8 ms·

For all of those getting excited about Hikaru in the candidates, keep in mind the 3 strongest players in the world who aren't Magnus didn't play in the FIDE Gra

by birken 4y ago

For all of those getting excited about Hikaru in the candidates, keep in mind the 3 strongest players in the world who aren't Magnus didn't play in the FIDE Grand Prix for various reasons: Alireza Firouzja (already qualified), Ding Liren (weird travel restrictions) and Fabi (already qualified). At least two of them and likely all 3 are going to be in the candidates, so this is just going to be an entirely different level of competition. The betting odds put Hikaru at <10% chance to win, which seems about right to me. Hikaru was also in trouble at various times in the FIDE Grand Prix but escaped some very bad positions with draws, which against higher level competition he might not be so lucky. I'm not necessarily a Hikaru fan, but I enjoyed his post-game recaps after the grand prix matches, because that type of analysis isn't something any other top level players are going to do for fear of revealing some weaknesses that opponents can seize upon (and believe me... Hikaru's opponent's teams will be scouting those videos). However, not caring can only get you so far as the level of competition increases.

oldstrangers 4y ago
It's so weird to see so many people online going out of their way to explain why Hikaru won't do well. The eagerness to discredit him is just perplexing. He's earned the recognition already, he's a former #2 in the world and one of only a handful of players to ever have an ELO over 2800. Just enjoy his resurgence and see where it takes him.
- alisonkisk 4y ago
- sillysaurusx 4y ago
  I think Hikaru wouldn't want people coming to his defense like this. He'd be the first to acknowledge how strong Ding is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbAkk150pqs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbAkk150pqs It's not discrediting Hikaru to say that there are strong players that can't participate.
  - oldstrangers 4y ago
    I'm not coming to his defense. I'm just making a point that the arguments against him 1) aren't that great and 2) usually come from a place of animosity towards Hikaru (he's abrasive, I get it).
- mellosouls 4y ago
  Hikaru himself has acknowledged it is very unlikely he can be champion.
  - deleted 4y ago
    [deleted]
- joshuamorton 4y ago
  I don't think anything about that comment was discrediting (and I generally enjoy Hikaru's content!). He was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix, but he's going to be tied for lowest rating in the candidates. That's an exceedingly good argument that he's unlikely to do particularly well (and it's likely his betting market is somewhat inflated by his fan base, his real odds are probably lower!)
  - oldstrangers 4y ago
    "Hikaru was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix..." after winning the first Grand Prix in Berlin ... And assuring himself a place in the candidates tournament before the final Grand Prix had even finished? I point out that its odd the number of people going out of their way to discredit Hikaru, so a bunch more people follow up by doubling down on discrediting Hikaru. Anyways, if you're familiar with what makes Hikaru great, you understand why Hikaru has as good a chance as anyone.
    - joshuamorton 4y ago
      > Hikaru was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix... This is factually true. He was like 6/16 in elo in the first and 7/16 in the third leg. He'll be 8/8 in the candidates. Literally nothing I've said discredits him. His performance was unexpectedly strong, that's giving extra credit for an impressive performance. But I'm also realistic. > Anyways, if you're familiar with what makes Hikaru great, you understand why Hikaru has as good a chance as anyone. Lol no, and Hikaru would be the first to tell you he has at most an outside chance. You claim you're not defending Hikaru, but you really, really are. In fact, you're reading things into comments that weren't actually said, and assuming these things that weren't actually said are criticisms of Hikaru and it's worth asking yourself why you're doing that.
      - tibbar 4y ago
        Actually Hikaru would be (as of today) 6/8 among the Candidates in classical ELO, as the world #11 in live ratings. If anything, Hikaru is probably underrated; he gained around 20 ELO points in the two Grand Prix legs. Like the OP, I'll disclaim being a Hikaru apologist; but he is world #1 in blitz and world #2 (briefly #1 this year) in rapid rating, which is why, for example, http://universalrating.com/ratings.php http://universalrating.com/ratings.php has him as world #2 in general playing strength. If a game gets into time trouble in the Candidates, he's the favorite against any of the competition. It seems his strategy is just to survive the openings and then try to outplay or flag people later on, which is a surprisingly viable strategy.
- debacle 4y ago
  And he's fun. People like him (and Magnus, and the Botez sisters) because they are fun. On Twitch, the most successful players almost never have the most viewership.
  - pkulak 4y ago
    Gotham is my favorite, and he's "not even a GM". But once you're 1000+ points higher than me, it just doesn't matter. All these guys and gals are so indescribably better than me at chess, that I'm choosing based on communication and other intangibles.
    - oldstrangers 4y ago
      Gotham is hilarious.
      - jointpdf 4y ago
        Levy is also a very talented (and entertaining) teacher, in my opinion.
        pkulak 4y ago
        Danger levels!
    - cellis 4y ago
      I thought he recently became a GM?
      - ddurkin 4y ago
        That was an April fools joke he played
      - deleted 4y ago
        [deleted]
  - twojacobtwo 4y ago
- Barrin92 4y ago
  he's a very volatile player, both in temperament as well as in playstyle. When he plays well, he plays really well but his up and downs are extreme. And if there's one tendency, in particular in modern chess, it's that rock solid consistency is a requirement for pretty much any world champion. I see Hikaru similar to Ivanchuk (who also peaked at nr. 2 in the world). Brilliant player but rarely the favorite for long chess competitions.
  - geerlingguy 4y ago
    He's like the BTC of Chess players?
- javert 4y ago
  I feel like this is a rude thing to say. The psychoanalysis just isn't necessary or appropriate.
deleted 4y ago
[deleted]
russian_bots 4y ago
He also won 3 times on demand, including against Levon Aronian. > but escaped some very bad positions with draws, which against higher level competition he might not be so lucky. Hikaru is well-known for being able to defend insanely well, and highly capable of escaping with draws against any level of player. This is such a strangely critically toned comment.
- ChrisLomont 4y ago
  >He also won 3 times on demand How many times has he lost the big game on demand? He's good, but he plays around his rating. The Candidates will be a whole different level than he's played in for years.
sithlord 4y ago
>I'm not necessarily a Hikaru fan, but I enjoyed his post-game recaps after the grand prix matches, because that type of analysis isn't something any other top level players are going to do for fear of revealing some weaknesses that opponents can seize upon (and believe me... Hikaru's opponent's teams will be scouting those videos). However, not caring can only get you so far as the level of competition increases. Almost all of these players are on equal footing if they are given unlimited time do digest their matches after the fact. Hikarus opponents are likely gaining nothing watching him analyze his matches, as they all do it equally well. The top GMs are made by those that can make these decisions during a match, and who can compute these faster. Given enough time, every match would be a draw

by birken 4y ago

oldstrangers 4y ago

It's so weird to see so many people online going out of their way to explain why Hikaru won't do well. The eagerness to discredit him is just perplexing. He's earned the recognition already, he's a former #2 in the world and one of only a handful of players to ever have an ELO over 2800. Just enjoy his resurgence and see where it takes him.

alisonkisk 4y ago
sillysaurusx 4y ago
I think Hikaru wouldn't want people coming to his defense like this. He'd be the first to acknowledge how strong Ding is. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbAkk150pqs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbAkk150pqs It's not discrediting Hikaru to say that there are strong players that can't participate.
- oldstrangers 4y ago
  I'm not coming to his defense. I'm just making a point that the arguments against him 1) aren't that great and 2) usually come from a place of animosity towards Hikaru (he's abrasive, I get it).
mellosouls 4y ago
Hikaru himself has acknowledged it is very unlikely he can be champion.
- deleted 4y ago
  [deleted]
joshuamorton 4y ago
I don't think anything about that comment was discrediting (and I generally enjoy Hikaru's content!). He was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix, but he's going to be tied for lowest rating in the candidates. That's an exceedingly good argument that he's unlikely to do particularly well (and it's likely his betting market is somewhat inflated by his fan base, his real odds are probably lower!)
- oldstrangers 4y ago
  "Hikaru was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix..." after winning the first Grand Prix in Berlin ... And assuring himself a place in the candidates tournament before the final Grand Prix had even finished? I point out that its odd the number of people going out of their way to discredit Hikaru, so a bunch more people follow up by doubling down on discrediting Hikaru. Anyways, if you're familiar with what makes Hikaru great, you understand why Hikaru has as good a chance as anyone.
  - joshuamorton 4y ago
    > Hikaru was solidly middle of the pack in the Grand Prix... This is factually true. He was like 6/16 in elo in the first and 7/16 in the third leg. He'll be 8/8 in the candidates. Literally nothing I've said discredits him. His performance was unexpectedly strong, that's giving extra credit for an impressive performance. But I'm also realistic. > Anyways, if you're familiar with what makes Hikaru great, you understand why Hikaru has as good a chance as anyone. Lol no, and Hikaru would be the first to tell you he has at most an outside chance. You claim you're not defending Hikaru, but you really, really are. In fact, you're reading things into comments that weren't actually said, and assuming these things that weren't actually said are criticisms of Hikaru and it's worth asking yourself why you're doing that.
    - tibbar 4y ago
      Actually Hikaru would be (as of today) 6/8 among the Candidates in classical ELO, as the world #11 in live ratings. If anything, Hikaru is probably underrated; he gained around 20 ELO points in the two Grand Prix legs. Like the OP, I'll disclaim being a Hikaru apologist; but he is world #1 in blitz and world #2 (briefly #1 this year) in rapid rating, which is why, for example, http://universalrating.com/ratings.php http://universalrating.com/ratings.php has him as world #2 in general playing strength. If a game gets into time trouble in the Candidates, he's the favorite against any of the competition. It seems his strategy is just to survive the openings and then try to outplay or flag people later on, which is a surprisingly viable strategy.
debacle 4y ago
And he's fun. People like him (and Magnus, and the Botez sisters) because they are fun. On Twitch, the most successful players almost never have the most viewership.
- pkulak 4y ago
  Gotham is my favorite, and he's "not even a GM". But once you're 1000+ points higher than me, it just doesn't matter. All these guys and gals are so indescribably better than me at chess, that I'm choosing based on communication and other intangibles.
  - oldstrangers 4y ago
    Gotham is hilarious.
    - jointpdf 4y ago
      Levy is also a very talented (and entertaining) teacher, in my opinion.
      - pkulak 4y ago
        Danger levels!
  - cellis 4y ago
    I thought he recently became a GM?
    - ddurkin 4y ago
      That was an April fools joke he played
    - deleted 4y ago
      [deleted]
- twojacobtwo 4y ago
Barrin92 4y ago
he's a very volatile player, both in temperament as well as in playstyle. When he plays well, he plays really well but his up and downs are extreme. And if there's one tendency, in particular in modern chess, it's that rock solid consistency is a requirement for pretty much any world champion. I see Hikaru similar to Ivanchuk (who also peaked at nr. 2 in the world). Brilliant player but rarely the favorite for long chess competitions.
- geerlingguy 4y ago
  He's like the BTC of Chess players?
javert 4y ago
I feel like this is a rude thing to say. The psychoanalysis just isn't necessary or appropriate.

deleted 4y ago

[deleted]

russian_bots 4y ago

He also won 3 times on demand, including against Levon Aronian. > but escaped some very bad positions with draws, which against higher level competition he might not be so lucky. Hikaru is well-known for being able to defend insanely well, and highly capable of escaping with draws against any level of player. This is such a strangely critically toned comment.

ChrisLomont 4y ago
>He also won 3 times on demand How many times has he lost the big game on demand? He's good, but he plays around his rating. The Candidates will be a whole different level than he's played in for years.

sithlord 4y ago

>I'm not necessarily a Hikaru fan, but I enjoyed his post-game recaps after the grand prix matches, because that type of analysis isn't something any other top level players are going to do for fear of revealing some weaknesses that opponents can seize upon (and believe me... Hikaru's opponent's teams will be scouting those videos). However, not caring can only get you so far as the level of competition increases. Almost all of these players are on equal footing if they are given unlimited time do digest their matches after the fact. Hikarus opponents are likely gaining nothing watching him analyze his matches, as they all do it equally well. The top GMs are made by those that can make these decisions during a match, and who can compute these faster. Given enough time, every match would be a draw