Aronian's win in round 1 was really something!

Nice TR, Yugo! Did you take any pics? (are you allowed to?)

I don't much care for autographs, but only you can answer how cool you think it'd be to get them.

Aronian has a really cool/interesting swagger in person. You can kind of see it on the broadcasts but in person you can really see his arsenal of neck stretches, sleeve rolls, repositioning himself in his chair, etc.

Karjakin was the one just killing it. He has a sort of "swooping" style of moving his pieces. I think I noticed it before but it's more pronounced in blitz as there is still that flavor to it even when he's making a bunch of moves quickly. Navara actually uses his whole hand more or less to move the pieces. Hikaru has one of his little fingers up in the air a bit like he is fluent in Italian or something.

The sitting body language, even of how their feet are positioned is kind of interesting too. Again, you can see it on broadcast too but guys like Caruana and Dominguez just look like snipers or something. Very little movement, reaction, or anything from them the entire time they're at the board or even when on break. Anand always looks like he's just hanging out, even though he had a bad day at the office. I think he'd have the exact same body language hanging out at the beach or pool as he did in between breaks.

You can take pics but you have to have a camera (not a phone, which you can't take into the playing room). I did not know this otherwise I probably would have thought to dust off some sort of camera to bring with me. So, no, I don't have my own photos. But, I mean, there were always 34234234324 people next to me taking photos and many will get published and be much better so I think those will work well if I want photos.

Damn Yugo, $10??? Chess is so fan friendly. I would have guessed it would cost $100+.

As far as board presence, Nepo seems like he brings that super focused, hyper young gamer energy. Like if he had not found chess, he might be crushing first person shooters as an e-sports pro. Knowing nothing about him, I would find him the most alarming if he sat down at my poker table. He looks like that internet kid at Commerce wrecking ppl for $200+/hr.

I don't think I would suspect Aronian of being a world beater based simply on the flashy shirts lol. Fabiano's stoicism is awesome. Hikaru seems like he is breezing through an exam that is too easy for him. And Garry... lol. As a poker player, I would never believe that someone so emotional and tilty could be GOAT but that is part of his mystique.

Nepomniachtchi is into some other games. His twitter's bio reads "Chess grandmaster, Hearthstone & DOTA fan".

If I'm not mistaken, there was an article or interview somewhere in which another player stated the opinion that Ian could have achieved more in chess if he hadn't spent so much time in online games.

Kasparov really got into form the final day!! Wish this event wouldn't end, lol

Nepo looks like he has focus issues at the board to me. He can hunker down some of the time but it just feels like he doesn't take every move as seriously as he could.

Fabi would look like a killer but he may be under 100 pounds. There is physically no way he can be very intimidating imo unless he just went completely mental frothing from the mouth.

Svidler maybe made the comment about Nepo? I know he's also made that comment about himself lol. Although he has accomplished alot.

I wish it weren't over too. Omw to the airport. So sad. Ultimate moves tomorrow will likely be pretty fun though.

LOL, I like your way with words.

Nepo has been a bit inconsistent. Having had a great 2016 (which earned him a place in the GCT), I wish he had performed better so far.