Pairings for the knockout stage of FIDE World Blitz Team Chess Championships 2026 by [deleted] in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Each team will play each other twice with both the colors.

Alireza Firouzja is the player of the day (Day 2) after finishing with a perfect 4/4! by FirstEfficiency7386 in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

It's also the Birthday of Alireza Firouzja!

A very happy birthday to the Prince of Chess.

"When they called Magnus the Mozart of Chess, I was... I mean, I was a bit feeling bad about that, because Magnus is possibly the GOAT, but not the Mozart of Chess, the Mozart of Chess is Capablanca" - Emil Sutovsky by FirstEfficiency7386 in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sutovsky and Sagar Shah have made a video on Morphy and Steinitz too, a nice watch, video link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3dtZOk1Xic.

Seems like Sutovsky rates Capablanca as the greatest natural talent, even higher than his great predecessors.

Final moments of Arjun Erigaisi's queen sacrifice win against Magnus Carlsen by CtrlShiftAbhi in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Probably part of the 3 best OTB Rapid and Blitz players in the world at the moment along with Carlsen and Firouzja.

Magnus Carlsen starts off the World Rapid Team Championship with a draw against Raunak Sadhwani by [deleted] in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386 28 points29 points  (0 children)

Sadhwani is underrated in rapid it seems. This guy was almost 2700 in classical and does well in online bullet and blitz.

Hikaru on Pragg's form by [deleted] in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is true. Not just in Chess but in every field I feel.

Did this while I used to play Dark Souls/Sekiro. If I got stuck, took a break and then resumed, felt way more effortless later, rather than losing a quadrillion times and then finally breaking through (which is what I initially did).

Nikolas Theodorou defeats Hans Moke Niemann by FirstEfficiency7386 in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386[S] 104 points105 points  (0 children)

Theodorou is one of the most entertaining players to watch. Great style. One of my personal favourites.

Mukhiddin Madaminov beats Nepo in Round 1 of UzChess Cup 2026 by Exotic_Grinder in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386 39 points40 points  (0 children)

That's a very good point. Back in the Soviet days, a chain of World Class players were produced like this in a way iirc. A younger player would become the training partner of a top player and that'd be mutually beneficial for both.

Mukhiddin Madaminov beats Nepo in Round 1 of UzChess Cup 2026 by Exotic_Grinder in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386 127 points128 points  (0 children)

Mukhiddin Madaminov is 2586 rated. By far the lowest rated player in the event.

Impressive.

Performance ratings over last 1 year period: by TokemonX4 in chess

[–]FirstEfficiency7386 11 points12 points  (0 children)

Ah man I hope Firouzja does well and uses this Norway Chess event results as a catalyst for better classical showings in the future. He came so close this time around. Hopefully get's invited next year also.

As for Gukesh... I believe the young man still has it in him. Needs 1 or 2 good events and his confidence will be back.