Comments on: Carlsen, Jakovenko and Topalov win in great 8th round Pearl Spring

By: Thomas

Thomas — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 08:12:24 +0000

@gg: Now I have to ask: Where did you find that the last GP tournament was moved to 2010? Did you even find its location?

But generally I am with you that it will take place some time, somewhere, somehow. I also agree with “me” that the GP was/still is an interesting series of events – and worthy of repetition if we only look at the players participating and the quality (as well as quantity?) of top-level chess. My comment just referred to which top-level events will still take place in 2009 and will be rated for the January 2010 list – I thought this was clear from the context.

BTW, Peter Svidler ( http://www.psvidler.net/ ) still has the GP in his agenda December 7-23, location “to be determined”. But it seems that he hasn’t updated this part of his webpage in a while … .

By: me

me — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 07:39:57 +0000

I think they will push it through somehow. If you take away all the changes, it was an interesting series with many interesting games with some names you don’t see very often in top tournaments. It weren’t always the same faces who were playing against each other. Grand Prix oppened the doors for Wang Yue and Gashimov at least. Few heard of them before Grand Prix. And this is what chess needs.

I like the Grand Prix and would like to see it in the next cycle too (but without changes and all the back and forths)

By: gg

gg — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 06:47:47 +0000

“maybe (but I doubt it) there will be another Grand Prix tournament ”

Things will get messy if FIDE skip the last GP event, that would just disqualify the whole three-year series (after moving the last tournament to 2010).

By: 4i4mitko

4i4mitko — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 03:48:57 +0000

what this guys are wearing would like to see them playing in Afrika Carlsen sucks Topalov is the best sorry:)))

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 21:08:59 +0000

Your list of “candidates for the candidates tournament” may be based on the July 2009 list, when those six names were within ten points of each other. Since then, Kramnik created a gap by winning Dortmund, and Jakovenko fell behind (poor result at the Jermuk Grand Prix).

What’s left, what’s next?
- Radjabov, Leko and Jakovenko play Nanjing
- Gelfand currently plays at the European Club Cup
- Kramnik, Leko, Morozevich and Gelfand will play the Tal Memorial (when their games against each other “count double”: whatever you win your competitor loses)
- Kramnik plays in London
- most other players on the list (but not Leko) will play the World Cup
- maybe (but I doubt it) there will be another Grand Prix tournament with Radjabov, Jakovenko, Leko and Gelfand
Anything else I missed? [maybe various team competitions, unless they are only rated at the end of the season]

If things get close … : “From a selfish point of view” Kramnik probably likes the fact that his colleague, friend and competitor Leko seems to lose a few rating points in Nanjing!?

By: me

me — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:30:19 +0000

Heh, how could I missed that in regulations {slap on the forehead}

Thanks Thomas.

Unless Carlsen drops a lot of rating points until January he will surely qualify by rating. Second spot will be hard fought between Kramnik, Leko, Radjabov, Jakovenko, Morozevich and Gelfand. With a good run any one of those can qualify.

By: Thomas

Thomas — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:09:35 +0000

@”me”: The official document is http://www.fide.com/FIDE/handbook/regscandidates.pdf
See also the report here:
http://www.chessvibes.com/reports/candidates-matches-regulations-published-who-will-qualify/
But initially (prior to the official FIDE announcement) it was mentioned by frogbert (Hans-Arild Runde) on Dailydirt based on “a reliable and trustworthy source”. The issue at the time was also whether MTel (Shirov finishing first) and/or Poikovsky (Shirov finishing last) would be rated for the July 2009 list. Both events were late in submitting their reports which could have biased the official ELO of Shirov (as well as other potential qualifiers for the candidates tournament). In the end, both tournaments were rated.

By: unknown

unknown — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 15:41:45 +0000

I wonder then who will be Nadal or Del Potro.

By: elvis mc

elvis mc — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:18:13 +0000

Carlsen’s calm during games reminds me of Roger Federer!

By: Marian

Marian — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 12:35:45 +0000

The middle term objective for Carlsen is to break the Kasparov’s record of the youngest ever chess champion.

Kasparov became champion at the age of 22 years and 7 months.

Carlsen is turning 19 at the end of November.

The world championship match between Anand and Topalov will be in 2010 and FIDE announced that there will be a world championship match every 2 years. The next match could be either in 2011 (as previously announced) or in 2012.
Even if the match will be in 2012, Carlsen will be 22 years and 1 month the most.

The conclusion:
The only chance for Carlsen of breaking Kasparov’s record of the youngest chess champion is to win the next world championship match.
I think that’s why he’s pressing so hard now.