English Chess Forum

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:50 pm

Exchange French in Nakamura v Caruana

From a Petroff, so Paul was right about that one

Tim Harding wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:32 pm

Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 1:21 pm

Is this Carlsen's last classical chess of 2019?

Unlikely. Although he is not listed on the Norway team for the European Team Championship, that could change.

More likely, he will be one of the four in the Grand Chess Tour Finals in London in December. He is top of the standings at present with two rapid/blitz events to come, in one of which he will feature.

There is also the European Club Cup but I don't think he usually plays in that.

I too was thinking that Svenson's "likely" was a bit premature as regards Carlsen's 2019 performance rating, but the GCT Finals will only be a maximum of 4 games, so how much damage can that realistically do to Carlsen's 2019 performance calculations? (If he loses the semi-final, it would only be two games, so I think two draws [or a win and a loss against the same opponent so effectively the same result] and two losses is the worse he can do over four games). Possibly none of the likely fellow qualifiers for London have the rating differential to seriously impact Carlsen's 2019 performance. So maybe "likely" is justifiable.

More likely Carlsen would want to try and break 2900 performance for a calendar year, over I am not sure how many games (about 50?).

Back in the chess, four draws on the top four boards would be a bit boring, but looks possible.

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:45 pm

Back in the chess, four draws on the top four boards would be a bit boring, but looks possible.

Wang Hao seems to have decided right away to settle for a draw.

Looks the right decision so far, though you wonder if he checked what openings had been played on the other boards first (would that be allowed)?

I wondered if Wang might be letting his clock run down a bit while he thinks about what developments are taking place elsewhere.

Mick Norris wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 2:39 pm

From a Petroff, so Paul was right about that one

I'm claiming to have guessed Lev and Wang Hao's intentions correctly too. I'm surprised by Alekseenko-Vitiugov though. I was expecting it to be in the interest of both players to play a crazy game. Maybe they are thinking high tension long grind, per the famous KvK game 24 approach. But looks a very dull position to me

Presumably the candidates isn’t their only consideration - there’s quite a lot of money at stake for this tournament alone.

true Richard, but if you want to maximise your earnings some risk justified. The implied odds of a candidate's place and the invitations that come with a raised profile against the loss of earnings here must be very favourable.

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 3:12 pm

I wondered if Wang might be letting his clock run down a bit while he thinks about what developments are taking place elsewhere.

Good point; he seemed to be letting Howell have an unaccustomed lead on the clock, but David is having a long think now too

Alekseenko seems to have been twenty-five minutes over his present move, possbly wondering whether he wants to stir it up. Which might be good news for the man sitting opposite him.

It'd be quite something if Vitiugov were to make it given that he was the guy against whom Wang Hao was plus seven in round nine.

Caruana draws as does Magnus

Damp squib of a round at the top.
Any signs of life on the lower boards?

JustinHorton wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 3:54 pm

Alekseenko seems to have been twenty-five minutes over his present move, possbly wondering whether he wants to stir it up. Which might be good news for the man sitting opposite him.

It'd be quite something if Vitiugov were to make it given that he was the guy against whom Wang Hao was plus seven in round nine.

Vitiugov's not going to qualify from the GP, nor is he eligible for a wildcard, so this is his only chance, whereas a draw would I think make Alekseenko eligible for a wildcard