Ian Nepomniachtchi is back for more. The former world championship challenger left his rivals in the dust at the Candidates tournament in Madrid, seizing victory with a round to spare. So he will once again challenge Magnus Carlsen, in a world championship match slated for 2023. Or will he? A few weeks after beating Nepomniachtchi the first time around (in Dubai 2021), Carlsen stoked some intrigue when he stated: ‘It is unlikely that I will play another match unless maybe if the next challenger represents the next generation.’
‘Nepo’ does not fit the bill; at 31, he is the same age as Carlsen. Many (including me) still doubt that Carlsen will abdicate, although if he does, then the Candidates runner-up, Ding Liren, could find himself propelled into a world championship match against Nepomniachtchi.
Carlsen has often criticised the traditional format of the world championship match, so one plausible compromise would be an event with an altered format, perhaps including faster games.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in