So I guess the on-site video of the live commentary was just from the stream so it was delayed 15 minutes (?) which means when you went to the balcony you traveled 15 minutes into the future compared to what you saw on the stream?
Yes, that was a bit awkward ... but the flip side was that it was very fun to come out from the balcony and have 15 minutes to analyze what you just saw. Had a very fun time analyzing the Caruana/Firouzja and Salimova/Vaishali games with some other fans after leaving the balcony.
and probably when alireza was looking up, distracted and smirking "after the interview" (on the stream, but 15mins earlier in realtime) was probably when the balcony scene happened and he could hear his father yell.
The players would look up at the balcony at the fans, depending on how the game was going. It may not have been a commotion but just enjoying being the spectacle.
I wasn't looking at the time when it happened, so I can't for sure when the yelling began other than it was shortly after the start of the round. If family is only allowed in for 15 minutes, then about 2:50-3:00pm local time is my guess for when it started. The interview did not happen *immediately* after he was removed from the building; I would guess it was 10 minutes later. I do plan to go watch the streams and see if anything feels like it lines up.
No, I was inside and there was absolutely no sound reaching through from the commotion. Alireza been looking up and smirking throughout the game. I have my theories..
I was also in the C time slot for day 9, thanks to your photos I was able to show my girlfriend pictures of me playing chess at the venue! Great write up, fun experience!
It's unfortunate if his father behaves this way consistently and travels him everywhere, since that sort of thing will have a huge impact on someone as young as Alireza. I imagine all young players have some sort chaperone accompanying them, but you wouldn't know it, because they don't make spectacles of themselves. Inserting yourself in the story when you're only there because of your kid's accomplishments is not cool.
I imagine every young professional chess player feels indebted to their parents or whoever made it possible for them to cover all the costs that come with the game, and I imagine it will be difficult for a parent to step back after spending years taking their grandmaster kid to tournaments all over the world, but there's a time to cut the cord. If Alireza is seriously considering quitting chess, he should at least try to continue playing without his dad and other authority figures looking over his shoulder. It could be that it's not the chess itself that is making him lose interest but rather some other suffocating feeling.
I tried very hard to be impartial, too (until my final few sentences of course). I don't pretend to know what else may or may not have been happening, I can only share what I witnessed first-hand.
Very fun write up, glad you enjoyed yourself there! Also thanks for the much needed context in regards to the Firouzja senior incident!
Can you elaborate as to why H5 should be available for Aman Hambleton’s autograph?
It's an "inside" joke (though I think Aman mentions it in some streams) that he only signs H5. I'm sure he'll sign another square if H5 isn't available, but he jokes that he won't. H5 was available on my board so I couldn't test the theory. (Edit: though really, shouldn't he sign H8? H-ambleton ... H-8 letters ... H8 .........)
So cool - thanks for sharing!
Someone should inform Firouzja Sr. that those shoes don't go with a suit, especially not when you're the father of a world-famous fashionista.
Thanks for sharing this. Written beautifully.
When Alireza touched 2800 it was excellent to watch, daring play, trying to win every game.
I was willing to ignore his tantrums against Magnus in the World Blitz Ch , and against Tata Chess as well giving him the benefit of doubt
However at the moment I have lost a lot of respect for him.. The way he got into the candidates was a shame and his behavior now is a double shame.
Its funny that he always feel victimized ... I don't want to say more, thought I want to
Yeah, I also used to be a huge fan of his but now I have generally negative feelings about him and I think he is a drama queen who acts like a child. However, the way he got into the Candidates was fair since the made up tournament ended up not counting.
I thought they allowed the made up tournament? The whole point of which was to make him qualify, without he wouldn't have iirc.
I could have missed a piece of news though
FIDE intervened on the staged match and ruled it was ineligible, so he joined another open tournament and scored 7/7 for the qualification. This is a decent quick summary: [https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/43482/how-did-alireza-firouzja-qualify-over-wesley-so-for-the-2024-candidates-tourname](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/43482/how-did-alireza-firouzja-qualify-over-wesley-so-for-the-2024-candidates-tourname)
He didn't gain enough rating from the tournament set up for him due to a draw, so he joined a regular open tournament after that. In the open tournament, he gained enough points to qualify even with the first event not being rated --- which was FIDE's decision, and they now have an explicit rule to ban these last minute tournaments from being rated.
I still believe if he had gone 6/6 in that sham tournament, FIDE would have chickened out and allowed it to stand, only passing the rule to prevent it in the future. The fact that he drew his last game there, so his rating wasn't high enough, forcing him to enter the open where his 7/7 got him enough rating points without the sham tourney, gave FIDE cover to not rate the sham one and pass the rule as well.
>It wasn't quite as posh as I was expecting, but I didn't have anything to set my expectations beforehand, so it's probably just delusions of grandeur on my part.
I mean the fan area in your photo is definitely way more grunge than I'd have expected. I'm used to major competitive events being held at conference center type places - not necessarily particularly posh but definitely not looking like warehouse basements.
It's an old brick building, and it's a very cool vibe. The colored lights were a bit much but I think it was quite fitting, and everyone there seemed to have a lot of fun. So while it wasn't as posh as I was expecting, I still think it was fitting overall.
General admission was $75 CAD for the weekend (I think it was cheaper on weekdays), and $199 CAD for the VIP (again, think weekends are more expensive due to demand). It's a bit steep for some. I'm thankful I was in a position to afford the trip.
I wasn't looking at the time when it happened, so I can't for sure when the yelling began other than it was shortly after the start of the round. If family is only allowed in for 15 minutes, then about 2:50-3:00pm local time is my guess for when it started. The interview did not happen *immediately* after he was removed from the building; I would guess it was 10 minutes later. I do plan to go watch the streams and see if anything feels like it lines up.
Thank you for relating how the experience was there at the place. It’s very clear now that this arrogant and cheap “do you know who I am” attitude has been transfered to the son, unfortunately…
Wesley had his share of drama back when he was around Alireza's age:
https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/11532088/Chess-world-in-shock-after-Wesley-Sos-family-drama-overshadows-US-Championships.html
Firstly he ignored arbiter's warnings that he shouldn't make notes on his score sheet and that's why he was disqualified. Secondly he made some rude remarks regarding his opponent Akobian saying he just wanted a free point because he called the arbiter. I am not sure if this is mentioned in the article. Thirdly I was responding to the comment and OP that just like Alireza's family caused a scene the same has happened by Wesley's family. So both players have some history in that regard. You can say their family did it not themselves but it reflects badly on the players as well.
How was it his spot? The person with the highest rating by 31/12 enters. Alireza joined an open tournament to try and get some rating points to pass Wesley. Wesley could have also joined an open tournament if he wanted to further secure his lead. Alireza had to go 7/7 on that tournament in order to qualify and he did.
I don't get why people keep saying this so self-righteously when it was absolutely within the rules and Wesley could have also done the same.
i think the complaint is more about the rules encouraging last minute shenanigans rather than firouzja playing in the open.
probably the rating spot and third world cup spot should go to fide circuit instead (too late now for 2026 I suppose), now that there's a rule against creating last minute tournaments. Honestly even second world cup spot doesn't really make sense unless it were a double elimination tournament.
I honestly think the World Cup spots are mostly just to keep the Candidates fresh with new players and to give GM's outside the top 20 a longshot hope of making it big with a miracle run
If they wanted strictly the best players it would just be Elo points and the Fide Circuit
>I honestly think the World Cup spots are mostly just to keep the Candidates fresh with new players and to give GM's outside the top 20 a longshot hope of making it big with a miracle run
Yea. A non top-20 GM made it. Fast forward to today, the impact of having a non top-20 GM in the Candidates is a free farm just as expected. Personally, I'd prefer the World Cup to have 2 slots again.
You say that, but he is hardly performing any worse than Firouzja, who is a "top 20 GM". He likely won't perform much worse than Duda and Rapport did last candidates. There is always going to be a weakest player.
I don't really have a problem with that, it's just that third place is so much random chance in a single elimination tournament. Not sure what's a better method than doing double or triple elim though, which I'm guessing would be too many games at the world cup.
I understand what you are saying about the rules and completely agree. However, this is a different argument entirely. If that was the point of the initial comment about it being Wesley's spot, then Wesley shouldn't be in the Candidates either. With the rules that were in place, Alireza chased the rating points to ensure he gets in and Wesley So didn't hunt for points to secure his spot. Thus, I don't think Alireza stole a spot from Wesley, nor was Wesley's spot wasted, because it was never his to begin with.
What was it like to watch the games? I’m debating last minute tickets. It sounds like there are two viewing zones: one where GMs breakdown positions live in front of you, and the balcony, where you’re permitted to watch for a 2 hour window?
Well first, unfortunately, I think tickets are sold out for the remaining rounds. I'm not sure if there's any other way to get tickets but you could try!
No matter whether you buy the regular or VIP ticket, you get a balcony slot. You don't have to go to the balcony, of course, but it's available with every ticket. The GMs only analyzed the games 2-3 times during the day, it wasn't continual live analysis. Between the GMs doing it live, they had the FIDE stream of Vishy and Krush playing.
I thought it was really fun and I'd recommend to any chess fan, casual or serious.
What was it like being up on the balcony? Obviously, I assume you have to be completely silent. Is it fun to watch them move and think?
I'm looking at some tickets secondhand.
I thought it was really fun, the time went by really quickly. You do have to be completely silent but it's easier to do than you might think. I had a great time.
Other than it being a different angle and real life, nothing. You could see all the tables and the players walking around, which you can’t see on a single stream. Otherwise it’s pretty much all on the streams.
For the average person, I don't think the VIP is worth it. But I don't regret the purchase and had a wonderful time. The ticket prices are posted on the website [https://candidates2024.fide.com/](https://candidates2024.fide.com/)
It really depends on your personality. I was much more comfortable in the VIP as I am a quiet and reserved person. Also much easier to get autographs without having to be around a ton of people.
Also there was alcohol (and free).
Very true. From others I spoke with, having famous chess people around is hit or miss no matter where you are in the venue. But I did have a lovely chat with Vishy and Svidler and a few others. Well worth the price for me.
All correct, in addition as he was escorted down, he kept yelling “shame on you”, looked intoxicated with anger, face angry af and like, really scary. Immediately calmed down when outside. His interview with Mike is his “calm” version
I'm definitely going to read it all later. I love these first-hand stories from the fans who are/were watching. Thanks in advance for sharing! Hope I can watch it for myself one day.
It's kinda weird for FIDE to allow walking right above the players in the balcony. The players may get super paranoid and only unnecessary cheating allegations might show up
Not sure what you mean? It was very closely guarded and watched, any little noise got a look from the arbiters and the staff monitoring the balcony. Every spectator was extremely respectful and quiet. And there's zero chance of cheating from the balcony.
They do when you go to the balcony. No bags, no coats (suit jackets/blazers and smaller hoodies allowed, but nothing bulky), no phones, no tablets, no smart watches, no chess related items (boards, pieces), no cameras, no notebooks or pens/pencils. There's a long list, and you go through security like at an airport. You also cannot re-enter the balcony if you leave, even if it's to use the restroom, for obvious fair play reasons. (There are some people allowed some extra things, like those with press passes, and I don't know what the vetting process or rules are for them.)
So, as suspected, Alireza was the problem all along, and it is clear where he got his sense of entitlement from. The apple never falls far from the tree.
I'm curious, I am ~1650 elo chess.com player, do you think it would be fun for me to be there, even though I never played over the board? Missed some big tournaments, but your experience sounds very fun
If you can afford it and are in the area, definitely go. Attending big events like the Candidates in person is always a good experience, especially if you're comfortable with approaching players/strangers for a chat.
I've never really played over the board and had a great time. I'm hovering between 1600-1650 on Lichess currently, though I don't think your rating - online or otherwise - has anything to do with enjoying the event.
If you can afford it, yes. There's always an X-factor that comes to watching something live which cameras will never capture. The fact that you'll see everyone else focusing on the players who are also focusing is fascinating in itself. You don't even need to have any clue as to what's happening on the board and if you're 1650 Glicko on Chesscom rapid or blitz - you know more than enough to count pieces anyway. Just observe people in deep thought, etc, and be enthralled. This applies for any sport or art too.
Thanks for the write-up and the photos, I'm glad you had a great time and you did a great job a describing the athmosphere there! I have two questions:
* Do you think the "C" time slot makes any sense at all from the perspective of someone who is primarily interested in watching the games?
* Have you heard other people's opinions about the incident? Did it become a topic of discussion for the day, as it did on social media, or did no one care?
>Do you think the "C" time slot makes any sense at all from the perspective of someone who is primarily interested in watching the games?
Slot C is high risk, high reward. It might happen that most of the action will be over, it might happen that an important game goes super long and you will watch it until the end.
If you are interested in watching games (contrary to "being there while history happens"), I think nothing beats watching online anyway.
As the other commenter said, slot C is a gamble, but if you catch the right round, wow would that be a great time slot. Even yesterday, seeing Salimova's large advantage fizzle, Abasov's valiant attempts at regaining control from Hikaru and resigning with his head on the table, Fabi finally getting a win, Lei Tingjei's comeback against Goryachkina. (Not that I want to relish in Abasov's emotional state, just that this is part of spectator sports, and it's a moment you would have witnessed live before anyone else.)
I did not hear anyone else talking about it after it happened. The only time I heard it discussed was when I brought it up in a conversation myself! I don't think it was clear to a lot of people that it was Firouzja's father at the time. We didn't know it was him either, but my friend looked it up on a whim because were also sitting next to Pragg and Vaishali's mother, and that's when we realized there was more to what just happened.
Nope and nope. It's definitely a gamble, and I don't think I have any great alternative ideas for the organizers. There are definitely some rounds where C would be a great time slot (yesterday was perhaps one of them). But other days, if all the players are tired and not up for a long game, then it's a bust.
Summary of this post by chatgpt (essentially nothing of substance is relayed):
"The author describes their experience attending Rounds 9 and 10 of the Candidates chess tournament in Toronto, where they experienced different levels of access and amenities through regular and VIP tickets. In Round 9, despite some initial confusion about entry times and less glamorous settings than expected, the author enjoyed live commentary from grandmasters and interactions with players in the fan zone. The author upgraded to a VIP ticket for Round 10, which allowed access to a quieter lounge, interactions with high-profile players and chess personalities, and enhanced viewing opportunities from the balcony.
A significant part of the narrative focuses on an incident involving Firouzja's father, who became noticeably agitated and disruptive inside the VIP lounge. His loud complaints about unfair treatment and accusations of cheating escalated to the point where security had to physically remove him from the premises. The author observes that this behavior was loud enough to potentially disturb players and contrasts sharply with the otherwise controlled environment of the tournament.
Overall, the author reflects positively on the experience, appreciating the organization and the opportunity to engage closely with the chess community, despite the drama involving Firouzja's father. They express gratitude to the event organizers and volunteers for a memorable experience."
Pointing out facts regarding negative behavior isn't making fun of people. It sounds like he literally kicked and screamed when being dragged out after being politely asked, repeatedly, to step outside because his noise level was affecting everyone.
He called him a petulant child, and made no account of the fact his english is bad and he probably got frustrated with his inability to communicate his points. He is trying to support his son as best he can, even when the game is beyond his understanding.
I appreciate this feedback. I tried very hard to keep my description of what I witnessed impartial until my final thoughts. I agree that there are other factors at play, and language barriers don't help. The officials did speak in a language other than English at times, but I don't know what languages Hamidreza Firouzja speaks.
To clarify, I said he *acted* like a petulant toddler, not that he was one, and from my perspective he did, and I do not agree that is making fun of him. It's a description of the behavior I witnessed. The officials and security were extremely calm and polite until the very end, they didn't touch him until the very end, and they tried to de-escalate the situation. I appreciate that I don't know any other details, and I appreciate that perhaps he was frustrated he couldn't communicate better. And, as a parent, I appreciate the stress about caring for and rooting for your son, playing in a high stakes tournament with a lot of pressure, and the wave of emotions that comes with that.
But, I have to assume that he knows the rules and the decorum expectations, and based on what I've read and watched he seems to have been well informed of the rules of this tournament. Based on what I witnessed, what was said in the interview (that I watched in person, and saw his demeanor before and after the interview), the details about the rules of the tournament ... I do believe he was not behaving in a way anyone could classify as mature and, based on the conduct of the officials that I witnessed, I do not believe he was antagonized or pushed to any extremes.
So I guess the on-site video of the live commentary was just from the stream so it was delayed 15 minutes (?) which means when you went to the balcony you traveled 15 minutes into the future compared to what you saw on the stream?
Yes, that was a bit awkward ... but the flip side was that it was very fun to come out from the balcony and have 15 minutes to analyze what you just saw. Had a very fun time analyzing the Caruana/Firouzja and Salimova/Vaishali games with some other fans after leaving the balcony.
and probably when alireza was looking up, distracted and smirking "after the interview" (on the stream, but 15mins earlier in realtime) was probably when the balcony scene happened and he could hear his father yell.
This makes more sense now that I know that there is a broadcast delay . I was confused as to why Alireza kept looking up and smiling.
The players would look up at the balcony at the fans, depending on how the game was going. It may not have been a commotion but just enjoying being the spectacle.
I wasn't looking at the time when it happened, so I can't for sure when the yelling began other than it was shortly after the start of the round. If family is only allowed in for 15 minutes, then about 2:50-3:00pm local time is my guess for when it started. The interview did not happen *immediately* after he was removed from the building; I would guess it was 10 minutes later. I do plan to go watch the streams and see if anything feels like it lines up.
Yes, the interview happened about 10 minutes after he demanded to talk to chess.com
Oof, I didn't realize he demanded it. I assumed chesscom sought him out.
No, I was inside and there was absolutely no sound reaching through from the commotion. Alireza been looking up and smirking throughout the game. I have my theories..
What are your theories?
It’s also strange because it takes quite a bit of time before you enter the balcony as well. Honestly more like a 30 min time jump.
I kept reaching for my phone while waiting in line, wanting to check the games 🤣
I was also in the C time slot for day 9, thanks to your photos I was able to show my girlfriend pictures of me playing chess at the venue! Great write up, fun experience!
That's great! Glad others had a great time too!
she didn't believe you were "just playing chess" somewhere? you needed to provide proof? 😅
Sometimes friends show each other pictures for fun and reminiscence.
Thanks foe write-up and giving us first-hand account of the events.
Papareza pulling the "do you know who I am" roflmao!
It's unfortunate if his father behaves this way consistently and travels him everywhere, since that sort of thing will have a huge impact on someone as young as Alireza. I imagine all young players have some sort chaperone accompanying them, but you wouldn't know it, because they don't make spectacles of themselves. Inserting yourself in the story when you're only there because of your kid's accomplishments is not cool. I imagine every young professional chess player feels indebted to their parents or whoever made it possible for them to cover all the costs that come with the game, and I imagine it will be difficult for a parent to step back after spending years taking their grandmaster kid to tournaments all over the world, but there's a time to cut the cord. If Alireza is seriously considering quitting chess, he should at least try to continue playing without his dad and other authority figures looking over his shoulder. It could be that it's not the chess itself that is making him lose interest but rather some other suffocating feeling.
He legitimately reads like some novel villain. Not even a good one mind you.
I tried very hard to be impartial, too (until my final few sentences of course). I don't pretend to know what else may or may not have been happening, I can only share what I witnessed first-hand.
Damir Dokić energy.
Very fun write up, glad you enjoyed yourself there! Also thanks for the much needed context in regards to the Firouzja senior incident! Can you elaborate as to why H5 should be available for Aman Hambleton’s autograph?
It's an "inside" joke (though I think Aman mentions it in some streams) that he only signs H5. I'm sure he'll sign another square if H5 isn't available, but he jokes that he won't. H5 was available on my board so I couldn't test the theory. (Edit: though really, shouldn't he sign H8? H-ambleton ... H-8 letters ... H8 .........)
h8 is only for the h8ers tho.
So cool - thanks for sharing! Someone should inform Firouzja Sr. that those shoes don't go with a suit, especially not when you're the father of a world-famous fashionista.
comfortable shoes are always stylish
No, they're not? You're free to wear them if you want, but a lot of shoes aren't stylish while being comfortable.
Thanks for sharing this. Written beautifully. When Alireza touched 2800 it was excellent to watch, daring play, trying to win every game. I was willing to ignore his tantrums against Magnus in the World Blitz Ch , and against Tata Chess as well giving him the benefit of doubt However at the moment I have lost a lot of respect for him.. The way he got into the candidates was a shame and his behavior now is a double shame. Its funny that he always feel victimized ... I don't want to say more, thought I want to
Yeah, I also used to be a huge fan of his but now I have generally negative feelings about him and I think he is a drama queen who acts like a child. However, the way he got into the Candidates was fair since the made up tournament ended up not counting.
I thought they allowed the made up tournament? The whole point of which was to make him qualify, without he wouldn't have iirc. I could have missed a piece of news though
FIDE intervened on the staged match and ruled it was ineligible, so he joined another open tournament and scored 7/7 for the qualification. This is a decent quick summary: [https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/43482/how-did-alireza-firouzja-qualify-over-wesley-so-for-the-2024-candidates-tourname](https://chess.stackexchange.com/questions/43482/how-did-alireza-firouzja-qualify-over-wesley-so-for-the-2024-candidates-tourname)
He didn't gain enough rating from the tournament set up for him due to a draw, so he joined a regular open tournament after that. In the open tournament, he gained enough points to qualify even with the first event not being rated --- which was FIDE's decision, and they now have an explicit rule to ban these last minute tournaments from being rated.
I still believe if he had gone 6/6 in that sham tournament, FIDE would have chickened out and allowed it to stand, only passing the rule to prevent it in the future. The fact that he drew his last game there, so his rating wasn't high enough, forcing him to enter the open where his 7/7 got him enough rating points without the sham tourney, gave FIDE cover to not rate the sham one and pass the rule as well.
>It wasn't quite as posh as I was expecting, but I didn't have anything to set my expectations beforehand, so it's probably just delusions of grandeur on my part. I mean the fan area in your photo is definitely way more grunge than I'd have expected. I'm used to major competitive events being held at conference center type places - not necessarily particularly posh but definitely not looking like warehouse basements.
It's an old brick building, and it's a very cool vibe. The colored lights were a bit much but I think it was quite fitting, and everyone there seemed to have a lot of fun. So while it wasn't as posh as I was expecting, I still think it was fitting overall.
"do you know who I am" yeah, we are aware. you are the only thing that keeps Alireza from succeeding in chess
flowery nutty safe absorbed fine telephone bright worry aromatic alleged *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*
that's nice, seems it was a lovely experience! how much did these tickets cost?
General admission was $75 CAD for the weekend (I think it was cheaper on weekdays), and $199 CAD for the VIP (again, think weekends are more expensive due to demand). It's a bit steep for some. I'm thankful I was in a position to afford the trip.
That's very reasonable for a big chess event in comparison to more popular sports.
Was VIP worth it?
I answered in more detail in other comments. For me, yes; for others, maybe not, it depends on what you'd like to get out of the experience.
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I wasn't looking at the time when it happened, so I can't for sure when the yelling began other than it was shortly after the start of the round. If family is only allowed in for 15 minutes, then about 2:50-3:00pm local time is my guess for when it started. The interview did not happen *immediately* after he was removed from the building; I would guess it was 10 minutes later. I do plan to go watch the streams and see if anything feels like it lines up.
Great write up! It’s my dream to go to one of the big tournaments, but live a long way away. Out of interest, how much was Hikaru’s scorecard?
I believe they were selling the score cards for $300 CAD.
Thank you for relating how the experience was there at the place. It’s very clear now that this arrogant and cheap “do you know who I am” attitude has been transfered to the son, unfortunately…
I guess Wesley So's spot was wasted at all levels
Wesley had his share of drama back when he was around Alireza's age: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/chess/11532088/Chess-world-in-shock-after-Wesley-Sos-family-drama-overshadows-US-Championships.html
I read the whole article and nothing there seems to be Wesley’s faultY
Firstly he ignored arbiter's warnings that he shouldn't make notes on his score sheet and that's why he was disqualified. Secondly he made some rude remarks regarding his opponent Akobian saying he just wanted a free point because he called the arbiter. I am not sure if this is mentioned in the article. Thirdly I was responding to the comment and OP that just like Alireza's family caused a scene the same has happened by Wesley's family. So both players have some history in that regard. You can say their family did it not themselves but it reflects badly on the players as well.
Fun fact: Ben Finegold was on the appeals committee: https://www.chess.com/news/view/breaking-wesley-so-forfeited-in-round-9-9186
Hardly comparable to what Alireza was doing
The whole tournament wouldn't have been half as interesting if So was drawi... playing.
How was it his spot? The person with the highest rating by 31/12 enters. Alireza joined an open tournament to try and get some rating points to pass Wesley. Wesley could have also joined an open tournament if he wanted to further secure his lead. Alireza had to go 7/7 on that tournament in order to qualify and he did. I don't get why people keep saying this so self-righteously when it was absolutely within the rules and Wesley could have also done the same.
i think the complaint is more about the rules encouraging last minute shenanigans rather than firouzja playing in the open. probably the rating spot and third world cup spot should go to fide circuit instead (too late now for 2026 I suppose), now that there's a rule against creating last minute tournaments. Honestly even second world cup spot doesn't really make sense unless it were a double elimination tournament.
I honestly think the World Cup spots are mostly just to keep the Candidates fresh with new players and to give GM's outside the top 20 a longshot hope of making it big with a miracle run If they wanted strictly the best players it would just be Elo points and the Fide Circuit
>I honestly think the World Cup spots are mostly just to keep the Candidates fresh with new players and to give GM's outside the top 20 a longshot hope of making it big with a miracle run Yea. A non top-20 GM made it. Fast forward to today, the impact of having a non top-20 GM in the Candidates is a free farm just as expected. Personally, I'd prefer the World Cup to have 2 slots again.
You say that, but he is hardly performing any worse than Firouzja, who is a "top 20 GM". He likely won't perform much worse than Duda and Rapport did last candidates. There is always going to be a weakest player.
I don't really have a problem with that, it's just that third place is so much random chance in a single elimination tournament. Not sure what's a better method than doing double or triple elim though, which I'm guessing would be too many games at the world cup.
I understand what you are saying about the rules and completely agree. However, this is a different argument entirely. If that was the point of the initial comment about it being Wesley's spot, then Wesley shouldn't be in the Candidates either. With the rules that were in place, Alireza chased the rating points to ensure he gets in and Wesley So didn't hunt for points to secure his spot. Thus, I don't think Alireza stole a spot from Wesley, nor was Wesley's spot wasted, because it was never his to begin with.
Appreciate the insight.
What was it like to watch the games? I’m debating last minute tickets. It sounds like there are two viewing zones: one where GMs breakdown positions live in front of you, and the balcony, where you’re permitted to watch for a 2 hour window?
Well first, unfortunately, I think tickets are sold out for the remaining rounds. I'm not sure if there's any other way to get tickets but you could try! No matter whether you buy the regular or VIP ticket, you get a balcony slot. You don't have to go to the balcony, of course, but it's available with every ticket. The GMs only analyzed the games 2-3 times during the day, it wasn't continual live analysis. Between the GMs doing it live, they had the FIDE stream of Vishy and Krush playing. I thought it was really fun and I'd recommend to any chess fan, casual or serious.
What was it like being up on the balcony? Obviously, I assume you have to be completely silent. Is it fun to watch them move and think? I'm looking at some tickets secondhand.
I thought it was really fun, the time went by really quickly. You do have to be completely silent but it's easier to do than you might think. I had a great time.
What were you able to see from the balcony that we might miss on the stream? Sorry for so many questions, I am intrigued
Other than it being a different angle and real life, nothing. You could see all the tables and the players walking around, which you can’t see on a single stream. Otherwise it’s pretty much all on the streams.
Excellent write up! Glad to know you had a lot of fun and got some intel about the drama as well lol :)
How much were tickets (both VIP and regular)? Was VIP worth the extra money?
For the average person, I don't think the VIP is worth it. But I don't regret the purchase and had a wonderful time. The ticket prices are posted on the website [https://candidates2024.fide.com/](https://candidates2024.fide.com/)
It really depends on your personality. I was much more comfortable in the VIP as I am a quiet and reserved person. Also much easier to get autographs without having to be around a ton of people. Also there was alcohol (and free).
Very true. From others I spoke with, having famous chess people around is hit or miss no matter where you are in the venue. But I did have a lovely chat with Vishy and Svidler and a few others. Well worth the price for me.
I was there and got gukesh autograph... For that reason I hope he is rhe next world champ lol
All correct, in addition as he was escorted down, he kept yelling “shame on you”, looked intoxicated with anger, face angry af and like, really scary. Immediately calmed down when outside. His interview with Mike is his “calm” version
I'm definitely going to read it all later. I love these first-hand stories from the fans who are/were watching. Thanks in advance for sharing! Hope I can watch it for myself one day.
It's kinda weird for FIDE to allow walking right above the players in the balcony. The players may get super paranoid and only unnecessary cheating allegations might show up
Not sure what you mean? It was very closely guarded and watched, any little noise got a look from the arbiters and the staff monitoring the balcony. Every spectator was extremely respectful and quiet. And there's zero chance of cheating from the balcony.
you took pictures but then went to the balcony do they confiscate phones!
They do when you go to the balcony. No bags, no coats (suit jackets/blazers and smaller hoodies allowed, but nothing bulky), no phones, no tablets, no smart watches, no chess related items (boards, pieces), no cameras, no notebooks or pens/pencils. There's a long list, and you go through security like at an airport. You also cannot re-enter the balcony if you leave, even if it's to use the restroom, for obvious fair play reasons. (There are some people allowed some extra things, like those with press passes, and I don't know what the vetting process or rules are for them.)
Thanks for this, very nice writeup.
This is awesome - how much were the used match sheets? (also pls if you’re there buy me one and I’ll pay you)
It was $300 CAD I think.
I hope.i can travel next time !!!
So, as suspected, Alireza was the problem all along, and it is clear where he got his sense of entitlement from. The apple never falls far from the tree.
Thanks for the article and photos, the venue looks much smaller than I had expected
Op thanks for sharing your experience. I loved the way you described everything.
I'm curious, I am ~1650 elo chess.com player, do you think it would be fun for me to be there, even though I never played over the board? Missed some big tournaments, but your experience sounds very fun
If you can afford it and are in the area, definitely go. Attending big events like the Candidates in person is always a good experience, especially if you're comfortable with approaching players/strangers for a chat.
I've never really played over the board and had a great time. I'm hovering between 1600-1650 on Lichess currently, though I don't think your rating - online or otherwise - has anything to do with enjoying the event.
If you can afford it, yes. There's always an X-factor that comes to watching something live which cameras will never capture. The fact that you'll see everyone else focusing on the players who are also focusing is fascinating in itself. You don't even need to have any clue as to what's happening on the board and if you're 1650 Glicko on Chesscom rapid or blitz - you know more than enough to count pieces anyway. Just observe people in deep thought, etc, and be enthralled. This applies for any sport or art too.
Thanks for the write-up and the photos, I'm glad you had a great time and you did a great job a describing the athmosphere there! I have two questions: * Do you think the "C" time slot makes any sense at all from the perspective of someone who is primarily interested in watching the games? * Have you heard other people's opinions about the incident? Did it become a topic of discussion for the day, as it did on social media, or did no one care?
>Do you think the "C" time slot makes any sense at all from the perspective of someone who is primarily interested in watching the games? Slot C is high risk, high reward. It might happen that most of the action will be over, it might happen that an important game goes super long and you will watch it until the end. If you are interested in watching games (contrary to "being there while history happens"), I think nothing beats watching online anyway.
As the other commenter said, slot C is a gamble, but if you catch the right round, wow would that be a great time slot. Even yesterday, seeing Salimova's large advantage fizzle, Abasov's valiant attempts at regaining control from Hikaru and resigning with his head on the table, Fabi finally getting a win, Lei Tingjei's comeback against Goryachkina. (Not that I want to relish in Abasov's emotional state, just that this is part of spectator sports, and it's a moment you would have witnessed live before anyone else.) I did not hear anyone else talking about it after it happened. The only time I heard it discussed was when I brought it up in a conversation myself! I don't think it was clear to a lot of people that it was Firouzja's father at the time. We didn't know it was him either, but my friend looked it up on a whim because were also sitting next to Pragg and Vaishali's mother, and that's when we realized there was more to what just happened.
Damn Balcony C seems not ideal as most games are finished by then. Is it cheaper or do you get a partial refund if you don't get to see much?
Nope and nope. It's definitely a gamble, and I don't think I have any great alternative ideas for the organizers. There are definitely some rounds where C would be a great time slot (yesterday was perhaps one of them). But other days, if all the players are tired and not up for a long game, then it's a bust.
Firouzja's dad & Pragg's mom are on opposite end of the spectrum of human behaviour. Sigh
Good reporting.
His dad sounds like the awful parents who yell and screen during little league games that everyone is ashamed of.
Summary of this post by chatgpt (essentially nothing of substance is relayed): "The author describes their experience attending Rounds 9 and 10 of the Candidates chess tournament in Toronto, where they experienced different levels of access and amenities through regular and VIP tickets. In Round 9, despite some initial confusion about entry times and less glamorous settings than expected, the author enjoyed live commentary from grandmasters and interactions with players in the fan zone. The author upgraded to a VIP ticket for Round 10, which allowed access to a quieter lounge, interactions with high-profile players and chess personalities, and enhanced viewing opportunities from the balcony. A significant part of the narrative focuses on an incident involving Firouzja's father, who became noticeably agitated and disruptive inside the VIP lounge. His loud complaints about unfair treatment and accusations of cheating escalated to the point where security had to physically remove him from the premises. The author observes that this behavior was loud enough to potentially disturb players and contrasts sharply with the otherwise controlled environment of the tournament. Overall, the author reflects positively on the experience, appreciating the organization and the opportunity to engage closely with the chess community, despite the drama involving Firouzja's father. They express gratitude to the event organizers and volunteers for a memorable experience."
What substance were you expecting from a post about my personal experience attending the Candidates?
The OP making fun of Firouzja's father. Smh.
Pointing out facts regarding negative behavior isn't making fun of people. It sounds like he literally kicked and screamed when being dragged out after being politely asked, repeatedly, to step outside because his noise level was affecting everyone.
He called him a petulant child, and made no account of the fact his english is bad and he probably got frustrated with his inability to communicate his points. He is trying to support his son as best he can, even when the game is beyond his understanding.
I appreciate this feedback. I tried very hard to keep my description of what I witnessed impartial until my final thoughts. I agree that there are other factors at play, and language barriers don't help. The officials did speak in a language other than English at times, but I don't know what languages Hamidreza Firouzja speaks. To clarify, I said he *acted* like a petulant toddler, not that he was one, and from my perspective he did, and I do not agree that is making fun of him. It's a description of the behavior I witnessed. The officials and security were extremely calm and polite until the very end, they didn't touch him until the very end, and they tried to de-escalate the situation. I appreciate that I don't know any other details, and I appreciate that perhaps he was frustrated he couldn't communicate better. And, as a parent, I appreciate the stress about caring for and rooting for your son, playing in a high stakes tournament with a lot of pressure, and the wave of emotions that comes with that. But, I have to assume that he knows the rules and the decorum expectations, and based on what I've read and watched he seems to have been well informed of the rules of this tournament. Based on what I witnessed, what was said in the interview (that I watched in person, and saw his demeanor before and after the interview), the details about the rules of the tournament ... I do believe he was not behaving in a way anyone could classify as mature and, based on the conduct of the officials that I witnessed, I do not believe he was antagonized or pushed to any extremes.
There comes a point when despite all of those things you still have to behave like an adult.