Greg Mustreader retweeted
Two major chess events. One calendar clash.
We’ve published an open letter calling for better coordination between the 2026 Grand Chess Tour and the Esports World Cup — so qualified players can compete in both.
Greg Mustreader retweeted
From an amazing Gelfand interview with @mustreader about Caruana:
After working on chess all day with a young Fabi, Gelfand went to read a bedtime book to his kid.
Suddenly, a knock on the door...
It was Fabi: "Boris, I found an improvement on our analysis!"
Incredible work ethic. 💪
Greg Mustreader retweeted
I recently listened to @mustreader podcast with @PHChess . They spent a lot of time discussing Freestyle chess (Chess960) and its potential direction, as well as the future of long-time control chess.
Many chess fans point to events like the Grand Swiss and the World Cup and say, “Classical chess is alive.” And yes, those events are successful. But I think PH made a fair point: when you have so many games each round, you will always find a few fascinating ones. At the same time, many boring games get ignored, and we end up focusing only on the highlights. That can easily turn into a form of confirmation bias.
That said, I don’t want to make this post about classical chess. I want to talk about Freestyle. One thing I don’t understand is this: why don’t we have long-time control of Freestyle events?
Is it because they didn’t generate enough interest when they were tried in a round-robin format?
When the Grenke Freestyle Open was happening, I followed it closely, and it felt fresh. Maybe Carlsen’s 9/9 run created a lot of the excitement, but in general, many people seemed engaged. I honestly thought this could become a new trend, yet since then, I haven’t seen any major classical time-control Freestyle events.
Chess has always evolved. That’s one of the reasons it has lasted so long. Because of that, I think it’s healthy to keep an open mind about formats that change the game itself. For me, Freestyle looks like a serious option.
Would you watch a long-time control Freestyle event?
Greg Mustreader retweeted
Replying to @mustreader @NodirbekGM
Greg Mustreader retweeted
On a normal day around 6 hours but if I have a game that day for sure its less becayse playing itself takes a few hours and I need energy for that
Replying to @DGukesh
On average, how many hours does your chess training go on for? And does this change depending on whether you have a game that day?
#AMAwithGukesh
Greg Mustreader retweeted
Congrats Andrey!
How will you celebrate? 🥳
Esipenko: I will get Drunk probably! 😂
Cheers Andrey on making it to the Candidates! 🙌🏻
#FIDEWorldCup
Greg Mustreader retweeted
"Man is a frivolous, a specious creature, and like a chess player cares more for the process of attaining his goal than for the goal itself".
Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Greg Mustreader retweeted
Another experiment I ran in 2020 was to test if removing blacks right to castle, means he is lost.
My conclusion was it is borderline, and that 1 e4 e5 2 Nf3 Nc6 3 Bb5 a6 4 Ba4 d6 5 c3 g5!? seems blacks best chance.
Greg Mustreader retweeted
Starting this year, the winner of the annual Speed Chess Championship will be awarded the Naroditsky Cup.
The cup will have the winners of previous years engraved on it and become the permanent trophy of the SCC.
Greg Mustreader retweeted
Soon a chasm will open up between the top 10-20 (who mainly play against each other in elite events) and everyone else (who must play opens to make a living). There are just as many 2720+ as 10 years ago, but there are 20 fewer players between 2670 and 2720. The gap is widening.
Greg Mustreader retweeted
Had a fighting game with the current world champion as Black two years back in Tepe Sigeman, which ended as a draw.
Looking forward to another interesting game today with reversed colors!
Greg Mustreader retweeted
Dear @VBkramnik
Forgive me for addressing you publicly, but I feel that the chess world and the new generation need to know about who you are and I want you to remember it as well.
Vlad, you have always been an inspiration to me and to the majority of people who know you, as just like you, dedicated their lives to chess.
The first time I ever got to spend a longer time with you was in Paris, in 2005. I visited you for a short time to train with you, but soon I understood that a person with such a fanatical approach is so far from my personality that I can’t even learn to work like that and be so deeply dedicated to chess. During that time you were recovering from some health issues and the world was bullying you for not being a dominating “proper champion”, despite you winning 2 world championship matches against none other than Kasparov and Leko (who you beat in the last game!). Then came your match with Topalov in 2006 where you showed so much character after a scandalous “toiletgate” that to me was another act of bullying against you. Honestly around that time, after you won I felt like this heroism that you displayed in those years kind of nullified the unfair circumstances that led you to the match against Kasparov in 2000. It was a sign that you are here to change the game. Then your brilliant career continued, and your opening innovations and incredible spirit, in my opinion, make you a top 10 player in the history of chess (in my view 6th or 7th).
So in my eyes, you will always be someone who was bullied and fairly fought for justice.
I will never forget how many times you gave me your helping hand and advised me. How many times have you pushed me towards chess when I was in a state of despair? If I exclude my first coaches, You, together with Borya Gelfand and Gabi Sargissian are my chess parents and I think that most of my Chess DNI comes from you.
My dear friend, I want to share something I feel that I haven't yet shared with you.
The last few years after you retired I to my surprise saw a different Vlad that I never knew.
Vlad that may be because the new chess world does not appreciate you enough ( sports fans and organizations, unfortunately, have a very short memory). A person who faced so much public pressure has turned against the chess world. Vlad, brother, ask all of your chess friends, nobody thinks that what you are doing is good and pure. You are fighting your own demons, and I can understand how much it drains you both mentally and physically.
A long time ago I read somewhere that most of the murders are committed because of disrespect. Vlad, guys like Danya, and David are not the ones that you should be having a vendetta against. I love them for what they are, perhaps a bit introverted but lacking any side of evil in them.
I know you as the biggest revolutionary when it comes to chess. You challenged every single dogma and proved that you understand the core of chess like nobody before or after you. I ask you, as a friend who has always been open and honest to you, please, challenge your convictions. You think you are saving chess from cheaters, but most of us see you as the guy with the hammer who thinks everything is a nail.
We are a family, we can’t go on suing or threatening each other for some weird online analysis that in most cases doesn’t make sense. We all have many friends in the world of mathematics, if you want, let's unite everyone and make a proper unbiased analysis, but let us start from a fresh page.
Your friend, your fan, and your little brother Lev
Greg Mustreader retweeted
I find Kramnik's latest address to David Navara quite outrageous.
No, more than that. Inhuman.
You might be in your right legally, or maybe you are not.
But one has to go over the edge to attack like that a person who clearly exposed his major mental struggles.
I really think it gets too far. No matter who is right legally, and whose wording was more (im)precise. There was nothing in this particular dispute, that is worthy of such an assault on a fragile person, let alone colleague. Let us show some support for David. He needs it.
Greg Mustreader retweeted

derek guy@dieworkwear28 Dec 2024
United States
United StatesConnected via WebAccount-level information, not a live location or per-post device.
the FIDE should have a dress code, but it's that you have to dress up as a chess piece
Greg Mustreader retweeted
This image is from the 2700chess.com site. Yes, it's what you believe. @MagnusCarlsen and I are playing a private classical match. If the chess community or some generous billionaire can come up with $1M US we will split the funds and release the PGNs. Any takers?
































