Ian Alexandrovich Nepomniachtchi (born 14 July 1990), often called "Nepo," is a Russian chess grandmaster. A immensely talented but volatile player, he is one of the few people to have a lifetime plus score against Magnus Carlsen in classical chess (from their youth days). He won the Candidates Tournament twice consecutively (2020/21 and 2022), a rare feat. He lost two World Championship matches: a crushing defeat to Carlsen in 2021 and a heartbreaking tiebreak loss to Ding Liren in 2023. Known for his rapid speed of play and aggressive style, he is also a former semi-professional Dota 2 player.