Media comments on chess

[Roger de Coverly]

Do you mean on the TV news?

Yes, it was on within minutes of the game finishing. (The 24 hour news channel though)

[Mick Norris]

Just got home; BBC 5 live had the final moments live on the programme; Sarah Longson was on earlier

[JustinHorton]

Two of the three presenters said chess wasn't for them

That annoys me. I mean why do that? Do you get presenters saying oh God, the sports news, I've always hated sport ever since I was at school?

[Chris Rice]

Nigel Short with a fairly lengthy interview on Sky News. Argued for faster time controls and to get rid of the rest days. Compared it to boxing where after round 1 both players go to the hospital and come back two days later for round 2.

[JustinHorton]

Andrew McGettigan on various match-related issues.

More Andrew McGettigan

Third Andrew McGettigan

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Chris,

Do you have a link for Nigel's Interview.

[Ian Thompson]

The World Championship got a mention on the BBC 1 Breakfast programme this morning at about 7:30 am with a brief clip of a game.

The report wasn't particularly accurate though - they said the whole of today's event was called Armageddon chess and that the winner would receive €1 million. Two of the three presenters said chess wasn't for them and one said they thought Caruana had fallen asleep. They did, though, acknowledge that a lot of people did find chess interesting.

... and anther mention this morning, giving the result. One of the previously disinterested presenters had decided chess is a bit more interesting than he first thought.

[Chris Rice]

Hi Chris,

Do you have a link for Nigel's Interview.

I had a really good look Geoff but couldn't find it. Feel I've let you down there so lobbing in a 45 second interview by Sky News with Magnus by way of comp.

[Nick Grey]

On the BBC sport website some interest in a short spot - No 1 most watched.
Some CEO boasts bn dollars - bigger than facebook & Kim K? What?

[Mick Norris]

Seems to be taken that chess is a sport
BBC website has the video on the sports page and Magnus is on the sports page of the Guardian

[JustinHorton]

Seems to be taken that chess is a sport
BBC website has the video on the sports page

With snooker in the URL

https://www.bbc.com/sport/av/snooker/46384047

[Mick Norris]

Seems to be taken that chess is a sport
BBC website has the video on the sports page and Magnus is on the sports page of the Guardian

Guardian

[Chris Rice]

Seems to be taken that chess is a sport BBC website has the video on the sports page and Magnus is on the sports page of the Guardian

Guardian

Interesting comments from Magnus on the format:

Carlsen believes that the world championship format needs to be spiced up, either with a longer format or more rapid games. “In general it’s good to incorporate more rapid and blitz in the world championship because to some extent it is a purer form of chess because preparation plays less of a role,” he says. “Instead, it is more about quick calculation, intuition and instinct, all of the things I think are important in chess. So I would like that – and also more games in the match to give more room for experiments and taking chances.”

[Roger de Coverly]

Carlsen believes that the world championship format needs to be spiced up, either with a longer format or more rapid games.

To get a decisive result, you need an asymmetry somewhere. Currently it's a game where one player has more time, but the other has draw odds.
Having an odd number of games introduces asymmetry in the number of times a player has White, assuming that to be an advantage. Giving the other player draw odds in the event of a tie produces a champion, if not a winner.

Introducing Rapid and Blitz makes the event into a Triathlon, but perhaps it's a necessary evil when players are so equally matched at the longer forms. Maybe they should also be required to show how good they are at "league" chess, all the moves in 90 minutes or incremental equivalent.

[David Robertson]

Observer covers your two favourite subjects of the moment (no, not beer & porn)