For the first time in three years, Russian grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi will not participate in a World Chess Championship match. However, he has found a new pursuit, taking part in the eighth season of the BetBoom Streamers Battle Dota 2 tournament, which features well-known personalities from various fields.
A Chess Grandmaster Turned Gamer
Ian Nepomniachtchi is competing under the banner of Team GoodWin. The grandmaster, who has twice contested the World Chess Championship title, has drawn attention for his skills in the MOBA genre. His participation in the tournament highlights his versatility as both a brilliant chess player and an avid gamer with a rich history in Dota 2.
Nepomniachtchi recalls playing the original version of Dota extensively during his youth. At 17, he won the Aeroflot Open, preparing for the chess tournament in an unconventional way: spending up to 15 hours a day playing in Dota in-house leagues, then training in chess through the night. Later, in 2011, competing under the nickname BloodAngel, Ian won the ASUS Winter Open, defeating renowned teams like NAVI.
Although the grandmaster now admits to playing Dota less frequently and feeling his skills have declined, his performance at the BetBoom Streamers Battle has impressed both fans and his team captain. "I thought he would play much worse. Despite having 4000 MMR, he shows a high level of game understanding, executes tasks calmly, and barely needs instructions," said the captain of Team GoodWin.
Bridging Chess and Esports
Nepomniachtchi is not the only professional athlete blending chess with esports. For example, Mongolian Counter-Strike player Garidmagnai "bLitz" Byambasuren is a FIDE Master with an Elo rating of 2369. However, Ian, with his chess Elo of 2755 and past Dota tournament victories, stands out as a unique figure combining these two intellectual disciplines.
The Tournament and Outlook
The BetBoom Streamers Battle 8 has attracted notable participants, including football star Aleksandr Golovin and streamer Sheever. Official broadcasts are available on YouTube and Twitch, and the tournament has already captured the attention of both Dota 2 and chess fans.
While Ian Nepomniachtchi plays Dota, the world chess elite are preparing for the upcoming World Chess Championship match between Ding Liren and Dommaraju Gukesh. However, Nepomniachtchi’s involvement in the esports tournament adds an intriguing new dimension to his image as a multifaceted and passionate competitor.