Comments on: Six lead at Corus with one round to go

By: Mike

Mike — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 16:17:06 +0000

I’m watching the games round 13 live. I think Dominguez has got a strong position probably wining after 23.Bd3 or even after 24.b4. It was then necessary to act rapidly because the position was complicated, not to check mat in short term but to win in the end game with probably one piece up against one some pawns, and Karjakin was very conscious of the position and he was gambling very well..!

After 24…..Qb6 for example, it seems it was urgent do kill the Black’s defending Bishop at g6, for example: 25.Bxg6..fxg6 26.O-O-O…Qxb4 27.Qxg6…Qb2+ 28.Kd2…Rfd2+ 29.Ke2…Rxd1 30.Rxd1 and now White would have a big advantage because the Black’s knight and bishop are pined, the black queen has no where to go and the Black’s rook has no column to play.

It seems Dominguez managed to find a wining position again, but this time the position was much more complicated and he probably was in time trouble…

A really dramatic decisive game..! Congrats to Karjakin stubborn defense and agile grasp of his wining chances!!!

By: hektor

hektor — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 10:25:57 +0000

Atila, are you sure that is not clear who is number 1 now??? Check the ELO table on the right column and you will understand…
Abour 6 players on the top in Corus… This is because the top 2 players doesn’t participate. I think that if Topalov or Anand was participate the situation on the top will be different….

By: Clifford

Clifford — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 08:29:07 +0000

A six-way tie has happened before in a strong GM tournament – Brno 1991, a tournament with Shirov and two Polgars.

By: Atila

Atila — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:13:55 +0000

It’s all because of Kasparov, after his retirement there is no clear no. 1, and so you have now 6 tied for first.. But maybe this is way is better, you have more competition.

By: leigh

leigh — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 05:03:42 +0000

Yifan beat Vallejo Pons,F (2702), not bad

By: Anno

Anno — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:24:00 +0000

Do we have any space to cover the top level amateur tournament? It seems some familiar people are playing in Corus C next year )

By: Xtra

Xtra — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 01:21:54 +0000

it does seem like Radjabov has a good shot at claiming first prize. Carlsen does have a fair chance as well, if he wins (though unlikely) he wins and if he draws and everyone else draws he wins (and well, draws happen!). Then I think Dominguez and Karjakin has some chances because both will try to win that game, so its likely that it wont end in a draw at least.

I feel sorry for Tiger who just blew his otherwise faboulous tournament last two rounds. still he has shown great chess, hope he wins in the last round to finish at a top place at least!

By: val

val — Sun, 01 Feb 2009 00:05:58 +0000

Getting somewhat puzzled about posting procedure here. Good luck with it to everybody!

By: val

val — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 23:30:46 +0000

Congratulations to Mother Russia (and father Nepal) on a remarkable achievement of their teenage hopeful Anish Giri!

By: pete

pete — Sat, 31 Jan 2009 22:29:47 +0000

this tournament looks weird with so many tied up for first after 12 rounds … last few years it seems to be a recurring scheme at Corus, since 2005 there is always more than one winner … wonder why that happens