The usernames “FVitelli” and “opqrstuv” on lichess.com have caused a stir in the chess world. An observant Reddit user discovered that the users were created on the same day in February, have only played against each other – and to the surprise of many: They have played games that are strikingly similar to those from this year’s World Cup chess match between Ding Liren and Jan Nepomnyashchy. Now the users are connected to WC duelist Ding and his second Richard Rapport. – There is no doubt that it is. It must be their users. There is zero chance that it is not, says the fifth highest ranked player in the world, Hikaru Nakamura. SURE: Hikaru Nakamura believes that Ding has been exposed. Photo: PAVEL MIKHEYEV / Reuters – It is 100 percent certain Bevisa is pointing in particular to game eight of the World Cup match in Kazakhstan last week. Because the moves in a game played by users on lichess.com are long identical to those played in the WC game. Ding’s first twelve moves and “Nepo’s” first eleven moves are exactly the same as on the website, and the experts have no doubts. SECONDARY: Richard Rapport – or “FVitelli” as he is said to be called online. Photo: JEROEN JUMELET / AFP – There is no doubt that this was a training match between Ding and Rapport. It’s 100 percent safe and everyone knows it, says Grandmaster Johan-Sebastian Christiansen, one of Norway’s best chess players. Namely, there were a number of quite unique moves that were played, and nothing that could appear between anyone. Here is the game on lichess.com and the WC game, both after 23 moves: The game on lichess.com after 23 moves. WC game 8 after 23 moves Experts on the leak: – Amateur WC chess matches involve several months of training and precautions. Lines are studied and moves are planned, and a team of seconds – helpers – is put together to help the World Cup duelist get ready for battle. But now it seems that Ding’s little secret is out. All thanks to a Reddit investigation and a bit of carelessness on the part of the Chinese. – It is somewhat amateurish that they have not found a better solution to training, that it can be discovered by others. There is a roar from his team. It is strange that risk is not taken into account, says news’s chess expert Torstein Bae. EXPERT: Torstein Bae. Photo: Lars Bryne / news Norway’s best chess player on the women’s side, Monika Machlik, also uses “amateur-like” to describe the problem. – It seems very likely that a leak has occurred. It is easy to search for a party on lichess, so it is very surprising that they have done this, she believes. Refused to comment The leak spread like wildfire through the chess community. Also at the press conference after the party, Ding was asked about it, but did not give much more than a sly smile. – What party are you talking about? he replied with an impressive poker face. – No comment, said second Rapport to chess.com before he disappeared into a lift together with Ding. A total chess value still seems to be the same. This is the training session between the two. But how much does it actually mean for the WC match? WC MATCH: Ding Liren against Jan Nepomnjashchij. Photo: TURAR KAZANGAPOV / Reuters Mental challenge – It doesn’t have too much to say for the match, as they spent most of their time on two openings that have already been played in the match, and which are unlikely to be repeated. So this won’t have any effect on the game, but is a good lesson for team Ding, believes Christiansen. Machlik believes that “Nepo” must have known about the leak, as he played quickly and confidently against Ding’s new ideas in a complicated position. NORWEGIAN PROFILE: Monika Machlik. Photo: Christian Grieg Sander / news – I think it has mostly to do with psychology. I think it’s a very awkward message to get for Ding, she says. This year’s WC match has swung back and forth a lot, with victories for both players. It is unlike previous World Cup matches in recent times, where Magnus Carlsen in particular has proven to be too solid for his challengers. – This match is completely open, and it does not look like this has been decisive. In the last games, it will be about who is able to keep control of their nerves and put the other under pressure, believes Bae.
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Ding Liren’s World Cup preparations leaked online – experts call it “amateur” – news Sport – Sports news, results and broadcasting schedule
