Rating 1827
Puzzle Rush Score
Daily Study Today’s World Championship game was so good! I can safely say that I have never played the Catalan. On chess.com you get little achievements when you play an opening for the first time and I am yet to get the Catalan achievement. However, I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the game. The middle game complications were real! The endgame was also really instructive.
Rating 1827
Puzzle Rush Score 24
Daily Study The World Chess Championship has begun and the first game ended in a draw. I think my study over the next few weeks is going to be mainly following the event and looking at the games.
I had thought that it was likely we would see a Ruy Lopez and we did. I even had a sneaking suspicion that it could be a Marshall type position (as it has been quite popular at the moment and I have been noticing it more in my own games too). Magnus gave up a pawn for the two bishops and dynamic play. Nepomniachtchi went up a pawn, but had to deal with a tricky pawn structure and had to defend well to secure the draw.
Sam Shankland is going to annotate each of the games for chess.com news coverage. I am going to share his annotations here on my blog. I love reading through annotations of the grandmasters as it really helps you get into the same headspace as the players.
Rating 1823
Puzzle Rush Score 34
Daily Study It is Friday night, so you know what that means… I am spent! Did some chess puzzles and worked on the newsletter, but opted not to play any games. Minimal amount of study on a Friday night seems to be a reoccurring theme. I still managed to work on tactics though, so I am feeling good!
The World Chess Championship kicks off very soon!
Here is a game between Magnus Carlsen and Ian Nepomniachtchi from Norway Chess this year to get you excited for the upcoming match.