The punchline of an old Soviet joke has a Russian sharing his dream about the USSR’s future with a Frenchman and a Brit. “Moscow is full of red banners,” he says proudly. What does it say on the banners? They ask. “I couldn’t tell,” he responds. “They were in Chinese.”
Russian Ian Nepomniachtchi and Chinese Ding Liren tied in the first game of the World Chess Crown match in Astana – 0.5-0.5, according to Athletistic. Grandmasters agreed to a draw on the 49th move
Wednesday evening will see the official opening of the WR Masters at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Düsseldorf. The tournament starts on Thursday at 14:00 with the 1st round. A number of players from the next generation will face the current world elite. For Ian Nepomiachtchi, the tournament is also a dress rehearsal for the World Championship in April. German chess fans are keeping their fingers crossed for Vincent Keymer in particular.