Who will win Amber? – second preview video
12 March 2010, 8.57 CET | By Peter Doggers | Filed under: Reports | Tags:
Tomorrow the first round of the 2010 Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament will be played, and we have a second preview video to get you warmed up. The world’s number one, Magnus Carlsen, is there. Vladimir Kramnik, who won many times, is there. Levon Aronian, who won the last two editions, is there. Who do you think will win?
The 19th Amber Blindfold and Rapid Tournament takes place at the Palais de la Mediterranée in Nice, France, from March 12 to 25, 2010. The event is organized by the Association Max Euwe of chess maecenas Joop van Oosterom, which is based in Monaco. The total prize-fund is € 216,000.
Preview video by Macauley Peterson
The world’s number one player, Magnus Carlsen, is the top-seed in Nice. Also present are Levon Aronian, the winner of the past two Amber tournaments, and Vladimir Kramnik, who won the Amber tournament a record six times. These three players are clearly the big favourites, but what about Alexander Grischuk, who replaced Alexander Morozevich less than a week ago? Or the ever unpredictable Vasily Ivanchuk? Or Ruslan Ponomariov, who is back among the world’s elite?
The following twelve grandmasters will take part (between brackets their country and their rating in the March 1, 2010 world rankings): Magnus Carlsen (Norway, 2813), Vladimir Kramnik (Russia, 2790), Levon Aronian (Armenia, 2782), Alexander Grischuk (Russia, 2756), Boris Gelfand (Israel, 2750), Peter Svidler (Russia, 2750), Vasily Ivanchuk (Ukraine, 2748), Vugar Gashimov (Azerbaijan, 2740), Ruslan Ponomariov (Ukraine, 2737), Sergey Karjakin (Russia, 2725), Leinier Dominguez (Cuba, 2713) and Jan Smeets (The Netherlands, 2651).
Every day four sessions will be played, two blindfold sessions and two rapid sessions. The first session starts at 14.30 CET. The fourth session finishes around 20.00 CET. The final round on March 25 starts at 12.30 CET. March 17 and 22 are rest days. The rate of play is 25 minutes per game per player. With every move made in the blindfold games 20 seconds is added to the clock, with every move made in the rapid games 10 seconds is added.
Like in previous years, many more will be posted on the official website during the tournament. Besides, you can expect something new this year: live chess with audio commentary, streaming footage from the playing hall and live commentary sessions with the top GMs!
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As I posted in a previous article.
1. Kramnik
2. Carlsen
3. Aronian
I think magnus carlson will win the amber turnament…i look forward to seeing carlson become the world champion!
Kramnik!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
Kramnik again will show that he’s invencible in blind chess
He’ll perform a perfect score in blind.
….
in rapid he’ll do it again.
Funny, that many chose Smeets: go on Dutch!
Chucky will surprise us all!
Pity that Moro won’t play.
@mauricio
I second that:)
Is Amber Blindfold the true indication of a player’s talent? No board, no tricks from the opponent, just the pieces and the imagination…
@Laballed
Thank you!
I second you “seconding” that!
Do they play the same opponent in Rapid and Blindfold with White and Black? Ie 4 games against same guy with RR? or how does it work?
Frankly it’s a stupid and silly concept…but i’ll end up following it anyway, I guess.
@CAL
They play Blinfold, they switch colors, and the play rapid.
2 games against each other.
I think Nakamura is saying . anybody can win this event because I AM NOT IN LIST.
Great tournement thanks to van Oosterom, the players love it, the (internet)audience loves it. I don’t understand the critisism ..it’s the 19th guys! If you don’t love this Amber you don’t love chess! I’m realy looking forward to Carlsen”s performance as he is the favorite, it would be great if he can perform again under this pressure, but would looooove to see Ivanchuk and Aronian share first place!
1. Aronian
2.-4. Smeets, Kramnik, Carlsen
As always, Kramnik will be a force in blindfold, as for rapid, he isn’t that bad either
Both Carlsen and Aronian are way too strong. But who knows, Ivanchuk could decide he wants to win the tournament and that’s all over for everyone.
Now the question is, who will be fighting for the last place?
Magnus Carlsen about Amber2010 on his blog:
http://arcticsec.no/index.php?button=blog&main_image=35
Carlsen is the favourite to win and the top seed.
Good enough reason to vote for him if you ask me.
It’s good to be numero uno
I think Kramnik will win the blindfold event, his record speaks for itself. A Four time winner and seven time winner;overall, wow ! that’s quite impressive!
His best days are behind him in the rapidplay event, although he still remains one of the strongest speed chess players in the world.One must not forget that he defeated Kasparov in (two separate Intel Grand Prix Events in New York -1994 and Moscow Kremlin 1996).
Kramnik has a poor record against Grischuck.If he loses one or both games,I doubt he will win the overall event.If he does; either the former or the later- he must look to target the other two newcomers to the event ;Smeets and Ponamoriov
“Kramnik!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
.
Kramnik again will show that he’s invencible in blind chess
He’ll perform a perfect score in blind.”
Yeah.
why there are always only 3 live games?? bad, we want see all games.
Because only three games are played at the same time.
oops, yes?
all games at the same time were better:)