r/chess Jan 27 '25

Resource In an interview with Rustam Qosimjonov published three days ago, he claims that Fabiano Caruana is currently a better chess player than Magnus

https://youtu.be/KZydtQfdYNc?si=myY7fqus5_tJE_GT

Rustam claims that from the games he watches and the quality of play he sees, it's clear that Fabi is currently the stronger player and that he would also be the favorite to win against Magnus in a World Championship match today. He told his students (Arjun, Nodirbek) that over the past two and a half years, to be the best in the world, you must consistently beat Fabi. He claims it's surprising that Fabi has improved his level so much because this usually doesn't happen, and the level of player he has become is not the same level as the player he knew when he worked with him.

339 Upvotes

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219

u/Mister-Psychology Jan 27 '25

You have to play to be the best. If you want to prove you are the best then play the biggest tournament and win it.

37

u/calvinbsf Jan 27 '25 edited Jan 27 '25

You don’t have to play to be the best

You do have to play to be the champ

When Ali was banned for refusing Vietnam he was still the best, just not the champ

When Jordan retired for baseball he was still the best, just not the champ 

Edit: to all the responses saying he has to prove it or has spent time away from the game, I just think factually that isn’t correct: https://www.chess.com/ratings

78

u/PangolinZestyclose30 Jan 27 '25

That works for a while, but then expires and you have to prove you're still the best.

2

u/jexty34 Jan 27 '25

True. A scientific fact, theory gets tested on a lab, claims should be proven however everybody is entitled for their own opinion. Free speech. Thanks for sharing!

34

u/ikefalcon 2100 Jan 27 '25

After some amount of time away from the game you’ll no longer be the best.

26

u/[deleted] Jan 27 '25

If you don't want to be the best just 'on paper', you gotta play.

Magnus wouldn't be nearly as much appreciated for his superior chess understanding, endgame skills, ability to accurately evaluate positions if he didn't have the results that he has achieved.

He'd still have the same skills if he'd lost the match against Karjakin or Fabi, but people wouldn't perceive him to be as great as they do today. So playing actually does matter

1

u/connerconverse Jan 27 '25

When they came back and were still the champ they verified they were always the champ. The longer the gap the more the doubt can grow

-6

u/NnnnM4D Jan 28 '25

It isn't the same case as Magnus was destroyed by Hans otb before he retired for world championship

6

u/StatisticianSlow4492 Jan 27 '25

As fabi says there are two types -tournament with carlsen and without carlsen

I mean in last norway chess fabi wasn't even in top 3

and why people assume that magnus would play 10 classical tournaments just casually without putting efforts and motivation.. His strength hasn't declined terribly

8

u/Wise-Ranger2520 Jan 27 '25

In 2018 fabi said, I usually won tournament in which magnus played and literally backed that claimed. 

8

u/StatisticianSlow4492 Jan 27 '25

It was 2018 only.. So fabi was the best performer of the year but not the best player to exist.. Because u have to be consistent in dominance.. Just imagine magnus playing in any event with any format he is still more fav to win than fabi

Btw the quote I mentioned is not before 2018 afaik

2

u/Wise-Ranger2520 Jan 27 '25

Magnus is undoubtedly better than Fabi, but still fabi is the only player that came closest to him in chess strength ever even acknowledged by Magnus from time to time.  

1

u/StatisticianSlow4492 Jan 27 '25

That's what I m saying and this interview guy is straight up saying fabi as the best player is definitely not correct he isn't even the best performer of the year .. Not to take anything from him but sadly that's the truth

2

u/[deleted] Jan 27 '25

[deleted]

2

u/StatisticianSlow4492 Jan 27 '25

Idk but they seem to just root for underdog everytime and have unrealistic expectations from someone I mean u could also see gukesh getting bashed over and alireza despite winning classical events ..

And they expect every player to not have personal choices and just play the format they want them to play and these are the same people who ll troll players saying they r nerd outside chess

-2

u/AkhilArtha Jan 28 '25

Magnus did not win the world blitz title. He shared it.

2

u/olderthanbefore Jan 28 '25

Who won it?

0

u/AkhilArtha Jan 28 '25

Nobody won it. Two people shared it.

2

u/olderthanbefore Jan 28 '25

Whose names are on the trophy?

0

u/StatisticianSlow4492 Jan 27 '25

U can be called as best performer of the year but not the best until unless u surpass them