 India

The highlight of the day was the Russia - USA, 138 move game, between Nepo and Naka where Nepo was pushing hard for a win to draw the match only for disaster to strike...

Nepomniachtchi, Ian - Nakamura, Hikaru, FIDE Chess.com Online Nations Cup 2020 round 02 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. c5 c6 8. h3 b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 h6 11. Qc1 Bb7 12. Bd3 Qc8 13. O-O Ba6 14. Bxa6 Rxa6 15. Qb2 Qb7 16. Rfb1 axb4 17. axb4 Rxa1 18. Qxa1 Ra8 19. Qb2 Nh5 20. Bh2 Bd8 21. Ra1 Nhf6 22. g4 Ne8 23. Rxa8 Qxa8 24. Qa2 Qb7 25. Qa4 b5 26. Qa1 Bc7 27. Bxc7 Nxc7 28. Qa5 f6 29. Ne2 Kf7 30. Nc1 g5 31. Nd3 Ke7 32. Nd2 Kd8 33. Nb3 Qa6 34. f4 Qxa5 35. Nxa5 Nb8 36. Kf2 Ne8 37. Kg3 Kc7 38. h4 Nd7 39. Nb3 gxh4+ 40. Kxh4 Ng7 41. Nd2 Nf8 42. Nf3 Ng6+ 43. Kg3 Kd8 44. Nh4 Ne7 45. Kf3 Ke8 46. Nc1 Kf7 47. Nb3 h5 48. Na5 hxg4+ 49. Kxg4 Ne8 50. f5 Nc7 51. fxe6+ Kxe6 52. Ng2 Ne8 53. Nf4+ Kd7 54. Nh5 Kc7 55. Nb3 Kd7 56. Nc1 Ke6 57. Nf4+ Kf7 58. Nb3 Ng7 59. Na5 Ngf5 60. Kf3 Nh4+ 61. Kg3 Nhf5+ 62. Kf2 Ng7 63. Nb7 Ke8 64. Kf3 Kd7 65. Na5 Nef5 66. Kf2 Ne7 67. Kf3 Nef5 68. Nb3 Nh4+ 69. Kf2 Nhf5 70. Nd2 Ke7 71. Nf3 Kf7 72. Nh2 Ke7 73. Ng4 Kf7 74. Kf3 Nh4+ 75. Ke2 Nhf5 76. Nf2 Ng3+ 77. Kf3 N3f5 78. Nd1 Nh4+ 79. Kf2 Nhf5 80. Nc3 Ne8 81. Kf3 Nc7 82. Nce2 Na6 83. Nd3 Nc7 84. Nec1 Ne6 85. Nb3 Ke8 86. Nf2 Kf7 87. Na5 Nd8 88. Ng4 Kg6 89. Nf2 Kf7 90. Nd3 Kg6 91. Nf4+ Kf7 92. Ng2 Kg6 93. Kf4 Ne6+ 94. Kg4 Nh6+ 95. Kf3 Nd8 96. Nf4+ Kf5 97. Nh5 Kg6 98. Ng3 Nhf7 99. e4 Ng5+ 100. Ke3 dxe4 101. Nxe4 Nge6 102. Nc3 Nc7 103. Kf4 Na6 104. Na2 Nc7 105. Ke4 f5+ 106. Ke5 Nf7+ 107. Kf4 Nd5+ 108. Kf3 Nd8 109. Kg3 Kh5 110. Kf3 Kg5 111. Kg3 f4+ 112. Kf3 Kf5 113. Nc1 Nxb4 114. Ne2 Nd5 115. Nc1 Nc7 116. Nd3 Nce6 117. Nb3 Ng5+ 118. Kf2 Ke4 119. Nb4 Nge6 120. d5 cxd5 121. c6 Ke5 122. Na5 Nc7 123. Kf3 Nde6 124. Nd3+ Kd4 125. Nxf4 Nxf4 126. Kxf4 Kc3 127. Nb7 b4 128. Nc5 Kc4 129. Na4 Kb5 130. Nb2 Kxc6 131. Ke5 Kc5 132. Na4+ Kc4 133. Kd6 d4 134. Kxc7 d3 135. Kb6 d2 136. Nb2+ Kb3 137. Nd1 Kc2 138. Ne3+ Kc1 0-1

[NickFaulks]

Is there a good way to follow all the games?

[Paul Cooksey]

Depending on taste, Danny Rensch and Robert Hess on chess.com yesterday and Jan Gustafsson and Peter Svidler on chess24. Both with their associated youtube and twitch platfoms.

Chess.com is the official partner. But in my entirely biased opinion, you should click here at 2pm: https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 2020/3/1/1

[Mick Norris]

TWIC report

Pete Doggers report

[NickFaulks]

Chess.com is the official partner. But in my entirely biased opinion, you should click here at 2pm: https://chess24.com/en/watch/live-tourn ... 2020/3/1/1

Many thanks, I'm sure that my opinion is at least as biased as yours! For some reason I thought that chess24 weren't covering this one.

[Paul Cooksey]

Well, they are certainly not promoting it in the way they did their own recent event. But Peter Svidler summed up the position as "More chess. Better" yesterday. They have history of flouting AGONs attempted bans, so chess.com's "technical difficulties" in providing other sites the pgns did not trouble them much yesterday.

They are late starting today, but on the other hand suggesting Magnus will join.

[Adam Raoof]

1. the commentary from Chess24 is soooo much better than any other so far, at least they look like they are enjoying themselves
2. Why is there no Team England? Are there any English players in Team Europe?

[MartinCarpenter]

Surely not strong enough? Our men would be mild underdogs and our female board(s) would be suffering rather badly.

Great to see Aronian back.

[Roger de Coverly]

2. Why is there no Team England? Are there any English players in Team Europe?

FIDE didn't invite the ECF to take part. It's a small tournament.

[Mick Norris]

Great to see Aronian back.

Yes, good news, hope playing is helping him; I see he won both games yesterday

TWIC day 2 report

[Chris Rice]

2. Why is there no Team England? Are there any English players in Team Europe?

FIDE didn't invite the ECF to take part. It's a small tournament.

This tournament is very odd though, it reminds of the thread on the British KO because its not really a Nations Cup at all. The make up of some of the teams is very strange and even when Carlsen came on to commentate yesterday and Jan G asked him why he wasn't playing for Europe he told him to start with an easier question and the conversation moved to an exchange about why Carlsen hadn't combed his hair.

GM Peter Heine Nielsen was quoted on the Russian Chess news site when he asked why Dubov or Korobov with higher ratings then some of the others were not invited to play. How is it that Europe are fielding Aronian, an Azerbaijani and a Georgian player and the captain is Kasparov?

On social media GM Suat Atalik queried the Rest of the World team which he believes should be called a FIDE team. "How come Radjabov plays the team named Rest of the World? Let us not forget Aronian from Armenia leads the team Europe! Both Armenia and Azerbaijan are considered to be in Europe in all sportive competitions, albeit the team Rest of the World consists of an Iranian,an Egyptian,a Peruvian and a Kazakh.The name of the competition,names of teams simply implies nations rather than individuals. Looking at that I am not surprised that the mighty Azeri Federation nor her President opened his mouth when the guy was kicked out of Candidates. The first opportunity arose to recuperate just like European Team Captain Kasparov they jumped on the Russian money disregarding the FIDE zones or geography! What about Muzychuk from the same team? Well ask Sutovsky!"

I suppose the conclusion is the same as for the British KO. Whoever the sponsor is can call it what they like and invite who they like but it does make for a rather odd competition.

[Kevin Thurlow]

Anand - Nepo was interesting today...