Shirov seems certain to qualify.
Aronian seems a better bet than Kramnik at this stage.

Kramnik is i bad shape. This tournament seems to be a second disaster for Vladimir in a row (Dourtmund being the first).

Kramnik has always played for draws with black. Solid play with minimum risk. In matchplay this is OK - But in tournaments!!???!!!?

Silly strategy. He is too old now to change this behaviour. Also it is a "lazy approach".

With the good memory players in the elite have-Remembering solid drawing lines makes "actual play at the board" almost nonexistant! Kramnik does indeed draw many games without actually calculating lines at the board. He merely recalls lines from his memory...

@Mike: Nice point, but entirely disconnected from reality.

Have a look at todays game and you'll see Kramnik playing an opening which is not exactly drawish. If you had been following his recent performances you might also have noticed a clear attempt at sharpening his opening play.

He might have a lazy streak, but he's fighting it!

I don't think that Shirov already qualified. If Shirov loses two, and if Kramnik wins two, then both Aronian and Kramnik have more points (regardless which system). Or am I missing something?

Are you sure Shirov is already classified for Bilbao ?
I think he needs at least a draw.

Hm... true, because of the football system. Thx, corrected.

Shirov qualifies if he draws the two last games, no ?

While it's highly likely that Shirov will qualify, I can't see how he has at this stage. By my count, he won't if the last rounds go like this:
Aronian 0-1 Kramnik
Wang Hao 1-0 Shirov

Shirov 0-1 Aronian
Kramnik 1-0 Wang Hao

Assuming the current scoreboard is correct, that'd qualify Aronian and Kramnik with 9 points each, leaving Shirov third with 8. Certainly unlikely, but not impossible.

"With the good memory players in the elite have-Remembering solid drawing lines makes “actual play at the board” almost nonexistant! Kramnik does indeed draw many games without actually calculating lines at the board. He merely recalls lines from his memory…"

This is really silly, although typical ("if I had the time to memorise the entire Najdorf, i would be a grandmaster, too"). You grossly underestimate the level at which these guys routinely operate. I remember Svidler-Kramnik, Mexico 2008, where in the press conference Svidler showed an almost ten-move line he had calculated deep in the middlegame, and said that he dared not go for it because he was not sure who was winning after that. The game started from the drawing opening Petroff and ended in a draw.

"...because of the football system"
No - it'd work the same with standard scoring: Kramnik and Aronian on 3.5; Shirov on 3.

Right. Sorry for the confusion.

everytime Shirov pulls off one of his sustained winning streaks I can't help but wonder what would have happened in that Kasparov match...

any idea of the tie break system if two equal in pts. If Kramnik and Aronian draw tomorrow and then in the last round shirov beats aronian and kramnik beats Wang, then we have a tie between Kramnik and Aronian for the second spot.

It's raining pawns! Shirov wins with his old love, f3 against Nimzo. Didn't they beat that out of him back in the 90s?
Surely this is not the kind of game to bring up anything about drawishness, memorized lines or theoretical correctness.

Wow, great game, look at the pawn duos and phalanxes!

If, if, if...
There has been a numbe of draw and why should the last two rounds be any different?

In the line given I would be really surprised if someone could convince me of Kramnik's drawing chances after 37... d2.
Seems Shirov went all-out again and Kramnik was not being himself (at least in style). Both have to prove something? Anyone knowing the all time score between Kramnik and Shirov?

ohhhh.... nice music with the video! Ahmad Jamal perhaps? Beats all that computerized slick stuff that's usually on there!
great coverage. Thank you !

Got to love Shirov for his fighting spirit and uncompromising style . Sometimes it brings you awkward positions like he had against Wang Hao , but he's one of those players like Topalov who often seem to find their way through complications even though their position is objectively inferior initially

I also like the man for his modesty , i spent so many hours listening to him through the chess dvds he recorded that i feel happy for him that he's done well

i hope he carries on and qualifies :)

Yes according to www.chessgames.com Kramnik leads to Shirov 19 W and 17 L

Peter

All I know is Vishy owns Shirov!

Many commentators seems to think I critisised the "Nimzo-variation" in todays Shirov-Kramnik game but no, I merely critisised that Kramnik has been playing solid boring chess for so long that it is now to late to change his old "lazy-style". I quote myself:

"He is too old now to change this behaviour".

Just to clarify for those who misunderstood.