Chessable Masters Finals - Wesley So prevails

@Aighearach The NYT article referred to is reproduced (more or less) here, without a paywall - https://www.hebergementwebs.com/new/the-dark-side-of-chess-when-isn-t-a-great-master-so-great I say "more or less" because that version introduces a few typographical and other errors which weren't in the original (e.g. Nigel Short is referred to as "Court", which is presumably an automatic translation - "Court" is French for "Short") - but it's close enough for you to get the gist.

@Aighearach, I see nothing wrong with linking paid articles. I would not have seen it if not for the link below.

The allegations in the piece are shocking. If the GM title can be overturned because of cheating, I see no reason why FIDE shouldn't go back through history and investigate some of these records, and overturn/change records as a result. Chess ratings/tournaments are supposed to be mathematical, impartial, fair. Such happenings and coverage in mainstream publications like the NYT is a stain on the sport.

The reports on how Mishra achieved the GM title are incredibly shady and I don't see how it can be allowed, and why FIDE has not changed the regulations before to prohibit such things. Short's "logic" is not logic at all. FIDE is a private organization and can do whatever it wants, even retrospectively.

Mishra is IM strength at best, at this moment. But he is still young. Let's see if he can improve further. And indeed getting GM norms in shady GM norm tournaments in eastern Europe against 2300-2400 opposition is kinda well.... cheap.

Best wishes to GM Wesley So!

The computer annotation is over-aggressive in declaring decisive advanage. In Aronian's game it gives -+, but the players followed the computer line and it ended up only at -0.7 before they deviated. And with black up a pawn, -0.7 is perhaps not distinguishable from =, because it means white has a slightly better position. And now I see the -+ has been removed; so is a human going back and deleting them when they turn out wrong? Maybe the feature is poorly considered?

Stephen, NY Times is a private newsletter, you can't really link to that to explain anything to anybody.

Thanks Stephen,

It would be nice to read the NY Times article, but I do not have a paid subscription.

I am really sorry for the kid. Chauffeured around the world by parents seeking media attention and perhaps money. Certain cultures promote such behavior. I remember the articles showing parents taking desperate measures to help their kids cheat at school exams (e.g. https://www.theweek.co.uk/63034/parents-in-india-risk-lives-to-help-children-cheat-in-exams). Sometimes it may be desperation. Taking the risk in hopes of a better future. It is also the hype generated by fellows like Sagar Shah (sponsored by Chessbase) who extol Mishra's parents efforts, disregarding that they cost him his childhood. The kid was dumbfounded when asked what he is doing for fun. The frustrating part is that FIDE doing zip to stop that.

I had hopes that after Ilyumzhinov and Makropoulos got the boot from FIDE things would get better. No sign of any change. Money is king.

Hi Zagliveri,

As you surely are aware, Mishra's GM title was obtained via apparently dubious means, as documented in various media, including the NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/13/sports/chess-karjakin-mishra-grandmasters.html

Several GMs are openly critical of Mishra's claim to be a GM, let alone history's youngest.

Mishra’s results against real (active) GMs are way below those he obtained recently in obscure, closed tournaments in Eastern Europe that earned him the GM title. After 8 rounds he only has two draws. That is 2320 performance, apparently not GM level. Perhaps he is intimidated by the names sitting on the other side of the table. Or, more likely, this is his true strength.

I had suggested in a previous post that at least one of the GM norms should be achieved in an open tournament, with mostly active players, including GMs. Otherwise the GM title and chess in general lose. They fell victim to orchestrated, promotion campaigns targeting sensationalism, as, for instance, becoming the youngest GM in history …