As his battle on the board towards World No 1 Magnus Carlsen heats up in Spherical 2 of Norway Chess, Hikaru Nakamura walks away from the taking part in corridor to a personal space behind the stage. However as an alternative of settling down within the gamers’ lounge, Nakamura’s vacation spot is the “confessional sales space”, a novelty that the Norway Chess organisers have had for the reason that 2015 version.
The confessional sales space is an space the place gamers get to ship a one-way monologue to the digicam, which is being streamed dwell to the world. Gamers flip up voluntarily. Nobody asks them something or prods them, for the reason that recreation remains to be on so there could be no contact with the gamers.
“Since no one else appears to be hardly ever utilizing the confessional room thus far I figured I would as properly do it,” Nakamura, who has spoken many occasions about how he thinks of himself as a streamer who performs chess, says on Tuesday. “Truthfully, that is mainly an extension of streaming. Besides once I discuss to you, the followers, I can’t really see what you’re writing. So I look a bit like a lunatic, as a result of there’s a streamer meme which matches ‘who’s he speaking to?’ That’s most likely what it looks as if to some individuals.”
Once you win, you have a good time! That is the way it goes 🥳🥰 #NorwayChess pic.twitter.com/tVEYNjEvgm
— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) May 28, 2024
Nakamura had used the confessional sales space extensively within the 2023 version of the Norway Chess occasion, the place he had gone on to win. After Spherical 1 on Monday, he had declared: “Final 12 months, individuals appeared to get pleasure from me coming to the confessional sales space and just about losing my time speaking about chess or no matter moderately than taking part in the sport… So, we’re again as soon as once more.”
The confessional sales space is nearly just like the stump mic in cricket, as a result of gamers know precisely what they’re doing and the best way the feedback shall be acquired. Like when Nakamura informed the world throughout spherical 1 that five-time world champion Magnus Carlsen had been gorging down a reasonably large meal proper at first of his recreation towards present world champion Ding Liren in spherical 1.
Whereas the primary day of Norway Chess didn’t see too many gamers besides Nakamura getting into the confessional sales space, gamers begin to heat as much as the idea in spherical 2. The operating joke on the taking part in corridor is that if gamers don’t cease on the confessional sales space they might not get invited again subsequent 12 months. This will get amusing out of each Vaishali and world champion Ju Wenjun, who say they’ll think about visiting it within the upcoming rounds.
Standings boards after Spherical 2 ♟️ #NorwayChess https://t.co/owgvzMdOPM pic.twitter.com/PazmLm7JjB
— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) May 28, 2024
Praggnanandhaa and Carlsen make fast pit stops into the sales space, and ship critical ideas about what they consider their place on the board.
“I’m within the confessional sales space for the primary time! The video games are fairly attention-grabbing thus far! In my recreation, I’ve given up a pawn on d5, and I feel I ought to get sufficient compensation after!” Praggnanandha says.
Carlsen, in the meantime, admits that he was caught off guard by Nakamura’s queen shuffling to f6 on the ninth transfer.
“What’s occurred in the previous couple of strikes is greater than a bit embarrassing… I used to be so caught out by his transfer 9.Qf6. perhaps I shouldn’t have been, perhaps I performed the incorrect transfer order within the opening, I don’t know. Earlier than he took on d4, that transfer hadn’t even occurred to me. I assume I’ll simply attempt to survive for now!” Carlsen shrugs.
Vaishali vaults to the highest of standings
After 12 video games of classical chess have been performed over two rounds on the 2024 Norway Chess, there was just one decisive outcome thus far: when 22-year-old Vaishali defeated Humpy Koneru in a battle of the Indians on Tuesday. Due to her victory over the veteran Humpy, Vaishali additionally leapt to the India No 2 rank within the ladies’s part within the dwell scores (with a score of 2495.8).
The one decisive classical recreation thus far: Vaishali R. vs Koneru Humpy. With this spectacular win, Vaishali climbs to India #2 within the ladies’s part, boasting a LIVE score of 2495.8!
📷 @photochess / @chesscom / #NorwayChess pic.twitter.com/8vVS7B8xy5
— Norway Chess (@NorwayChess) May 28, 2024
The opposite 11 video games have been determined in Armageddon, the place the participant with the white items must win as they’ve 10 minutes on the clock whereas the participant with black items begins with seven minutes on the clock however simply wants a draw to get the bonus half level.
Vaishali’s brother Praggnanandha, in the meantime, endured a heartbreak towards world champion Ding Liren within the Armageddon. Within the open part, Carlsen sits atop the standings after defeating Nakamura and Ding through Armageddon within the first two rounds.