American GM Hans Moke Niemann released a Q&A video on his YouTube channel on April 18. Niemann showed that he is in Monaco, shared impressions from his vacation, and mentioned the upcoming match with Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi.

— Where did you wake up today?

— In the Cote d’Azur!


— What are your thoughts on Monaco?

— Nice, peaceful, safe.


— Your fans want to know what you do every day.

— I play tennis. I try to swim laps if I have a pool available. And I study chess.


— Any matches coming up?

— Big match against Ian Nepomniachtchi in Belgrade, Serbia. You can watch it on Endgame.ai. You can also come to the venue at the Hyatt Regency in Belgrade. This is actually the same hotel, formerly known as the Intercontinental, where Fischer and Spassky played and stayed. So, you can come in person as well. Tickets will be free or very cheap, but limited.

American GM Hans Moke Niemann and Russian GM Ian Nepomniachtchi will play a Classical exhibition match in Belgrade from May 29 to June 1. The match will feature a 60+30 time control. Niemann’s offer for the event is $100,000, where $50,000 will be donated to charity.

Former World Champions Bobby Fischer and Boris Spassky played an unofficial rematch of their 1972 World Championship in 1992. The second part of the match was played in Belgrade in the Blue Hall of the Sava Centar. Hyatt Regency and Sava Centar are located in the same neighborhood, New Belgrade.

Credit: Lennart Ootes