All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?John McKenna wrote:Haven't most World Champions been primarily defensive players? (Alekhine, Tal, Spassky, & Kasparov excepted.)
Don't know and don't want to hijack the thread but it seems to me that Magnus plays like he has something to defend when he plays against his peers, by that I mean those who are 2700+. Find his games increasingly difficult to become enthralled by. I don't know if he's getting better or worse but it seems like he's more solid/defensive in his play.Brian Towers wrote:All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?John McKenna wrote:Haven't most World Champions been primarily defensive players? (Alekhine, Tal, Spassky, & Kasparov excepted.)
PS I think there are several more attacking players you've missed from your list. One RJ Fischer for a start.
Mamedyarov is an attacking player but his game against Khismatullin, yesterday, could have ended in defeat if the latter had... (see the Chessbase report)MJMcCready wrote:Mamedryrov finishes in fine style, brutal stuff.
Brian, you forgot to include that the Romans also gave us Christianity.Brian Towers wrote:All right, but apart from the sanitation, the medicine, education, wine, public order, irrigation, roads, the fresh-water system, and public health, what have the Romans ever done for us?John McKenna wrote:Haven't most World Champions been primarily defensive players? (Alekhine, Tal, Spassky, & Kasparov excepted.)
PS I think there are several more attacking players you've missed from your list. One RJ Fischer for a start.
No, only Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian.John McKenna wrote: Haven't most World Champions been primarily defensive players? (Alekhine, Tal, Spassky, & Kasparov excepted.)
Specifically Pontius Pilate, or was it really Bigus Dickus? "Welease Wodewick!"John McKenna wrote:Brian, you forgot to include that the Romans also gave us Christianity.
Qatar is not an open tournament. Perhaps what you really mean is a large swiss. And anyway it is obvious that, in general, you are going to get more "excitement" whenMJMcCready wrote:Have to say, after watching the chess in Qatar and thinking about what we saw in London, something clearly needs to change with the London Chess Classic. Maybe they should follow suit and just make it an open tournament?
Not about personal preferences. I don't think it satisfied anyone. Point taken about Qatar not being an open.Richard Bates wrote:Qatar is not an open tournament. Perhaps what you really mean is a large swiss. And anyway it is obvious that, in general, you are going to get more "excitement" whenMJMcCready wrote:Have to say, after watching the chess in Qatar and thinking about what we saw in London, something clearly needs to change with the London Chess Classic. Maybe they should follow suit and just make it an open tournament?
1) a large majority of the games are huge mismatches in rating strength
2) a player looking to do well in the tournament needs to win a minimum of 5 out of 9 games
3) there are many dozens of games to watch rather than less than half a dozen.
Doesn't mean that there is no place for tournaments that concentrate on the best players playing the best players. That is after all the only way to determine who the best of the best is. May not satisfy what you as a spectator want, but then you always had the option of watching the open in London...
I was there some of the time and was satisfied for most of that time. Admittedly there were not many in the auditorium when the small number games thinned out. However, it's about quality rather than quantity and being able to sit and see if Carlsen, Anand, et al. play the move you are thinking of. It's not possible to concentrate in the same way at a large Swiss even if there are some seats or a commentary room.... I don't think it satisfied anyone...
That confirms it then - Carlsen has gone defensive (at least with Black).... Petrosian's idea had been to play 15. .. c4. (edit) c4 duly played.
Tim Harding wrote:No, only Tigran Vartanovich Petrosian.John McKenna wrote: Haven't most World Champions been primarily defensive players? (Alekhine, Tal, Spassky, & Kasparov excepted.)
Brian, in truth, I refer you to John Ch. 18 verses 35-40.Brian Towers wrote:Specifically Pontius Pilate, or was it really Bigus Dickus? "Welease Wodewick!"John McKenna wrote:Brian, you forgot to include that the Romans also gave us Christianity.
Well he did, and he should have won, but he didn't. Very big half-point to drop.JustinHorton wrote:Ganguly-Giri interests me. Is Giri going to try and show something with the black pieces?