English Chess Forum

The GCT Croatia Rapid and Blitz starts tomorrow, Wednesday 7th July.

Rapid: 10 player Round Robin from Wednesday 7th July to Friday 9th July. Three rounds each day, at 1400, 1530 and 1700 BST. Time Limit: 25 minutes plus 10 seconds increment.

Blitz: 10 player Double Round Robin on Saturday 10th July and Sunday 11th July. Nine rounds each day, commencing at 1400 BST and at 30 minute intervals thereafter. Time Limit: 5 minutes plus 2 seconds increment.

The drawing of lots is during the Opening Ceremony today, Wednesday 6th July, at 1700 BST.

The Players:

Full Tour Participants: Anish Giri; Alexander Grischuk; Shakhriyar Mamedyarov; Maxime Vachier-Lagrave

Wildcards: Viswanathan Anand; Jan-Krzysztof Duda; Jorden van Foreest; Anton Korobov; Ian Nepomniachtchi; Ivan Saric (Rapid); Garry Kasparov (Blitz) (!).

Pairings and Results will be available on ChessResults.

The official commentary may be viewed at www.twitch.tv/kasparovchess.

I'll probably watch it, I'll probably enjoy it. But the whole time I'll be thinking "you good people have managed to arrange an OTB tournament, and it is yet more rapid and blitz. Are you (swearword) trolling me?" I realise I am a termite.

Paul Cooksey wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 06, 2021 7:02 pm

I'll probably watch it, I'll probably enjoy it. But the whole time I'll be thinking "you good people have managed to arrange an OTB tournament, and it is yet more rapid and blitz. Are you (swearword) trolling me?" I realise I am a termite.

The Grand Chess Tour 2021 comprises 18 days of Classical chess, 9 days of Rapid and 6 days of Blitz.

That should give something for everyone.

Looking forward to it, last week's online encounter was a bit drab.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Tue Jul 06, 2021 11:21 pm

Looking forward to it, last week's online encounter was a bit drab.

Which online encounter? I could only think of the one which Levon Aronian won which doesn't seem to fit your description.

I think you mean interpretation. That was the encounter I was thinking of and felt that the players involved didn't take it so seriously or seriously enough. Carlsen resigned in games much earlier than he normally would and Aronian kept going out of book all the time. I got the feeling that wouldn't have gone down the same opening lines had they been playing over the board and would have put up a bit more of a fight, as we are see in the grand chess tour currently, which had some smashing chess played today.

MJMcCready wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 10, 2021 2:26 am

I think you mean interpretation. That was the encounter I was thinking of and felt that the players involved didn't take it so seriously or seriously enough. Carlsen resigned in games much earlier than he normally would and Aronian kept going out of book all the time. I got the feeling that wouldn't have gone down the same opening lines had they been playing over the board and would have put up a bit more of a fight, as we are see in the grand chess tour currently, which had some smashing chess played today.

Each to their own. I quite like to see a break from the relentless theory that accompanies most top level games but I am aware that others may disapprove of anything innovative or offbeat.

LawrenceCooper wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 10, 2021 8:49 am

Each to their own.

I'm not so agreeable. Mark is definitely wrong. I'd like to explain in more detail, but I need to log into a football forum to explain why Sterling should be playing on the right for England.

Kasparov loses in seven moves.

https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2021-gr ... arov_Garry

6 loses in a row now. I was never a particular GK fan, but hard to watch.

Grischuk is amazing, +2=5-1 and looking like the only adult in the room. He is certainly not a boring player, but just seems both able and willing to play a proper classical game of chess to a blitz time control. Probably Vishy could, but he is there for fun.

Kasparov scored 0.5/9 (if I understand the format correctly).

The loss to MVL particularly galling as he was winning and drawing that at various points. Also bad blunder against Giri at the end of that game. Never a chance against Anand though. The draw against Grischuk was solid.

Was Kasparov a late substitute for Saric, or was it always the plan that they would play different parts of the multi-format event? (I see now it was the latter, a planned switch.) Not sure what the event gained from Saric and Kasparov playing (to be brutally honest), other than publicity for the event in Kasparov's case.

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:39 pm

Not sure what the event gained from Saric and Kasparov playing (to be brutally honest), other than publicity for the event in Kasparov's case.

When Saric handed the relay baton to GK they were in good shape.

Some wag has suggested that Magnus should rush out a pamphlet entitled "My crap predecessors".

edit : Where's RDK when you need him?

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Sat Jul 10, 2021 7:39 pm

Not sure what the event gained from Saric and Kasparov playing ...

The participation of a top local player and of a long time World Champion, perhaps.