Ian Nepomniachtchi is a Russian grandmaster who won the Candidates 2022 for the second time. He is considered one of the best chess players in the world. He challenged Magnus Carlsen for the World Championship in Dubai in 2022. He lost the title but gave Magnus a tough fight till round six of the championship. Ian is considered one of the sharpest chess players we have in the world. His speed is a level above the rest. Only a few can manage that. He is also part of the same generational talent of grandmasters, including Caruana, Nakamura, Carlsen, Ding, Giri, and many others. Their generation has taken chess as a sport to another level. Ian is probably right at the top of the list.
Winning the Candidates once is a big deal, but winning it consecutively is something special. Ian has made that possible. The recently ended Candidates saw Ian winning it quite comfortably. He was the only one who remained unbeaten in the tournament. However, things are going to go tough from here.
Furthermore, his World Championship match against Carlsen will be next week if only Magnus decides to participate. Besides the world championship, Ian has been a part of many chess champions’ tour tournaments. He has been excellent in whatever tournament he has played, and I hope it continues to remain so.
Also Read: Magnus Carlsen The Champion: Career, Earnings, And Net Worth
Ian Nepomniachtchi: Life And Career
He started playing chess at just four when he was born on 14 July 1991 in Bryansk, Russia. Ian Nepotmniachtchi and his uncle started this trend in his hometown. His uncle introduced him to the world of chess, and since then, he has never looked back. He has been involved with Russia in winning many international trophies for the country. Individually, he has been Russia’s best player for a long time and the back-to-back challenger for the World Championship title against Magnus Carlsen.
The first time, Nepomniachtchi was the runner-up in the FIDE Grand Prix and qualified for the Candidates. In the Candidates, he showed tremendous performances and won the tournament with a round to spare. He became a candidate for the first time to challenge Magnus Carlsen. After losing the World Championships to Magnus Carlsen in a horrific fashion, Ian was eligible to be in the Candidates again. The recently held Candidates 2022 saw some fantastic performances from Ian. He was the only one who remained undefeated in the tournament and again won it with a round to spare. Now it is up to Magnus to decide whether to defend his title or not. Carlsen, in the past, has shown disinterest in the World Championships as he wants a new goal for himself. Whatever the case, Ian must be well prepared at all costs. He would like that revenge to be very sweet.
Earnings And Net Worth
Ian is easily one of the wealthiest chess players. According to multiple sources like Forbes, Wikipedia, and others, Ian’s net worth is close to $1.5 million.
