I moved from being rather emotional and sad (wasn't nice to see Yan breaking while at the same time it was beautiful to see Ding getting emotional) to what I can describe as obtusely discombobulated.
It's not just that Ding wasn't supposed to be there, it's that he wasn't even supposed to finish second at the candidates.
He then arrived at the match under-prepared and out of shape, lagged behind, had twice as many bad positions than Yan and twice as many losing positions Yan should have won but either drew or lost.
I do think that out of everyone currently playing yet not named Magnus he is the most worthy... at least in theory.
To me this proves the whole system is self-defeating. It's as though the very concept is a moot point that can't prove it-self. If a guy who was supposed to finish third at the candidates and was behind throughout the match eventually becomes champion than the system itself that we honour and consider efficient at rendering out the best is obviously ineffective. At the very least it's just not the best system to systematically prove who is the best.
Please understand my point. I don't want people to attack me out of misunderstandings. I'm not saying the issue is Ding, nor am I saying he isn't champion-material. I'm saying the approach of the system at allegedly bringing about the so called best player is obviously conceptually flawed.
My feelings are very similar to the way Dubov looks at things:
(I'm starting the video at the relevant section but I recommend watching it in full!)
youtu.be/3nq9ueqiLKw?t=558
It's not just that Ding wasn't supposed to be there, it's that he wasn't even supposed to finish second at the candidates.
He then arrived at the match under-prepared and out of shape, lagged behind, had twice as many bad positions than Yan and twice as many losing positions Yan should have won but either drew or lost.
I do think that out of everyone currently playing yet not named Magnus he is the most worthy... at least in theory.
To me this proves the whole system is self-defeating. It's as though the very concept is a moot point that can't prove it-self. If a guy who was supposed to finish third at the candidates and was behind throughout the match eventually becomes champion than the system itself that we honour and consider efficient at rendering out the best is obviously ineffective. At the very least it's just not the best system to systematically prove who is the best.
Please understand my point. I don't want people to attack me out of misunderstandings. I'm not saying the issue is Ding, nor am I saying he isn't champion-material. I'm saying the approach of the system at allegedly bringing about the so called best player is obviously conceptually flawed.
My feelings are very similar to the way Dubov looks at things:
(I'm starting the video at the relevant section but I recommend watching it in full!)
youtu.be/3nq9ueqiLKw?t=558