"Too bad for So, but he could have played somewhere in the last weeks of December as well to combat Firouzja’s maneuver."
Firouzja's (second) 'maneuver' was kept secret until it was too late for Wesley So to react? Though it was clear that Firouzja was "up to something" when he dropped out of world rapid/blitz. "The event" for Wesley So could have been the Eastern Open in Arlington, VA - like Rouen Open running 26-29 December and thus rated for the January list. It had two IMs, maybe So would have needed to motivate some GMs (the likes of Shabalov, Yermolinsky, Finegold, ... stronger ones not really needed?) - Kamsky and Li Min Peng were added to the field of Rouen Open last-minute together with Firouzja.
It might have been hilarious to follow such an asynchronous Elo race with (a matter of definition) small or big obstacles for both players - due to time zone difference and double rounds in both events almost 24h each day in parallel to world rapid/blitz. Advantage So that he would have started with a small to (as Firouzja's matches weren't rated) slightly bigger edge, maybe also that Eastern Open had 8 rounds vs. 7 rounds in Rouen. Disadvantage So arguably that he is more prone to draws also against relatively weak opponents.
BTW Kamsky, like Firouzja, lives in Chartres and is a member of the Chartres Chess Club - he is also involved in local Chess in School programs and organizes local blitz events. This might explain why he was available and willing to help Firouzja - I don't really mean losing against him, but playing the event in the first place.
"Too bad for So, but he could have played somewhere in the last weeks of December as well to combat Firouzja’s maneuver."
Firouzja's (second) 'maneuver' was kept secret until it was too late for Wesley So to react? Though it was clear that Firouzja was "up to something" when he dropped out of world rapid/blitz. "The event" for Wesley So could have been the Eastern Open in Arlington, VA - like Rouen Open running 26-29 December and thus rated for the January list. It had two IMs, maybe So would have needed to motivate some GMs (the likes of Shabalov, Yermolinsky, Finegold, ... stronger ones not really needed?) - Kamsky and Li Min Peng were added to the field of Rouen Open last-minute together with Firouzja.
It might have been hilarious to follow such an asynchronous Elo race with (a matter of definition) small or big obstacles for both players - due to time zone difference and double rounds in both events almost 24h each day in parallel to world rapid/blitz. Advantage So that he would have started with a small to (as Firouzja's matches weren't rated) slightly bigger edge, maybe also that Eastern Open had 8 rounds vs. 7 rounds in Rouen. Disadvantage So arguably that he is more prone to draws also against relatively weak opponents.
BTW Kamsky, like Firouzja, lives in Chartres and is a member of the Chartres Chess Club - he is also involved in local Chess in School programs and organizes local blitz events. This might explain why he was available and willing to help Firouzja - I don't really mean losing against him, but playing the event in the first place.
Interesting insights, I had missed that Kamsky was also a last minute addition to the tournament .