RFI, the French news and current affairs public radio station, covered in details the silver medal of Maxime Vachier-Lagrave in the Candidates 2021. “Overall, the result is disappointing but I am glad that we finished the event,” Maxime Vachier-Lagrave told RFI from Yekaterinburg, where the event was held.
Vachier-Lagrave continued,
“There have been two parts to the second half of the tournament. In the first four games, I had lots of difficult decisions to make over the board. I made at least six serious mistakes in critical positions which is what cost me so much in those games. If you want to get a shot at the title, you have to play much better in such moments,”
MVL speaking for RFI
Maxime Vachier-Lagrave also noted that psychological pressure was too much for him, as in every event he played in the past six months the Candidates was on the back of his mind.
While the French player is disappointed, fans and chess professionals see his overall second place as success. The ECU Secretary General commented, “The strength of European Chess is an obvious fact. It was a great result of Ian Nepomniachtchi (RUS), but also in second place was Maxime Vachier-Lagrave (FRA) and in third Anish Giri (NED).”
Replay:
Candidates Chess 2021: Vachier-Lagrave – Alekseenko 1-0
Candidates Chess 2021: Nepo – Vachier-Lagrave 1/2-1/2
Candidates Chess 2021: Ding Liren – Vachier Lagrave 1/2-1/2
