'It was a loser talking’: Dutch GM slams Ian Nepomniachtchi for critical comments on Goa, FIDE after World Cup exit

Dutch Grandmaster Loek van Wely described Ian Nepomniachtchi as a loser after the veteran Russian GM slammed the facilities as well as conditions in Goa after his early exit from the ongoing FIDE World Cup. ‘Nepo’ had made a quick exit from Resort Rio in North Goa’s Arpora after his second-round defeat at the hands of Indian GM Diptayan Ghosh, taking the earliest available flight out of the country.

And in a video posted on social networking platform Telegram, the two-time Candidates champion went on a tirade in which he slammed the resort for the food served as well as for its facilities, describing the five-star property as “three stars at best”.

The 35-year-old Russian GM also questioned FIDE for their choice of venue after deciding to host the prestigious event in India, and went to the extent of pinning the blame of his early exit from the World Cup on external factors including the resort facilities as well as the sultry heat in the south-western Indian coastal state.

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‘Nepo’ came to Goa in the wrong state of mind, says van Wely

“It was a loser talking. He really came (to Goa) in the wrong state of mind that he was not going to like India or Goa. Okay, I mean, maybe the hotel was not what you consider a five-star hotel. But come one! We will live! We were there to play chess. You don’t get ill. You get your sleep. There’s always something to complain about,” van Wely said in an episode of the New In Chess podcast when asked about Nepomniachtchi’s comments.

Also Read | Nepomniachtchi slammed after blaming conditions in India following FIDE World Cup exit: 'Sore loser this guy'

Van Wely was in Goa recently as fellow Dutch GM Max Warmerdam’s second. Warmerdam, like Nepomniachtchi, had bowed out of the tournament in the second round, losing to USA’s Awonder Liang 2-0.

Van Wely did notice that the internet was a bit slow at Resort Rio initially, but was quickly taken care of as the World Cup progressed.

“I guess the biggest complaint was that the internet was not working so well. At least not in the beginning. A chess player without internet means a chess player without cloud engines. And a chess player without cloud engines means a chess player without preparation,” the eight-time Dutch Chess Champion added.

It’s not just van Wely who is critical of Nepomniachtchi’s comments – fellow Dutchman Anish Giri and Ukrainian GM Vasyl Ivanchuk have also criticised the Russian while defending FIDE as well as local organisers for the tournament that currently is hosting the quarter-finals.