8 months, flights from Moscow to Munich, but now he is “tired”: Ian Nepomniachtchi’s tattoo behind Russia #1

Ian Nepomniachtchi and his tattoos (Photos by Jyotirmoy Halder of TimesofIndia). BENGALURU: The word ‘tattoo’ is believed to have originated from Polynesian languages, particularly words like ‘tatau’, a term associated with the region’s traditional body art. European sailors encountered Polynesian tattooing and helped bring the word back to European languages. Even thousands of years earlier, the ancient Egyptians were already tattooing their bodies, with some of the earliest known examples being found on female mummies. Researchers suggest that their markings may have served social, ritual or protective purposes.A millennium later, tattoos still carry stories. On the arms of the highest Russian chess grandmaster, Ian Nepomniachtchi, certainly yes.The two-time winner of the prestigious Nepomniachtchi Candidates Tournament, fondly known in the chess world simply as “Nepo”, was originally scheduled to fly from Moscow to Bengaluru on September 2 for the Global Chess League (GCL).He decided to delay his journey and landed on the morning of September 4, the day before the tournament began. The late arrival effectively cost him any chance of a local tour, but the city still managed to get him.“I really like the climate; it’s very mild compared to what I was used to in India when I was there before. And yes, the place is very nice,” a smiling Nepo told TimesofIndia.com during an exclusive interaction as his team, Ganges Grandmasters, kicked off their GCL campaign with a win on Saturday.Whether you were inside the arena or watching from the screen, Nepomniachtchi’s arms were hard to miss. At first glance, they looked less like grandmaster limbs and more like a living canvas, covered in color and intricate artwork that stood out against the otherwise restrained environment of professional chess.The elite circuit is a world of pristine blazers, pressed shirts and strict sartorial codes, where body art is rarely part of the picture. Not so here at GCL.“It doesn’t normally pass the dress code. So this is just for the gym,” Nepo admitted with a laugh as he rolled up his sleeves to reveal his tattoo.

Ian Nepomniachtchi’s right arm tattoo (photo by Jyotirmoy Halder of TimesofIndia.com)

When asked how many he has. “Not that many, just two,” he replied. He carries a powerful mantra on his right arm. “Arise and rise again and again like the Phoenix from the ashes, until the lambs become lions.”“I have this one, but it’s from 2023. I think I played the first GCL right after I got this,” he explained. “I love this quote. I wanted to get it many, many years ago. It’s always hard to decide how to paint something.”The process for his right arm was surprisingly painless, giving the Grandmaster a false sense of security.“This was so easy,” Nepo recalled. “So I felt, well, maybe the whole sleeve is fine. Why not?”A test of patience off the pitchThat casual “why not” on his left arm evolved into an agonizing transatlantic project that tested his resilience on another level.“My nickname is Lachesis and she is the Greek goddess of fate,” he told the website, referring to his favorite social network, lachesisq. “I wanted a Greek goddess and it took me a while to find a master, an artist who specializes (in this).Nepo finally found the right artist, but that artist was in Germany.“The artist I worked with is based in Munich,” he revealed. “It was a bit difficult logistically because I live in Moscow. We did several sessions and it ended up being a total of eight sessions from September to April.”

Ian Nepomniachtchi’s tattoo on his left arm (photo by Jyotirmoy Halder of TimesofIndia.com)

The resulting full sleeve is what can be called a chef-d’œuvre. “In the end, it’s a mix of ideas,” noted the Russian grandmaster while examining the ink. “You have some snake for the Ouroboros and also some chess pieces for whatever reason, but it was my artist’s idea and I didn’t really argue.But for 36-year-old Nepo, it was a classic case of no pain, no gain.“This (right hand) was completely painless and this (left hand) was a hell of a time,” he admitted. “I finished the (left) one this year, but it’s a full sleeve. It hurt quite a bit to be honest and it took a while. So I’ve had enough pain for now. I’ve been patient, I’ve put up with a lot.”Also read: ‘Gukesh’s lifelong dream came too soon’: US CEO Levon Aronian assesses Sindarov clash | ExclusiveNow that the ordeal is over with his completion, he has no plans to return to the tattoo chair anytime soon. Now he just hopes that people can see and understand the meaning of the artwork.“And this is supposed to be a phoenix,” he said with a final smile, pointing to his right arm, “whether you recognize it or not.”