The World Chess Championship in Kazakhstan’s capital Astana between Jan Nepomnyashchi and Ding Liren from China is entering the decisive phase and is being followed closely in Moscow – including in the Kremlin. After eleven games it is 6:5 for the Russian, who is only 1.5 points away from victory, many newspapers report daily. At least outwardly, the Kremlin is demonstrating support for the grandmaster from Bryansk.
Government spokesman Dmitry Peskov – who is also head of the Board of Trustees in the Russian Chess Federation – regretted Norway’s world champion Magnus Carlsen’s refusal to defend his title after Nepomnyashchi’s victory in the candidates’ final last summer. Nonetheless, they will “feel” for the Russian and wait for the chess crown to return to Russia, said Peskov.
The chess nation Russia has been waiting for the world title since Vladimir Kramnik’s defeat in 2006. The Russian leadership likes to use sporting successes to improve their image. In times when many Russian athletes are excluded from international competitions, a possible world champion comes at just the right time.
But Nepomnyashchi of all people is not the right candidate for many patriots. The two-time Russian champion was completely apolitical for a long time and never took a nearly as sharp stand against the Kremlin as his famous compatriot and former world champion Garry Kasparov. However, a year ago, when Russia launched its attack on Ukraine, Nepomnyashchi wrote on social media about the “blackest of Thursdays” and “madness”.
As one of a group of 44 Russian chess players, he signed an anti-war petition. “We are against the military operations in Ukraine and call for the fastest possible ceasefire and a peaceful solution to the conflict through dialogue and diplomatic negotiations,” the open letter to President Vladimir Putin said.
The signatories described the war itself as a “catastrophe”. The authorities reacted quickly and suppressed further collection of signatures. Many of the chess players have now left the country. It is likely that Nepomnyashchi’s success was the only thing that protected him from repression.
But the 32-year-old is at best tolerated, but not loved. Until the war, a banner with his likeness hung on the walls of the Dynamo Stadium in his hometown of Bryansk, alongside those of other athletes from the region. “Our pride,” it said. In the summer, the poster was exchanged for a picture of martial artist Olga Koroleva. Apparently the pride was gone.
Many politicians in Moscow would obviously have preferred to see former World Cup challenger Sergei Karjakin, from the annexed Crimea, in Astana. After all, he wrote a letter in support of the Russian invasion right at the beginning of the war. But while Karjakin was awarded a medal in the Kremlin for this, the World Chess Federation FIDE withdrew his playing license for six months because of this statement. The former challenger of still world champion Carlsen and former Ukrainian missed the candidates tournament.
Since then, the two Russian chess grandmasters haven’t spoken to each other. Karjakin intrigues against his rival and even as a World Cup commentator doesn’t give him a good hair. This has consequences for Nepomnyashchi. There is now serious friction with the Russian Chess Federation. Association head Andrei Filatow teased during the World Cup match that “Nepo”, as he is called in the scene, reminded of a “monkey with a hand grenade” at bad moments. The official alluded to the partial dropouts during the series in which the Russian won three of the first seven games but also lost two.
It should also be clear to Filatow that such skirmishes during a World Cup duel damage concentration. Nepomnjaschchi’s team reacted sharply to the statements of the association, which “according to the words pretends hectic activity and full support, but actually puts stones in the way of our team”. Once arrived at the animal comparisons, Nepomnyashchi’s helpers called the head of the association Filatow a “chameleon” because of his ability to change from supporter to critic and back again.
Although tensions at home seem to be rising, Nepomnyashchi does not want to leave Russia. “Don’t get upset, I haven’t left the country yet and I’m not hoping that I will,” he recently quoted Vladimir Wyssotsky, a Soviet bard who was revered as a rebel by many Russians. But in order to avoid the increasing persecution of those who think differently, he must at least bring home the world title.
The numerous chess lovers in the country also watch there. “Not a game, but a thriller, I highly recommend watching it,” said Alexander, for example, after the turbulent eighth game in which Nepomnyashchi held a draw and was able to maintain his lead.
Alexander is a barman in Moscow – and also runs a chat group for amateur chess players. Every evening some of the mostly male club members meet in the bar to play a bit of chess over beer and vodka. The level of the games is low, but the pride in the compatriot is high. “We keep our fingers crossed for him,” said Andrej, one of the club’s guests. It was a patriotic duty, Alexander agreed.
