The game of chess is currently undergoing a pivotal change. The popularity of online chess has increased dramatically, as well as the success of The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix. Computer breakthroughs have made the game more accessible and easier to learn. The best players simply memorize the “perfect” moves, which are determined by computers. This reinforces a style that often ends in a draw.
It seemed that the five first games of this year’s Dubai world championship were following a predictable pattern. They all ended in ‘perfect draws’. Then Magnus Carlsen, the reigning world champion, surprised his opponent and shocked chess fans all over. In a match that blew away expectations, it was a win for humans over machines.
