I was expecting this thread to be about a chess game between a poster named Wijk and Ray Zee.

My straight from the hip guess, would be Larry Christiansen when he blasted through the European scene and made GM without making IM first.

No idea what year/event, I'm gonna try some googling.

Results of some quick googling:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Larry_Christiansen


Do I win a prize!?

This would mean that it's been 30 years since the last time an American won a major chess event.


lmao n1

Kamsky won the knockout "world championship" a few years ago, once it was no longer called the world championship. obviously not as prestigious as Wijk aan Zee (what is? only the WC or Linares) but a major tournament by any description.

Nakamura (even though born in Japan and came to USA at circa age 2) is more of a true American than Kamsky, who emigrated as a teenager.

Needless to say that is a strong result by an American, just some perspective.

RT, you haven't responded to my question about your comments reg. Naka.

I suppose that you've retracted your opinion on this occasion? or just a polite no comment?

Either response is more than fine.

Fwiw, I watched the video of Naka analyzing his win over Nepo-- and I was surprised at how open he was in the post-mortem. Even showing humility and being objectively honest about when he had no idea what was going on (unclear positions). I, for one, definitely learned a thing or two about high-level chess and the dynamics involved.

I know him personally, so this is saying a lot to be (pleasantly) surprised. I definitely see that he's matured.

All the best to him.

All the best to you as well RT.

Does Naka speak Japanese?

it was a very interesting tournament imo, also in the lower sections. Young Italian Vocaturo is a guy to watch, i already posted one of his combinations, here is his approach when a draw with white against the runner-up is sufficient for tournament victory:

http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game...r.php?id=40252

Certainly people can mature, but I haven't seen any reason to think Nakamura has. I've never met him or played with him, but pretty much anyone who has whose judgment I trust seems to think he is a dick (or he was 6 months ago/2 years ago or whatever).

Glad to see you assume other people's judgments without making your own conclusions, and then pass them off as your own well thought out judgments on this forum.

lol wut

"lol wut" my ass.

Exciting times for US chess! Long time no eat! I certainly hope that Naka can continue to play well and contend in these super elite tourneys.

Naka is one of the few top players that I am aware of that will engage random fans/patzers in tells/chat online, through blog, twitter, face to face interaction etc. I don't think that this is typical behavior of a "dik".

The chess world cup that kamsky won was more important and prestigious imo. The winner was supposed to play anand for the WC last year, before topalov had a pissy fit and it became a challenger match. It also put kamsky into the current candidates cycle.

Reading the negative comments about Nakamura really surprise me. I met him as a near complete rando at the London Chess classic and he couldn't have been much nicer - stopped and talked for a few minutes and took a picture. Maybe he was just happy to hear a North American accent.

Discipline to the rescue!

The things some people get away with in this forum.

While others have to walk on eggshells.

I forget the article but Kasparov was talking about this tournament and he said the last time an American won such a prestigious event was Pillsbury at Hastings in the 1890's. Not trying to blow up Naka, don't really care what he's like personally, but it's cool there's a US guy in the mix. The coming years should be pretty exciting at the super elite level with the current all-stars and 'new' guys like Giri and Nepo coming up.

So with this win, will Naka get an invite to Linares this year? That should be the next major chess tourney of the year, if I'm not mistaken, and an American hasn't even participated in it for a long long time.

It looks less than 50% that there will be a Linares.

Its horrible to disrespect people. Why is ICC some magical place where disrespecting people is ok? What is this idea of people not liking it personally, as if not liking being disrespected is like not liking a particular flavor of ice cream?

Case in point, I disrespected you and my post got deleted by the moderator, because its unacceptable behavior.

Please send all disrespects to me personally via PM.

I define my status by the amount of hate I generate.

My point was that we shouldn't judge Naka because he trash-talked on ICC 3-4 years ago.

Ok, I understand your point, but you said much more than that.


What you said is its ok to punk people and disrespect them on ICC.

Also, judging someone on twoplustwo for something they did 3-4 years ago isn't physically harming someone. So according to your logic its acceptable behavior.

C- troll attempt.

better luck next time.

I'm done here.

lol at the idea that anyone thinks Nakamura is a dick just because he "trash talked a few people on ICC a few years ago"

LOL, i'm done guys. I'm not gonna keep arguing with this guy.

It was so hilariously funny in Dos Hermanas last year or the year before when Naka, slightly behind on a time in an even position, offered a draw, which his opponent refused.

He mumbled some curse in the chat box, then proceeded to pwn the guy, who played it all the way to the end. 1 move from mate Naka offered the guy a draw and then checkmated him before he had a chance to accept. This became some kind of signature finishing move, like climbing to the top rope to dive on your opponent and pin him, bc he repeated it a couple of times in subsequent matches.

He's like the guy in the Karate Kid movies that you root against. But it's kind of endearing like that.

Waiting for All-inMclovin to state how this isn't a crime or physically harming anyone, so its ok.