The Chess Thread! (not the record label!!!)

[T.D.]

Magnus is trying to break Karpov's record supertournament TPR (11/13 for 2977 @ Linares 1994).

Today, the always unpredictable Ivanchuk played a funny novelty on move 7 (!) of the Russian Game (Petroff):

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. N:e5 d6 4. Nf3 N:e4 5. Nc3 N:c3 6. d:c3 Nc6 7. Bf4 Qf6!?

Russian online commentators (Shipov, Sakaev) waxed lyrical about it. The game (vs. the Carlsen-overshadowed prodigy Karjakin) was drawn in 18 moves.

[Swinging Swede]

I missed that in all the Magnus excitement. The funniest novelty in the Petroff was the one Anand played against Zapata back in the 80s: 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Bf5?? 6.Qe2 1-0!

You're right about Karjakin being overshadowed. In any other time in history having a +2700 Elo at the age of 18 would be seen as incredible, but he has the bad timing of achieving that at the same time the 17-year-old Carlsen is going for +2800 (and possibly +2900 according to some).

[connoisseur series500]

Last month at M-Tel, Chucky was threatening to break Karpov's record.

Karpov set his record at a star studded Linares event. Magnus' tournament cannot compare in terms of quality of opposition.

[T.D.]

Looks like Magnus can't set the record, having drawn Onischuk and Jakovenko in the past two rounds. I haven't done the TPR math, but the best he could do is 9/11 vs. Karpov's 11/13.

Funny thing: though it's rather obvious that the Linares 1994 lineup was stronger, due to ratings inflation the Foros 2008 field actually has the higher average Elo, 2712 vs. 2680.

[Swinging Swede]

We have a new World No. 1, at least temporarily, and it is not Magnus Carlsen who missed his chance, but Alexander Morozevich who today beat Ponomariov in Tal Memorial, which he is leading.

1 Morozevich 2799

2 Anand 2798

3 Carlsen 2787

4 Ivanchuk 2784

5 Topalov 2777

6 Kramnik 2770

[connoisseur series500]

Moro and Chucky are both playing like they belong amonst the top five. Kramnik seems to be holding back. Anand hasn't been playing much classic chess of late. Magnus is on the rise.

Things are looking very interesting indeed.

[T.D.]

Moro is always teasing his many fans (of which I'm one)...directly upon attaining the #1 live rating, he got beaten by Chuckles. Granted, this can happen to anyone.

[connoisseur series500]

Moro is always teasing his many fans (of which I'm one)...directly upon attaining the #1 live rating, he got beaten by Chuckles. Granted, this can happen to anyone.

I saw some of the game live on the internet. Fantastic endgame by both players. Great technique by Chucky.

Did you see the video on chessbase on round 7? It showed Chucky desperately trying to make the time control. He almost knocked over several things on the table.

[T.D.]

Just saw it. Chuck often gets into time trouble.

Looks like he'll win the Tal Memorial, as Moro lost to Kamsky.

Dunno if this should be on the chess babes thread, but here's a pic of Chucky's ex-wife, WGM Alisa Galliamova (RUS).

I saw (didn't meet) them at the 1995 Intel PCA Rapids in NYC. Chucky lost in the finals to Kaspy. Among many other chess notables there, I also saw the (then) long-haired and pudgy Kramnik (walked past him on the street).

Edited August 27, 2008 by T.D.

[connoisseur series500]

Just saw it. Chuck often gets into time trouble.

Looks like he'll win the Tal Memorial, as Moro lost to Kamsky.

Dunno if this should be on the chess babes thread, but here's a pic of Chucky's ex-wife, WGM Alisa Galliamova (RUS).

I saw (didn't meet) them at the 1995 Intel PCA Rapids in NYC. Chucky lost in the finals to Kaspy. Among many other chess notables there, I also saw the (then) long-haired and pudgy Kramnik (walked past him on the street).

Current US woman's champ, Anna Zatonskih (originally from the Ukraine) once told me a funny story about Vassily Ivanchuk and his former wife, Alisa Gallliamova. She told me that Chucky always lived in a world of his own. Anna had just moved to the US at that time and her English wasn't yet perfect, but she explained that they had a young child at the time, and the Ukrainian team used to joke about how "you had Vassily in one room studying chess while Alisa was in another room doing the same; while baby was in another room crying."

Well maybe the story isn't too funny afterall, but the union of the three was not obviously destined to last.

[connoisseur series500]

Interview of Vassily Ivanchuk, who just won the Tal Memorial tournament. Chucky is popular with chess fans owing to his childlike demeanor.

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4869

[T.D.]

It's an Ivanchuk exacta, as he also won the Tal Memorial Blitz:

1. Ivanchuk 23.5

2. Kramnik 22.5

3. Carlsen 21

4. Mamedyarov, Svidler 20

6. Grischuk, Karjakin, Leko 18

9. Gelfand, Kamsky 17.5

11. Ponomariov 17

12. Grachev 14.5

13. Alekseev, Karpov, Morozevich 14

16. Eljanov, Movsesian 12.5

18. Tkachiev 11.5

[Swinging Swede]

It has finally happened. 17-year-old Magnus Carlsen is the new world #1 after beating Radjabov in Bilbao at the same time as Anand lost to Topalov, although we need decimals to separate them. If Ivanchuk had won today *he* would have been the new #1, but instead he lost and dropped to 5th place! It is getting awfully close at the top.

1 Carlsen 2791,3

2 Anand 2790,9

3 Morozevich 2787

4 Topalov 2786

5 Ivanchuk 2782

6 Kramnik 2772

All but Moro and Kramnik participate in Bilbao so the #1 spot could switch hands several times during the rest of the tournament.

[connoisseur series500]

Congratulations Magnus!

He plays Anand tomorrow. Lots of action ahead.

Went over Anand's loss to Topa today. Vishy played rather weakly. Looks like both he and Kramnik are distracted and looking ahead. But what of Topa? Doesn't he have a match against Kamsky approaching. How come he isn't playing as listlessly as the other two?

[T.D.]

Yes, the Topalov-Anand situation was strange. Looked like Anand played right into one of Topalov's prepared lines (he and Cheparinov have hatched many strong novelties in the Queen's Indian), got into time trouble (Chessdom at one point said El Topo had an hour left vs. Anand's 18 min - how often does that happen?) and lost meekly.

You wouldn't think Topo would use big novelties in the event, because Kamsky (based on admittedly ancient history, the 1996 Karpov match) might be expected to use the Queen's Indian.

Perhaps it's the big paycheck. I read on Mig's blog that the first prize is 150,000 Euro. Even the tail-ender gets 30,000 (all less 24% in taxes).

[T.D.]

Young Magnus just (Round 6) took over the lead at the Bilbao supertournament. He gave Aronian a serious thrashing.. Beat him like a rented mule, so to speak...

[connoisseur series500]

Young Magnus just (Round 6) took over the lead at the Bilbao supertournament. He gave Aronian a serious thrashing.. Beat him like a rented mule, so to speak...

I was watching part of the game live. It was a beautifully played attack by Magnus. I particularly like the move 24. Bb7! which chessbase did not give an exclamation. It's a difficult move to find while 27. Rxb4! looks like a more obvious move to make. Nice opening prep by Magnus to sacrifice two pawns for an attack in this game.

[Swinging Swede]

Carlsen got 4 days at the top this first time. After his second loss in a row and after Anand also losing today, we have a new #1 : Vassily Ivanchuk! At 39 years of age, this is his first time ever on that spot, and it's the fourth #1 in a month. Could be a fifth if Topalov finishes well. Actually, if Chucky hadn't won today, Moro would have been back as #1 without playing!

1 Ivanchuk 2791

2 Morozevich 2787

3 Carlsen 2786

4 Topalov 2785

5 Anand 2784

6 Kramnik 2772

7 Aronian 2761

Anand dropped to #5! Aronian is on the way up again, beating Topalov yesterday and Anand as Black today.

[T.D.]

Interesting, but I don't pay much attention to the short-term ratings fluctuations. Here the top six players are in a band seven Elo points wide. I can't imagine the differences are "statistically significant," as they say. I hope tournament organizers don't make too many invitation decisions based on differences of 1-5 ratings points...

[connoisseur series500]

Topalov-Carlsen was a great game yesterday. Carlsen played a dragon and the two went at each other. I particularly appreciate Topalov's Qa5-Qd5-Qd1 intermezzo. Beautiful!

[T.D.]

Yes, there have been a lot of exciting games in this event. Topalov and Magnus always play for wins in every game, and the 3-1-0 scoring system seems to be encouraging aggressive play.

Interesting that Magnus tried to revive his Dragon system with 12...a6, which looks kind of slow and had previously led to a defeat for him.

[Added] In the women's KO World Championship, chess fox Alexandra Kosteniuk (hey, she encourages the image by publishing pinup shots) made the Finals. Less pulchritudinous young stars Hou Yifan (14 years old?) and Humpy Koneru will play rapid tie-breaks for the other slot.

I must be out of touch, or just plain wrong, but had the impression that FIDE KOs had 4-game semifinals and 6-game finals. For sure some old men's KO events did.

Edited September 11, 2008 by T.D.

[connoisseur series500]

I thought the same too. Weird.

[aparxa]

Not the most captivating final against Hou Yifan, but Alexandra Kosteniuk has won the latest World Championship 2.5/1.5.

[aparxa]

*World Women's Championship

[connoisseur series500]

The World Chess Championship match begins tomorrow between Vishwanathan Anand and Vladimir Kramnik.

I rate Kramnik as a slight favorite. He wins +1.

What do you guys think?