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It was a very exciting WCC, but I feel like something should be done about the post-match press conferences. Many of the questions asked in the most prestigious

It was a very exciting WCC, but I feel like something should be done about the post-match press conferences. Many of the questions asked in the most prestigious chess tournament are not even remotely related to the games that were played, and sometimes plainly disrespectful towards the players. The first question right after a new World Champion has been crowned was about the weather.

somenameforme 3y ago
It was also extremely odd to me that there was no Chinese press there. Ding's English is not excellent, and to not be able to catch his first moments in his native tongue seems to have been a major failing of the Chinese press.
- ginnungagap 3y ago
  Ding was offered a translator but insisted on speaking English himself apparently! "He said he didn’t need a translator since, “I feel very comfortable now,” " from https://chess24.com/en/read/news/ding-liren-passes-acid-test-in-world-championship-game-3 https://chess24.com/en/read/news/ding-liren-passes-acid-test...
  - htag 3y ago
    I've seen international competitions where the winner is interviewed by a reporter from their home country in their native language. It can often be a nice touch, and is very different from using a translator to speak to English speaking reports.
- kelipso 3y ago
  Chess isn't really big in China. Maybe will get more popular with Ding now but I'm not holding my breath.
  - mark_l_watson 3y ago
    Chess is huge in China. The women’s world champion and also number two are both Chinese. You are right that Chess is not as popular as Go in China.
    - kelipso 3y ago
      Chess is not nearly as popular as Chinese chess (xiangqi) either.
    - hgsgm 3y ago
      Norway is a small country (1/300th the population of China) with Magnus Carlson. Chess could be of interest to a small fraction of China and still produce champions.
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WastingMyTime89 3y ago
Hard to take the WCC seriously when everyone know Carlsen would have won and just find the whole thing too boring to take part.
- dkqmduems 3y ago
  I suspect Magnus would disagree.
- kelipso 3y ago
  Or he was scared of losing after spending months preparing. He'll say whatever makes him look good probably but who knows.
  - NhanH 3y ago
    He first voiced his discontent with the format around 13-15 years ago (he was #1 player by elo rating, but not yet the world champion), even skipping a cycle or two as protest. Afterward, he participated anyway and hold the title in fairly dominating fashion 10 years straight. Maybe we should take his words at face value and that he really is fed up with the thing.
    - jpgvm 3y ago
      Considering how much happier he seems since he decided to forgo defending the title yeah, good chance he just doesn't want it or care about it anymore. IMO good for him. He won it all and now he is doing new things with his life.
    - dlp211 3y ago
      To further solidify this, Magnus crushed Ian in the last WCC 7.5 to 3.5. I think most folks agree that Magnus is the best player in the world, but the WCC was far better with him not in it.
      - riwsky 3y ago
        Magnus OP, ruins meta. needs nerf in next patch devs PLZ

somenameforme 3y ago

It was also extremely odd to me that there was no Chinese press there. Ding's English is not excellent, and to not be able to catch his first moments in his native tongue seems to have been a major failing of the Chinese press.

ginnungagap 3y ago
Ding was offered a translator but insisted on speaking English himself apparently! "He said he didn’t need a translator since, “I feel very comfortable now,” " from https://chess24.com/en/read/news/ding-liren-passes-acid-test-in-world-championship-game-3 https://chess24.com/en/read/news/ding-liren-passes-acid-test...
- htag 3y ago
  I've seen international competitions where the winner is interviewed by a reporter from their home country in their native language. It can often be a nice touch, and is very different from using a translator to speak to English speaking reports.
kelipso 3y ago
Chess isn't really big in China. Maybe will get more popular with Ding now but I'm not holding my breath.
- mark_l_watson 3y ago
  Chess is huge in China. The women’s world champion and also number two are both Chinese. You are right that Chess is not as popular as Go in China.
  - kelipso 3y ago
    Chess is not nearly as popular as Chinese chess (xiangqi) either.
  - hgsgm 3y ago
    Norway is a small country (1/300th the population of China) with Magnus Carlson. Chess could be of interest to a small fraction of China and still produce champions.

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WastingMyTime89 3y ago

Hard to take the WCC seriously when everyone know Carlsen would have won and just find the whole thing too boring to take part.

dkqmduems 3y ago
I suspect Magnus would disagree.
kelipso 3y ago
Or he was scared of losing after spending months preparing. He'll say whatever makes him look good probably but who knows.
- NhanH 3y ago
  He first voiced his discontent with the format around 13-15 years ago (he was #1 player by elo rating, but not yet the world champion), even skipping a cycle or two as protest. Afterward, he participated anyway and hold the title in fairly dominating fashion 10 years straight. Maybe we should take his words at face value and that he really is fed up with the thing.
  - jpgvm 3y ago
    Considering how much happier he seems since he decided to forgo defending the title yeah, good chance he just doesn't want it or care about it anymore. IMO good for him. He won it all and now he is doing new things with his life.
  - dlp211 3y ago
    To further solidify this, Magnus crushed Ian in the last WCC 7.5 to 3.5. I think most folks agree that Magnus is the best player in the world, but the WCC was far better with him not in it.
    - riwsky 3y ago
      Magnus OP, ruins meta. needs nerf in next patch devs PLZ