Kicked off 2025 by losing from 3 (!) winning positions (and a +1) to finish just 3.5/9 for another -2 FIDE. Terrible result, but being "close" to a norm if you squint really, really hard is at least sort of a step back in the right direction. Time to study converting, I guess 🙃

The rest of this whole drama aside, the line of reasoning that "FIDE has absolute authority over all variations of chess. We know this, after all, because it says so in the FIDE handbook" is objectively the funniest thing of all time

who knew it was so hard to find someone to play ONE GAME of the caro kann? youtube.com/watch?v=-5JL9q…

Decided I should actually analyze my games for 2025 (character growth), but it's too boring to do that without a secondary purpose, so I settled on the obvious solution. Hopefully it's interesting, but will be doing these for the year regardless🙂 youtu.be/esnWyPz-J28

what seems to be missed in this whole #FreestyleChess saga is the true scandal here, which is of course that FIDE has brazenly chosen to call their event a "World Championship" without wiring $420,000 directly to my personal bank account

They call it halftime because half the teams are playing the game

"turn the TV off, turn the TV off" can't say Kendrick didn't warn us

Each year, thousands descend upon the desolate wasteland we affectionately call "New Jersey" in pursuit of the highest title known to the chess world. I refer, of course, to the USATE Team Name contest. This year, we proudly introduce: "If the Jeans don't fit, Magnus must quit"👖

First time using Chessable and I cannot express how quickly I had to open up the database to make sure this wasn't referring to me (fortunately it was not)

the years come and go but it's good to know there are still some constants in life

Another year, another team name victory (2023, Hans Shoulders Niemann Toes) 🙂 Two-time champions coming through 🚶🚶🚶🚶

FIDE frantically drafting a waiver that anyone who auctions off their clothing is disqualified from the candidates cycle

Photos taken moments before disaster

Every time I think it can't possibly get weirder than the last time... here we go again

Promise not to post every Youtube video here, but hoping this series does well as it's super fun (though inordinately time consuming) to make. Introducing the Bizarre History of Chess, starting with the Bizarre History of the Argentinian Chess Tragedy 🙂 youtu.be/U0gznxSz0BA

mfers really just came out and said Anish Giri can't aim

TIL of the shortest chess book review of all time, clocking in at a respectable 0 words. Left: the book cover. Right: the review. (source: chesshistory.com/winter/winter0…)

Arrived in Alicante, Spain for the first real step in attempting to remember how to play this game 🙂 Round 1 in about 5 hours, hopefully I don't embarrass myself too early. Can't remember the last time I was 81st seed in a tournament...

happy to help

Took a trip to the year 3000😄