Recently I discovered the excellent lichess.org, the only game I allow on my phone, as my eSteemed colleague @quillfire would say, chess is the game of generals!.
It had been a while since I'd played chess online, I used to play on the Free Internet Chess Server (F.I.C.S) but for some reason I just let that drift and have long since forgotten my login or even my username.
Not long after downloading the chess app I decided to check out some chess videos on youtube as I was feeling a bit rusty.
Before long I ran across the genius of Magnus Carlsen the world's best player. I was especially interested because I saw that he plays on the lichess app just like me, so I started to check him out, and all I can say is, oh boy!
One Minute Mayhem
I'd tried out the one minute games, not really taking them seriously, I like to ponder my moves and one minute is barely enough time to think about one iteration of a single move. However I thought it would be good for trying out different openings and trying to get quicker at the beginning of the game.
Then I discovered Carlsen playing other grand masters on lichess and completely anihilating them in one minute (bullet) games, it is truly awe inspiring to watch him play at this speed. I just can't comprehend how any of them can think this fast, however Carlsen is a real cut above.
In the tournament I link below he finishes 56 points ahead of second place who is another chess grand master in his own right.
To put that in perspective, if you count back another 56 points from 2nd place, you get to 80th. So there is the same difference in skill between Carlsen and second place as 2nd and 80th!
He has been number one for I believe about ten years now, and I can't see him being knocked off that spot anytime soon.
Unless you're a super geek like me you probably won't watch all of this two hour tournament at once, so I highly suggest you bookmark it and watch a bit of it every now and again when you have time.
Even if you're not into chess, or don't understand the rules, it's still phenomenal watching the speed of play. The commentator really gets you into it, and his high-speed commentary is almost as impressive as the play.
Enjoy!
DO YOU PLAY OR UNDERSTAND CHESS? WHAT HAVE YOU DISCOVERED RECENTLY? AS EVER, LET ME KNOW BELOW!