Grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi triumphed over all opponents in a simultaneous chess game session on smartphones

On February 16, a simultaneous chess game session took place at the Museum of Russian Impressionism with grandmaster Ian Nepomniachtchi — a two-time world championship contender, blitz world champion, and European champion. The unique aspect of the event was the playing format: it was held not on a conventional chess board but on the latest foldable smartphones, where the chess program lichess was installed.

The event was organized by the community Rep Chess, which unites chess enthusiasts and contemporary urban culture. The leaders of this project strive to attract and maintain interest in chess by rethinking the classic intellectual game and bringing it beyond traditional halls to cultural venues, museums, and other public spaces. In addition to tournaments, the community develops educational initiatives, offering training for both beginners and more experienced players.

The participants of the session included winners of recent Rep Chess tournaments, as well as specially invited players. For them, it was not only a sporting challenge but also an opportunity to play against one of the strongest grandmasters in the world in a non-standard format. As a result of the tournament, Ian Nepomniachtchi once again confirmed his status as a grandmaster, defeating all 15 opponents.

The most intense game was against Artyom Izotov, who played on board nine. Ian faced stubborn resistance; however, his opponent was unable to find the saving equalizing combination and ultimately lost in the concluding phase of the game — in the endgame. The game involving the main tournament favorite — FIDE master Maxim Omariev — also deserves special attention. Ian prepared a complex opening trap (the opening is the initial stage of the game) for his opponent. Maxim failed to recognize the threat in time: by the 15th move, his position became hopeless, which predetermined the outcome of the game.

In this unusual manner, the community of chess lovers Rep Chess and the company Huawei (whose foldable Mate X7 smartphones were used by the chess players) came together for joint promotion.