vietnamese_girl_18
44 ( +1 | -1 ) The fantasy chess league for Linares is at www.chessville.com/fantasychess/index.htm
It's always fun trying to predict the winners and losers -- and to find your predictions ranked with hundreds of other chess fans. And when your predictions don't go well, you can always print out the pictures of the players to blame and put big fat red X's across their faces!
calmrolfe
75 ( +1 | -1 ) SarahI remember that you took the lead in the fantasy predictions at the last big tournament. Did you hold on to first place...or did your "horses" stumble at the last hurdle ?
If you are entering the next fantasy predictions competition then I fear the rest of us will just be playing for second place....!!
There will be lots of variables at Linares
How tired is Gary after his exertions against the computer
Has Kramnik played enough classical chess to have got his touch back
Will Vishy continue where he left off at Wijk an Zee
Can Ponomariov play his normal game free of distractions about the forthcoming World Championship cycle.
nwadvana
19 ( +1 | -1 ) A remarkable game by Rajdabov. I'd like to know the basis behind the knight sacrifice at move 21... in the game between Kasparov - Rajdabov.
I dont see no immediate plus for black...
Thanks
atrifix
21 ( +1 | -1 ) It didn't seem like much of a sacrifice to me, just a total blunder--how Kasparov could have missed 27... Nb3+ and 28... Qg6 amazes me. Unfortunately, I didn't find the game so remarkable, just a collapse by Kasparov.
calmrolfe
45 ( +1 | -1 ) Maybe...Radjabov was playing psychological tricks on Gary, making Gary think "I wonder if Radjabov has seen something in the position that I can't see" At the very least it will have made him stop to think long and hard, and maybe eat well into his time allowance.
Just to be safe and to prevent himself playing into prepared analysis he therefore decided to decline the sacrifice, wrongly, as it would now appear.
Kind regards,
Cal
atrifix
17 ( +1 | -1 ) The basis for the sacrificeAfter 22. dxe5 d4, or 22. Bxe5 Nxe5 23. dxe5 d4, things get very complicated. I've yet to see a detailed analysis of the resulting position, but presumably Kasparov didn't like the looks of it.
calmrolfe
6 ( +1 | -1 ) According to the RussiansDeep Fritz analysed it as 22.Bxe5 Nxe5 23.dxe5 Qc7 24.Qe3 Rh6 25.Bg4 Bc5 26.Qg5 d4 27.Bf3 Rf8 as +-
peet69
12 ( +1 | -1 ) I thinkthe 15-year old boy Radjabov will be the surprise of the tournament. And maybe it's a bit early to say, but Kasparov is disappointing. What's wrong with the guy ???
peet69
8 ( +1 | -1 ) BTW,Everyday there's live radio coverage on www.chess.fm
Greetings,
Peter.
calmrolfe
64 ( +1 | -1 ) Computers may be the problemMaybe these high profile man v machine matches, which have recently featured both Kramnik and Kasparov, are to blame. Both men prepared extensively for the computer matches and in the immediate aftermath of the matches, both mens classical chess appears to have suffered badly.
Kramnik was not his usual self at Wijk an Zee and the "real" Kasparov has yet to make an appearance at Linares. Only now, with one major classical event under his belt, has Kramnik returned to the sort of form we expect of him.
Perhaps the top GM's should just concentrate on classical chess and give up chasing the obscene money offered by computer chess.
Cal
peet69
11 ( +1 | -1 ) Maybe, maybe not...Looks to me Kasparov's tired. He made blunder after blunder against Peter Leko yesterday.
tulkos
2 ( +1 | -1 ) hehe,ponomariovs at the bottom.
calmrolfe
25 ( +1 | -1 ) l..o..n..g drawsAfter yet another marathon draw lasting several hours I wonder if someone has super-glued Peter Leko to his chair !!!
Wasn't this the guy who used to be criticised for accepting short draws.......I wonder what his New Year resolution was ? !!
cairo
28 ( +1 | -1 ) Lookslike Kramnik picking up the speed, he beat Ponomariov today and so far Kasparov and Vallejo played a draw. A very exciting game is going right now btw Anand and Leko!
Best wishes Cairo
atrifix
5 ( +1 | -1 ) That'sRadjabov that Kramnik crushed. Ponomariov had a bye.
moriarty
4 ( +1 | -1 ) Anandhas just beaten Leko in round 6.
cairo
44 ( +1 | -1 ) Results and standings after round 6Results:
I got so caught up in Liverpool beating Man Utd that I forgot about Kasparov v Kramnik. I hope Kasparov wins, it would give him a great chance to win the tournament. I think if he draws he still has a good chance but lets hope he goes for the win!
calmrolfe
24 ( +1 | -1 ) Kasparov - KramnikKasparov had the worst of it, piece down he obtained a draw by perpetual check.
Leko seems to be the "dark horse", he is playing very well and some sources are describing him as being the "new Fischer" ! Another win for him today.
Kind regards,
Cal
ordinary_man
76 ( +1 | -1 ) Peter Lekoplayed amazingly...I couldn't even understand some of his moves...they were inviting extremely complex lines of play, the kid just seemed to crumble under peter's aggressive play...A nice draw by Kasparov-Kramnik, typically Kasparov's goes for the kingside attack with white, Kramnik easily defends as black and Kasparov's attack fizled into a draw by repitition...still, at least Kasparov got an attack going...Kramnik utterly embarassed him with the black pieces during their world championship match...Kasparov never really even got any advantage with white against Kramnik's awesome play with black. ANd of course lost his title to the young vladimir,
a_professional_idiot
10 ( +1 | -1 ) QuestionWhy is Kasparov listed as a Russian player when he is from Baku, Azerbaijan? Am I missing something?
1 Vladimir Kramnik (RUS) 4,5 2 Peter Leko (HUN) 4,5 3 Gary Kasparov (RUS) 4 4 Viswanathan Anand (IND) 4 5 Teimour Radjabov (AZE) 2,5 6 Ruslan Ponomariov (UCR) 2,5 7 Francisco Vallejo (ESP) 2 (-1)
Best wishes Cairo
cairo
23 ( +1 | -1 ) Games livecan be followed everyday accept restdays at:
www.todoajedrez.tv/
Enjoy :-))
Best wishes Cairo
zdrak
27 ( +1 | -1 ) api: Kasparov was born in Baku, but spent most of his adult life in Moscow. When the Soviet Union broke up, he had to choose wether to become a citizen of Russia or Azerbijan. He chose the former, but I'm sure he still has a worm spot in his heart for his country of birth!
zdrak
5 ( +1 | -1 ) sorry, that should be: "warm spot" ;-))
cairo
37 ( +1 | -1 ) Results and standings after round 9Results:
1 Vladimir Kramnik (RUS) 5,5 2 Peter Leko (HUN) 5,0 (-1) 2 Gary Kasparov (RUS) 5,0 4 Viswanathan Anand (IND) 4,5 (-1) 5 Teimour Radjabov (AZE) 3,5 5 Ruslan Ponomariov (UCR) 3,5 7 Francisco Vallejo (ESP) 3,0 (-1)
I think ythey are hit by "the drawing fever" in Linares!
Best wishes Cairo
indianking
8 ( +1 | -1 ) Soren..Txs for putting on all results here! I hope Peter Leko will win! Mart
mlazar
9 ( +1 | -1 ) Anyoneable to explain why a GM game such as Vallejo-Kramnik can draw after 13 moves?
zdrak
35 ( +1 | -1 ) Simple explanation: - Kramnik is leading, so a draw with black suits him - Vallejo is the lowest-rated of all participants, so a draw is pretty good for him as well.
Given this situation, it's mighty nice of them to grant us the pleasure of seeing them playing for a full 13 moves and not draw on move 1 :-)
Hope that answers the question.
mlazar
26 ( +1 | -1 ) Thanks ZdrakBeing on his home turf I figured Vallejo would fight harder, but I see your point.. GM chess is way to complex for me to understand. Thought maybe Kramnik may have purchased a bad bottle of wine the night before and just wasn't up to playing... Mike
zucan
29 ( +1 | -1 ) CairoI also want to put my thanks in for you execllent reporting of the event... it saves all kinds of time of going to the web and looking it up myself!
Well, maybe I should qualify that... it saves all kinds of time going to *other* web sites and looking it up... after all, I am always on *this* web site! :)
Zucan
moriarty
8 ( +1 | -1 ) Latest Results.All 3 games are drawn in round 11...and it looks like all players are eagerly against war...
cairo
46 ( +1 | -1 ) Results and standings after round 11Results: