Thread by @nicbentulan

@donkcheck Here's my conspiracy theory that either the @fischer_random 2022 WC ( WFRCC ) & the 2022 @chesscom global championship ( CGC ) was staged or the 2022 WFRCC is extremely unfair to Wesley So:

https://twitter.com/nicbentulan/status/1646350082080653312

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom NEW THEORY: FIDE lowered time controls in 2022 WFRCC as a conspiracy to favour Magnus / Hikaru over Wesley So, but WESLEY SO IS PART OF IT?!

Sergey Karjakin said in 2023 American Cup that Hikaru & Wesley So were pre-arranging. Also 2022 WFRCC & CGC?!

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom TL;DR

A - 2022 WFRCC was a conspiracy against Wesley So in its time control reduction from classical (60min) to rapid (32.5min).

B - FIDE reduced time to gain sponsorship & views from faster games & having a popular player like Hikaru / Magnus as 'world champion'. They knew

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom Hikaru / Magnus would beat Wesley So because:

- They're better in rapid & jointly won 2020 St Louis 9LX.

- Wesley So dominated classical FRC but didn't do So Well at rapid 960 (eg 2019 WFRCC & 2020 St Louis 9LX).

C - SHOCKING PART
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@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom Myb I'm right but for a different conspiracy:

- Wesley SO is like Jesus / Lisa SimpSOn in taking a dive by ALLOWING REDUCED TIME CONTROLS IN WFRCC so chess960 becomes more popular & then in exchange beats Wesley So beats Hikaru in 2022 CGC, a RAPID event with a higher prize.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom - FIDE is like Snape in Harry Potter.

Full version:

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Part I. WFRCC
Part II. St Louis 9LX
Part III. Other stuff
Part IV. Lisa SimpSOn part

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom Part I. WFRCC

1 - The only major 960 tournaments played by modern superGMs are 2 FIDE WFRCC's & 3 St Louis Chess9LX's.

2 - Their only classical games were in 2019 WFRCC quarter-finals, semi-finals & finals.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 3 - Only 9 played classical FRC:

"""w""esley ""s""o"
Ian Nepomniachtchi
Fabiano Caruana
Magnus Carlsen
Hikaru Nakamura
Peter Svidler
Vidit Gujrathi
Alireza Firouzja
Vladimir Fedoseev

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 3.1 - Wesley So DOMINATED :
- played the most games, yet won & drew the most & lost the least (6W 8D 4L)
- NEVER LOST AND EVEN BEAT MAGNUS 3X IN A ROW

3.2 - Hikaru NEVER WON (0W 3D 1L)
- Beat Wesley So in quarter-finals but only from lower time controls

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 3.3 - Magnus LOST THE MOST GAMES (2W 2D 4L)
- LOST TO WESLEY SO 3X IN A ROW

3.4 - Magnus & Hikaru tie with Vladimir & Peter for lowest score of 37.5%.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom Part II. St Louis 9LX:

4 - In 2020 - Hikaru & Magnus tied for 1st. Wesley So was 5th.

5 - In 2021 - Wesley So tied for 2nd. Magnus didn't play. Hikaru got 9th. Wesley So made Stockfish breaking knight sac Vs MVL.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 6 - In 2022 - Wesley So / Hikaru was 5th / 6th. No Magnus again. Actually this doesn't matter much because 2022 St Louis was in 2022Sep, a month after 2022 WFRCC format was announced in 2022Aug.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 7A - Why does Hikaru win 960 when Magnus is around & do badly o/w?

7B - Ok fine Wesley So was better than Hikaru on average in St Louis even if Hikaru won 1 event & even if 2022 St Louis is excluded.

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@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom Part III. Other stuff

8 - Anyway, in chess: Hikaru & Magnus are better in rapid than classical & are better than Wesley So in rapid. Wesley So is better in classical than rapid.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 9 - Magnus said chess & 960 positions are more different in higher time controls. Hence, strength varies more in classical than in rapid.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 10 - Larry Kaufman says:
Magnus doesn't generally play such great openings, he strives to get the game out of book as early as possible usually. I think the issue here is that his greatest strength is the endgame, but FRC games are much more likely to be decided in the middlegame

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom as the players are on their own so early. That's probably why he doesn't shine as brightly in FRC as in Classical chess.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 11 - Inaugural rapid?

Why not call 2022 WFRCC as inaugural rapid WFRCC & then 2019 WFRCC as inaugural classical WFRCC?

They wanted to call Hikaru / Magnus really 'world champion' instead of just 'rapid world champion'.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 12 - Weirdly: FIDE calls

- 60min in 2019 WFRCC as 'slow rapid' not classical

- 32.5min in 2022 WFRCC as 'slow rapid' not fast rapid when rapid is [10min,60min). Midpoint is 35min > 32.5min = 25min + 5min + 5sec x (60-30) X 1min / 60sec.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 12.1 - I know [60min,120min) is classical but isn't rated for 2200+, but then what's slow rapid? [60,120) ? [35,60) ? [35,120) ? 32.5 isn't in any of these.

chess.stackexchange.com/questions/4149…

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 13 - Hans Niemann parallel

The 2022 WFRCC format was announced in 2022Aug, JUST 1 MONTH after Magnus quit 2023 WCC.

Sound familiar?

Hans was removed from 2022 CGC JUST 1 DAY after Magnus quit 2022 Sinquefield Cup.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom The pattern appears to be:
- Magnus quits an event
- Then in another event
- a chess entity harms
- an AMERICAN player!

oprocyona:

'Many decisions in tournament chess are made to favor the player that brings in the most sponsorship dollars and views, which is undoubtedly

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom Magnus. There's also no doubt that Magnus generally dislikes americans- he said so on one of the Magnus effect podcast episodes.'

Part IV. Lisa SimpSOn part

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 14 - Lisa SimpSOn theory

Wesley SO is self-sacrificing like Jesus / Lisa SimpSOn:

Wesley So is taking a dive in intentionally letting time controls be reduced without changing name of WC so 960 can become more popular. Kinda like in The Simpsons

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom Season 14, Episode 12
I'm Spelling as Fast as I Can

Lisa is told to take a dive so someone more popular can be spelling bee champion & in exchange Lisa would get a scholarship.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom But here, Wesley So doesn't have to necessarily lose any game. E has just to agree to play rapid & no classical. E can win...RIGHT?!

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 14.0 - After 2022 WFRCC, Wesley So actually beats Hikaru in 2022 CGC which was RAPID, where Hikaru is supposedly more favoured, WINNING larger 1st place prize = 200k > 150k = 2022 WFRCC 1st place prize.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 14.0.1 - Why does FIDE have such a low prize fund for THE FUTURE of chess relative to some new online tournament? Trade of PRESTIGE (WFRCC title) for MONEY (extra 50k) ?

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 14.0.2 - Their CGC match was 6 STRAIGHT DRAWS then 2 wins. No tiebreaks.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom 14.0.3 - Later in 2023 American Cup, Sergey Karjakin accused Hikaru & Wesley So of pre-arranging. (Previously, Sergey told me in 2022Sep 'Wesley is a hero:).')

@SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub

https://twitter.com/SergeyKaryakin/status/1639687857945079812

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub 14.0.4 - After winning CGC, Wesley So was incessantly thanking people in interview with Nemo

@akaNemsko

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko 14.0.5 - In next interview w/ Fabi, Danny Rensch & Aman, Wesley So said



'Without those losses, I wouldn't have won today.'

@FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @chesscom @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV This refers to Wesley So's not only losing 2 titles but also placing in 2022
- 6th in WFRCC,
- 5th in St Louis 9LX &
- 6th in USCC.

Not antifragility but PRE-ARRANGEMENT?!

14.1 - Back to WFRCC

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.1.1 - For the Armageddon final, Wesley So & Hikaru somehow predict the 1st 5 moves EACH SIDE

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV HOW DOES ANYONE PREDICT 10 OPENING MOVES IN FRC IN JUST 5MIN ?! Fabi even said in 2022 St Louis 9LX, where players have 15min, that e was out of book by move 2 in all games. (That was Day 1. Fabi ultimately won event.)

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV There's this video of their prediction. A lot of comments say it's wholesome Wesley So is passing the torch to Hikaru but few talk about the prediction. Even in commentary of Peter Leko & (other guy), they weren't that surprised about it.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.1.2 - Myb Magnus intentionally lost to have another Russian vs American final half a century later (or just sucks as usual? Lol) ?

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.1.3 - Myb group stage lottery rigged: Have Hikaru & Nepo in different groups. Have Wesley So & Nepo in the same group & then Nodirbek instead of Matthias Blübaum their group?

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.1.4 - Did Wesley So REALLY not know how to castle vs Nepo?

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.1.5A - 3 people here are wild cards : Magnus, Nepo & Wesley So.



Hikaru isn't technically a wild card but a late entry.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV Hikaru said e wouldn't play WFRCC because CGC has higher 1st place prize. So WHY PLAY?!

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.1.5B - Besides them & Nodirbek, the other 3 were never in competition for 1st place. Myb FIDE announced the tournament so late to not have competition to get in the way of a Nepo vs Hikaru ending?

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.1.6A- How did Magnus come up with that bishop sac on move 1 Vs Hikaru? What are the odds a starting position like that even comes up?

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.1.6B - Why in 2021 was Wesley So's knight sac Vs MVL chessc*m move of the year but in 2022 Magnus' bishop sac Vs Hikaru wasn't even nominated?

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV Myb Hans: If their move of the year gets nominated, then it's likely to win just like Wesley So in 2021. Then it will really seem like Hikaru, Magnus & chessc*m are really flaunting their collusion (so Hans' lawyers might say).Q

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV Or myb setup was RIGGED & so doesn't deserve nomination? Or its nomination & ultimate win would hint towards the rig?

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.2 - FIDE is like Snape: Looks like bad guy but has been looking out for us all along.

14.3 - SleepingAnnual says:

'if he's not a victim he must be in on it'

14.4 - Carissa Yip

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV I theorised a secret relationship w/ Wesley So explains poor performance in those 3 tournaments. Maybe just 2.5 - USCC & St Louis 9LX & then 6th not 5th WFRCC.

14.5 - Bobby Fischer thought you can't pre-arrange 960? Lol.

See 2:10 here

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV 14.6 - PastLie asked me: What has Wesley So done to promote 960 aside from chessable? This.

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV See 2:56 here. @GMWesleySo123 tells @ChessBase @ChessbaseIndia it's really up to sponsors & organisers if they are going to have more @fischer_random. Wesley So has no plans to popular #chess960 #fischerrandom.

@Joejanchess @fr_chess @FIDE_chess

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV @ChessBase @ChessbaseIndia @Joejanchess @fr_chess @FIDE_chess 15 - Problem w/ Lisa SimpSOn part:

To continue making 960 popular, what have FIDE et al done since? Eg Any 960 in 2023 CCT? And what about Nepo who is top 2 classical chess960 player and less strong in rapid?

@GMHikaru
@MagnusCarlsen @HansMokeNiemann
@lachesisq @ChampChessTour

@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV @ChessBase @ChessbaseIndia @Joejanchess @fr_chess @FIDE_chess @MagnusCarlsen @HansMokeNiemann @lachesisq @ChampChessTour P.S. Finally please help @GMWesleySo123 get on @lexfridman's podcast! :D

#chess960 #9LX #chess9LX #fischerrandom #chessdrama

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@donkcheck @fischer_random @chesscom @SergeyKaryakin @GMHikaru @GMWesleySo123 @USChess @STLChessClub @akaNemsko @FabianoCaruana @DanielRensch @ChesscomLive @amanhambleton @chessbrahTV @ChessBase @ChessbaseIndia @Joejanchess @fr_chess @FIDE_chess @MagnusCarlsen @HansMokeNiemann @lachesisq @ChampChessTour @lexfridman @threadreaderapp unroll please