u/DerekB52

He is better at classical, especially because he's one of the very top classical players in the world.

But, he's #8 in the world at Rapid. Fabi is #25.

Prag is one of the better rapid players of his generation. The first chess tournament I followed was the 2023 world cup and he knocked out Hikaru and Fabi in rapid tiebreaks.

I think rapid is just uninteresting at higher levels. Blitz games are fun and fast, and for actual chess practice they play classical or analyze positions on their own.

Also, there might be a bit of concerns about cheaters. I think I've heard rapid has more cheaters at the high levels.

Prag underperformed is the only thing that really surprises me with these results.

It's early though, and this format means a lead today isn't worth as much as it usually is.

Honestly I think GM's are too specialized at chess and wouldn't expect them to be great at other games, other than chess like games, like Go, Shogi, Makruk, etc.

I don't think Chess skills carry over to other games automatically, but I think the process of learning chess, is a skill that does transfer over, and could help people grok other games a little quicker than people who haven't ever practiced actually learning and improving at a game.

I recommend Silmans endgame book. Its broken up into different endgame books by level. You read one chunk of it, then put it down for awhile as you play those types of endgames. Then you go back for another chunk. You can also look up specific endgames you find yourself struggling with

Til we didnt get DQ V or VI at first.

You are right about the name though. I-IV ad VII were released as 'Dragon Warrior' due to a trademark issue with a TTRPG I believe.

That one is the hardest to replay as it is still stuck on the DS. They've ported or even done modern remakes of the rest at this point.

Ive never played it, but want to because im real intrigued by the idea of a co-op jrpg

Grunfeld if you arent afraid of learning some theory. Ive been playing it as an 1800-1900 rapid lichess player. I havent studied it enough yet though, im out of theory on move 4 or 5, so my games get messy. Its fun though. According to Danya its objectively the best opening against d4, it just requires some theory.

It will probably feel familiar to a KID player

Chess IM David Pruess has full aphantasia and also talks about he plays chess, including playing 7 blindfold games at once, if that interests you at all.

I think the experience and Gukesh's mindset give him the edge in the match. After the 2024 candidates he gave an interview where he said he knew it was actually possible to win the tournament, after his round 7 loss to Alireza. He just handles the high stakes pressure really well and has a champion warrior mindset.

And its not just the experience of playing a title match that matters i think. Its the experience of prepping for one. He knows how to build a great team, and do all the work that goes into a wcc training camp.

I truly believe that Gukesh going through this training camp will be even better for him this time, because he's played a match and even better understands what to prep for. Combine that with his rock solid psyche and i think he is gonna blow people away.

Of course Sindarov still has a 40-45% chance to win in my eyes. But even if he does beat Gukesh, it will be a close, well fought match. Its not gonna be over in 10 games, like some people think.

I feel like i havent heard much positive about any of the post krakoa X books, until maybe this year.

There are jokes that DQ games legally have to be released on saturday instead of weekdays, due to the number of people who would skip work to play them.

Idk why its only been with DQ XI that the series has gained any real traction in the west, but DQ is really huge over there.

I unironically believe this should be proper gym attire.

The Wolverine Body-swap really was terrible. I read USM a couple years ago and hadn't thought about that since, but you've brought it right back.

I'm rated almost 1900 rapid on lichess. I looked at the first move in the winning line and laughed out loud for 10 seconds. I would only see that move if I do what I'm do when I'm stuck which is, "count literally every legal move in the position". And after seeing that move, I'd throw it away because I'd never see a reason to try calculating anything from that position.

You have to think of the context. Gukesh was playing overly aggressively, but he was also playing weaker players, in fairly unimportant games. Like, I remember he lost 3 games in a row to 2650's at the Grand Swiss. That's not great, but, as the world champ, he could afford to lose(other players need to protect their rating to keep getting invites), and he felt, "my opponent is 2650, I should be able to beat them" and then he'd play a bad move to keep the game alive. He knew how to take a draw, but didn't want to.

Against Sindarov, where every game matters for the biggest prize in chess, he will not make the mistake of being overly aggressive when the situation doesn't call for it.

I have been saying what Kasparov said here, since the candidates. I think Gukesh has a slight edge going into the match. He's very hard to beat when it really matters.

I've wanted Lux ever since Illmac battled JC and said, "You chase the big fish, I'm like, ya'll bring Lux to ME!"

I think Illmac 100% deserves a Lux match, and I think Lux needs it on his resume too. I want Saurus vs Lux too tbh.

I am uninterested in Mook vs Ill. I just don't think Mook is good enough.

Sometimes when I just have a few minutes I watch the Daily Spice of Pass' 3rd against Ars. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcTd71Llc1g

And Bender vs Fredo is definitely up there. Fredo's Bender impression in the 2nd and then Bender's whole 3rd are 2 of my favorite rounds in battle rap

Pass vs Ness Lee and Suge vs Mike P are 2 battles I've probably listened to 100 times. Lots of bunker battles and VOLUME battles go on that list for me too. Saurus vs QP, Saurus vs Daylyt, Verb vs Twork(I made an mp3 of this one that basically cuts out all of the reaction after Twork's hoodie down line, it'd be less easy to listen to it all the time with that kept in there), Diz vs O'fficial.

Gjonaj is also hella rewatchable. I do him vs Born, Danny, and Psycoses a good bit.

My 2 favorite lines here were by tree "thats my son and the skipping stones line", so ill give it to tree

Why is above average death rate good? Because that means the surgeon is giving higher risk people a chance?

He became a school teacher and basically left battle rap after his Eurgh battle at Blackout5 IIRC. When bender passed he did show up on RYD's "Bender Forever" stream, but that's basically his only battle rap appearance I can remember in the last decade.

And then several years ago(I really can't remember if it's been 3 or 6), an old video surfaced of him drinking with some other battlers, I believe in the UK, cracking racist jokes about some other battlers, and the culture cancelled him. As much as they could cancel someone who hadn't been around in years.

I know people want Spidey and Torch, but I really love the She-Hulk show and want more screen time for her as much as possible.

The legislative elections went terribly, Lula will be leading a very right wing government.

But, this is still better than Bolsonaro winning. It's really really good that didn't happen. This will probably end up being very important for climate change/conservation as well, because Bolsonaro was gonna destroy the Amazon.

Considering Brazil has compulsory voting, and he just won an election, a majority of people are probably happy.