Ian Nepomniachtchi GM

Ian, here is some focused feedback based on your latest blitz streak (Chess.com handle : lachesisQ)

What is working well

• Opening Diversity  — Your recent wins feature six different first moves with both colours. This keeps opponents guessing and maximises the value of your outstanding intuition in the early middlegame.
• Practical Calculation Speed  — The conversion in your win vs LionTheLeon_06 (0-1, 41 …Bxe4) is a model of forcing play under 60 seconds. You created three simultaneous mating nets, forcing resignation in a position that engines rate roughly –10.
• End-game Technique in Simplified Major-Piece Endings  — Against MatthewG-p4p you navigated an R+minor-piece vs R+minor-piece ending with only 20 seconds left, never letting your king safety slip. The conversion sequence 31 …Kg7–44 …Rxe4 was clean and fully justified the risky pawn grab 20 …Qxa2.

Priority Improvements

1 · Time Management in Equal/Inferior Positions

When the position is objectively equal but slightly unpleasant (e.g. your loss to crescentmoon2411), you often keep
thinking instead of playing. The critical moment was

You burned ~35 seconds here while the engine shows only one move (42 …Re5!). Consider switching to a “two-tier” clock policy:

1. Stay above +15 sec until move 20.
2. From move 21–35 never drop below +5 sec unless the position is winning.

2 · Central Control vs. the Alapin (c3 Sicilian)

Four of your last seven decisive games featured 1 e4 c5 2 c3. Your score: +1 –3. In two losses you allowed both e5 and d4 breaks. Revise the main line …d6 …Nf6 …e6, aiming for the Scheveningen-style pawn structure rather than early …Nd5.

3 · Psychological Tilt After Material Loss

In the French Rubinstein vs GothamChess you were up a rook yet spent 40 seconds searching for tidy finishes. Conversely, when down material (DanielNaroditsky game) you accelerated and blundered 21 …Rd2??. Work on maintaining a uniform tempo regardless of the scoreboard.

Action Plan

• Flash-card review of 10 critical Alapin positions (add to your Lichess / Chessable deck).
• Set a training clock of 30 + 0 vs. engine at depth 12; play only equal positions, resign if your time dips below 1 minute.
• Daily five-minute mindfulness exercise to reset after blunders.

Your Performance Snap-Shot

Blitz peak: 3211 (2024-09-15)  ·  Illustrative win-rate curves:

Glossary

Conversion • Counterplay • Zugzwang

Keep the Momentum!

Your creative style and lightning-fast intuition remain your greatest strengths. Sharpen the three target areas above and you will convert more half-points into wins — precisely what makes the difference at the elite level. Onward to the next Candidates!