Comments on: Morozevich virtually world’s no. 1

By: Damian Nash

Damian Nash — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 03:17:18 +0000

It’s poetic that Moro, often called the Tal of the 21st century, hit the world #1 mark in the Tal memorial tournament with a Tal-like game displaying Tal-like energy and creativity. I’d love to see this guy get a match for the title.

By: Ritch

Ritch — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 17:34:35 +0000

Of the above discussion, it seems that Chess960 is ideal for Morozevich style. How well he has did it in that variant? Anybody knows?

By: raj

raj — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 19:03:34 +0000

Moro’s today’s loss shows that LIVE rating is just for fun.

By: MvE

MvE — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 18:01:12 +0000

Corus 2005, by the way

By: MvE

MvE — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 17:59:09 +0000

I am not sure. I do think that Morozevich’ opening play is part of it. I don’t remember where I read Kasparov’s remark, who said of Morozevich that he forces his opponents to think from move seven (related to his c5-c6 against Ponomariov). Furthermore, Morozevich is unpredictable and extremely dangerous in messy positions. This has a psychological impact on his opponents, who must feel tense.
I remember a story about Sokolov who was once about to face him. He was nervously wondering if he should play (after 1. d4, d5) 2. Nf3, “but oh hell, then I get the Chigorin”, or 2. c4, when he would risk an Albin! He decided to go for the latter, and although he obtained a practically winning position immediately after the opening, he was wiped in short order.
No player is safe from Morozevich. He is especially not easy to “neutralize”, which is hard enough when facing any super-GM by the way.
Perhaps this causes his opponents to play worse.
Naturally, Like any other super-GM Morozevich has excellent skills in any facet of chess. Nobody has a particular clear weakness.

By: arne

arne — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:27:14 +0000

Frankly, I don’t think his strength has anything to do with his choice of openings. It’s just that he seems to like this kind of play, but he feels at home in any kind of position, really. Like any great player, he is very much all-round and I’m sure he’d have similar scores when playing the Queen’s Gambit Declined.

By: Oak

Oak — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:20:03 +0000

Interesting. We should ask ourselves whether Moro wins more often because of his obscure opening variations or just because he outplayes his oppontents. If the latter is true then a solid opening repertoire would make him virtually unbeatable. The truth is propably somewhere in the middle as he feels more comfortable in the unusal positions that he strives for with his choice of openings. I hope practice will teach us in the near future.

Futhermore I would like to know Moro’s ambitions now he is at the top of the rating list. I can recall an interview where he states that he won’t be playing chess for much longer, perhaps this has changed lately. So, Peter these are some questions you can ask him

By: arne

arne — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 12:00:28 +0000

Perhaps, Oak, but in a match, preparation is not only important for the opponent, but also for Morozevich himself. Suppose he randomly plays the Chigorin defence and his opponent finds a good way to fight it. He then has to play some other obscure variation, risking another refutation. A match may perhaps have more games then there are “good obscure” opening lines, even for someone like Morozevich. I think it was Kasparov who said you can’t play matches if you are not willing to play main lines.

By: Oak

Oak — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:56:12 +0000

I wonder whether Moro would be a good match player. It is almost impossible to predict his opening schemes, so why wouldn’t he?

By: arne

arne — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 07:44:44 +0000

So now Morozevich even manages to beat super-GMs without moving his e-pawn?!