In a candid interview with Ian Nepomniachtchi after his participation in two World Chess Championship matches, the Russian grandmaster spoke about the shifting dynamics among players in the circuit. According to him, the past eighteen months have seen some strain in relations with Ukrainian chess players, a change that stands out amid the broader network of grandmasters he interacts with.
Beyond these tensions, Nepomniachtchi stated that his interactions with foreign grandmasters as a whole have largely remained stable. He emphasized that the changes he noted were specific to Ukrainian peers, while his communication with those he already spoke to before continued without disruption.
“Honestly, I wouldn’t say anything has changed dramatically. It’s clear that relations with Ukrainian chess players have deteriorated in general. But I continue to communicate with people I spoke to before. And with whom there was no relationship, there was no other reason to start them,” Nepomniachtchi explained.
On August 15, the Russian grandmaster was defeated by Indian challenger Vidit Gujrati in the 1/8 final of the World Cup held in Baku, ending his run in the tournament. The result marked a notable moment in the competition and added a new chapter to the ongoing conversations about form and morale among top players on the international stage.
Earlier, Nepomniachtchi had addressed why he chose to compete under a neutral flag, a decision he clarified in his remarks during the season. That explanation, while bringing additional context to his participation, did not alter the core observations about interpersonal dynamics within the chess community, which remain a topic of discussion for spectators and fellow players alike.