After a last-minute permission to travel outside his war-torn country, the legendary Ukrainian grandmaster today plays the former World Champion Magnus Carlsen in a highly-anticipated knockout match

Amidst the crossfire of conflict and the calculated moves on the chessboard, Vasyl Ivanchuk will be facing one of his biggest rivals: the former World Champion and current World Number One, Magnus Carlsen. The two will meet in the fifth round of the FIDE World Cup, one of the most prestigious chess events globally, taking place in Baku (Azerbaijan). Ivanchuk took part in the event only after a last-minute decision to allow him to travel outside of Ukraine.

Vasyl Ivanchuk is one of the greatest names in chess, bringing glory to his native Ukraine many times in his career. For more than two decades he has been a significant force at the chessboard, winning many international tournaments and awards. A finalist of the 2002 FIDE World Championship, Ivanchuk was ranked the world’s second-strongest player on three occasions – in 1991, 1992 and 2007. He has defeated every world champion from Bobby Fischer onward, including the reigning champion Ding Liren and former champion Magnus Carlsen.

Unfortunately, even Ivanchuk’s dazzling chess mastery and brilliance could not help him escape the horrors of war in his native Ukraine. Lviv, where he resides, has also been bombed and exposed to destruction.

On 4^th July, the International Chess Federation (FIDE) announced that it gave Ivanchuk a wild card, to take part in the Chess World Cup – the world’s strongest knockout chess event. At first, Ukraine’s Ministry of Youth and Sport did not grant Ivanchuk a specific permission to leave the country. Like all the men under the age of 60, Ivanchuk (54) could not travel abroad.

Then followed an open letter by top world players and former world champions - Magnus Carlsen, Viswanathan Anand, Hikaru Nakamura, Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So and Boris Gelfand – which was supported by the entire global chess community. After several tense days, when there was no news, a last-minute decision was made to allow Ivanchuk to travel. Once the confirmation was published, the news quickly spread and was praised across the chess world.

Amid the turmoil of war, under the shadow of darkness, Ivanchuk left his native city of Lviv in the west of Ukraine and found his way to Baku. His sole appearance at the event was enough for fans among the chess players and across the chess community to celebrate the occasion.

Despite the pressures of living in a war zone – torn between seeing his country destroyed and being exposed to the constant risk of losing his or the lives of loved ones – Ivanchuk has shown incredible strength and focus in Baku. He defeated several exceptionally strong world-class grandmasters and today, in round five of the World Cup, he will be playing in a knockout match against former World Champion and the world’s highest-rated player, Magnus Carlsen.

This will be a clash of titans, a match between two of the most creative chess players in history. Whenever a duel between the two takes place it is a chess spectacle, and today’s match in Baku will be closely followed by millions across the globe.

Ivanchuk was reserved about the forthcoming match with Carlsen. Clearly focused on the games ahead, he just briefly said: “I hope it will be interesting”.

While Ivanchuk has an army of fans which overshadows most world players, today especially the support for him will be huge due to the weight he, and every Ukrainian, are carrying on their shoulders.

The match will take place today, at 3 PM local time in Baku (Azerbaijan), when the fifth round of the chess World Cup will be played.

The games will be broadcast live on the FIDE World Cup official website: worldcup2023.fide.com/live.

Text: Milan Dinic
Photo: FIDE / Anna Shtourman (first two), Stev Bonhage (photos 3 and 4)