Is it over yet? All the games complete? Don't worry, they should have the hang of it by the time they're down to eight players or so. It was KO Monday in Khanty-Mansiysk as the rapid and blitz tiebreaks eliminated the last of the 64 first-round losers. All of the real favorites are through. There were a few tight battles, including Var Akobian's loss to Roiz in an armageddon blitz game he was very close to drawing with black. That finished off a bad round for the USA. Of the eight Yanks, only Kamsky, Onischuk, and Shulman made it through, the last two on tiebreaks today. Full results chart at TWIC. The two high seed upset victims, Alekseev and Ponomariov, completed their comebacks by winning on the second day and then winning in rapids. More in a bit after I have a chance to go through the games and take a look at tomorrow's round two pairings. Still very busy.
For those interested in my day job, I'm appearing on "Special Report With Brit Hume" on Fox News tonight, 6pm-7pm EST, talking about The Boss's arrest. It'll probably last just a few seconds. It will provide a break from their 24/7 Aruba murder coverage. Latest is that Garry's mother saw him at the complaint hearing today and says he looks and sounds well. He was allowed to receive some books and a chess set. No official visits though, and the complaint was dismissed out of hand. He's scheduled for release on Thursday.
UPDATE: Okay, back in action. I hope someone in addition to my mother and sister saw me on Fox News. I was right, it was about eight seconds of screen time. But anchor James Rosen, an excellent fellow and good soul, quoted me again later, when I replied to a question about whether this jail time would dissuade Garry from his political activities with, "anyone who has followed his career in chess or in politics knows he will come back stronger and angrier."
Back to the World Cup in the frozen tundra. 64 players have said goodbye after the first round with no real shocks. Eljanov was the highest rated player to get the boot down on the 19th board. He lost to Hossain of Bangladesh. You have to go all the way down to board 31 for the next upset and at that point they really aren't upsets. It was a great round for China, with six of eight players moving on to round two. That's the second-most of any nation but nothing compared to the mighty Russian machine, which moved an amazing 16 players into the second round.
I've never been a fan of the KO system for serious events, especially the world championship. The necessity to play rapid and blitz games every third day is terrible and a single loss can doom a favorite. But when you look at the results of most of these events after a few rounds, you can see the cream rising to the top regardless. Usually we lose one or two big guys early on (Ivanchuk going out early in the last one in 2005), but swiss system tournaments produce similar effects. I'd still much rather keep the last formula and take the final eight, or at least the final four, into longer matches. (In this event only the final match is longer: four games.) But those would probably require new venues and new sponsorship, things FIDE hasn't been able to find with both hands and a searchlight.
Quick and dirty pairings for round 2:
1. Ivanchuk (UKR) - Galkin (RUS)
2. Zhao Jun (CHN) - Nisipeanu (ROM)
3. Bacrot, Etienne (FRA) - Roiz (ISR)
4. Karjakin (UKR) - Zhang Pengxiang (CHN)
5. Alekseev (RUS) - Sakaev (RUS)
6. Fressinet (FRA) - Nevednichy (ROM)
7. Grischuk (RUS) - Najer (RUS)
8. Bareev (RUS) - Van Wely (NED)
9. Aronian (ARM) - Gustafsson (GER)
10. Inarkiev (RUS) - Vallejo Pons (ESP)
11. Jakovenko (RUS) - Belov (RUS)
12. Almasi (HUN) - Socko (POL)
13. Shirov (ESP) - Shulman (USA)
14. Nikolic (BIH) - Onischuk (USA)
15. Akopian (ARM) - Ghaem Maghami (IRI)
16. Malakhov (RUS) - Volkov (RUS)
17. Mamedyarov (AZE) - Kozul (CRO)
18. Cheparinov (BUL) - Tkachiev (FRA)
19. Wang Yue (CHN) - Tiviakov (NED)
20. Motylev (RUS) - Bu Xiangzhi (CHN)
21. Adams (ENG) - Gurevich (TUR)
22. Volokitin (UKR) - Zhou Jianchao (CHN)
23. Carlsen (NOR) - Naiditsch (GER)
24. Dominguez (CUB) - Baramidze (GER)
25. Radjabov (AZE) - Macieja (POL)
26. Zvjaginsev (RUS) - Sasikiran (IND)
27. Wang Hao (CHN) - Ponomariov (UKR)
28. Hossain (BAN) - Tomashevsky (RUS)
29. Svidler (RUS) - Pavasovic (SLO)
30. Rublevsky (RUS) - Navara (CZE)
31. Kamsky (USA) - Avrukh (ISR)
32. Georgiev (BUL) - Kasimjanov (UZB)
Plenty of heavyweight matchups to savor, at least when they get the games straight. I'm interested in seeing if Radjabov plays like the favorite he is compared to two years ago when he was far too eager to draw the regular games and play rapids. (If you want to flash back you can look at the November and December 05 archive pages.) Maceija is inconsistent but has his moments. Carlsen's nerves will get a test against Naiditsch. Wang Yue-Tiviakov promises some excitement, as does Alekseev-Sakaev. In all it will be a good chance to check out some of the lesser-known and overlooked Russian players and Chinese talents under pressure.
Does Kasparov live in New York too or only his wife with a kid?
"have residences in Moscow and St. Petersburg."
Wife and Garry
http://billscontent.blogpeoria.com/2007/05/12/chess-has-been-bery-bery-good-to-me/
I'm not too savvy with politics, but can't Kasparov turn this into some political gain for his cause? The whole affair makes Putin look pretty bad.
Or is Kasparov just not that important?
I've tried to figure out that FIDE pairings tree and came up with the round 2 pairings @
http://www.chessvibes.com/?p=1404
Well finally! The right news network. Publicity for Kasparov has just increased about ten-fold by going on FOX. Good move Mig.
@Chris Anderson
Yes Kasparov is insignificent in Russian politics. He is trying to gain momentum, but with Putin's popularity, this is quite unlikely.
Thanks for keeping Garry Kimovich in the limelight Mig, I'm afraid it's all the protection he's going to receive. Political enemies of Putin and most other former Soviet block countries have an alarming murder rate. We can only hope that his chess acheivements and his internationally known status will save him from serious reprisal.
I'm sure he's dedicated to Russia, but he'd be most welcome as a U.S. citizen!
The funny thing is that I was talking to Garry for about 10 mins last month at his book signing in NYC.
Wow, Peter, that's amazing.
"He is trying to gain momentum, but with Putin's popularity, this is quite unlikely."
For "popularity" read : no independent media, journalists intimidated and murdered, political imprisonment, opposition parties refused rights to assemble or publicise and they are banned from appearing on ballot papers.
Yep. He's a real popular guy.
The two most interesting matches for me are
Grischuk - Najer and Motylev - Bu Xiangzhi.
I wonder if Grischuk will play the french advance. Motylev can play like a genius once in a while, so that can be an interesting match. Bu has made a lot of progress recently.
Slaughter of the Indians - only Sasi getting thru. that being said the climate/cold can hit indians hard.
Short's losing to Baramidze isn't an upset!? I do agree! At least Nigel will have some spare time now to play on chess.com
Regarding Short-Baramidze, Baramidze was asleep and was woken by someone coming to check the minibar. He is staying in the hotel furthest away from the playing site and had to get a taxi. He arrived with (I believe) 55 seconds left on his clock and still won the game with black! It was difficult for Short (who had all his 25 minutes)in that he had mentally thought that he had a won first game as Baramidze came so late.
Merging the two themes, Short made the joke that a week ago he was having dinner with Garry Kasparov and now Garry was in prison and he (Short) had been sent to Siberia!
Merging the two themes, Short made the joke that a week ago he was having dinner with Garry Kasparov and now Garry was in prison and he (Short) had been sent to Siberia!
"Short made the joke that a week ago he was having dinner with Garry Kasparov and now Garry was in prison and he (Short) had been sent to Siberia!"
Not only that. He was executed quickly.
Nothing to add really… just an applause for Zombre
Baramidze joins the pantheon of English heroes along with Gary Lane, Chris Briscoe, Michal Krasenkow and that fellow who won R & B -v- R against the great Nigel.
English chessplayers do hate Short, don't they rdh?
I thought Pavasovic was a good outsider pick, until I saw his pairing this round...
"Slaughter of the Indians - only Sasi getting thru. that being said the climate/cold can hit indians hard"
Jaideep, let's not make weather an excuse. They were not playing football out there. They were staying in the hotel, travelling by taxi (if required) and the playing hall is also quite well conditioned. I have lived in such places, once you are inside the hotel, you would barely remember if you are in Tundra or Sahara Desert.
Just look at the opening moves by Hari in his White game, it will tell you the story.
>
Yes, like a true favorite he played 3...f5 in the Ruy and got creamed.
"I'm interested in seeing if Radjabov plays like the favorite he is compared to two years ago when he was far too eager to draw the regular games and play rapids."
Yes, like a true favorite he played 3...f5 in the Ruy and got creamed.
"I'm interested in seeing if Radjabov plays like the favorite he is compared to two years ago when he was far too eager to draw the regular games and play rapids."
----
"Yes, like a true favorite he played 3...f5 in the Ruy and got creamed."
----------------------
Well, it wasn't because of the opening that he selected. Radjabov probably prepared mainly for the main line 4.Nc3, and neglected to prepare for the insipid 4.d3, which offers White nothing against the Schliemann Variation. Left to his own devices, Radjabov reacted poorly. He got the worse position, seemed to get demoralized, and Macieja hit him with some petit combinations.
At least Radjabov has White in the 2nd game. The irony was that Radjabov was TOO successful in surprising Macieja, to the extent where Macieja played a "safe" line, effectively "punting" with White by implicitely playing to obtain the draw.
Speaking of Radjabov, it is good to see this anti-ambassador racist lose to the gentlemanly Macieja in the 1st game of round 2. Go Bartek!
"He arrived with (I believe) 55 seconds left on his clock and still won the game with black! It was difficult for Short (who had all his 25 minutes)in that he had mentally thought that he had a won first game as Baramidze came so late."
Although it was (apparently) unintentional, Baramidze's dramatic arrival proved to be a very effective psychological ploy. It is difficult to blame Short for not being able to focus after such a distraction. Baramidze could play as if he had nothing to lose, at least until he finally found himself with an edge.
Bobby Fisher did that to Sammy Reshevsky once (arriving at the last minute for a chess game). Reshevsky too could not handle the situation and lost.
Hey, Mig, Susan Polgar says that Karpov tried to visit Kasparov in prison. Do you know anything about this? Are they on friendly terms? I thought Karpov was a bit more.. conformist.. More of a sitting party supporter.
Just curious: what on earth does Kasparov need a chess set for? Can't he do all this in his head?
"Although it was (apparently) unintentional, Baramidze's dramatic arrival proved to be a very effective psychological ploy. It is difficult to blame Short for not being able to focus after such a distraction. Baramidze could play as if he had nothing to lose, at least until he finally found himself with an edge."
Insightful. From now on I will do the same in all of my tournament games.
With CNN or MSNBC I could understand your concern about being seen. With Fox, the most popular news network...ever, you were seen. You have to try and remember that the real America doesn't have the same mind set as those living on that little island in New York or Hollywood on the left coast. I know this always comes as a shock to these islanders when they leave their microcosm, but it's a fact. On FOX, 8 seconds is better than 2-3minutes on the other two when it come to reaching the populace.
Apparently Short's nerves aren't all that great. I would have rejoiced if someone gave me a 24+ minute advantage in a 25 minute game. x y, I would't suggest doing that, especially in a game with a short duration...but to each their own.
So much drama!
Only jealous English chessplayers 'hate' Short.
There are very very few players who have done as much to popularise the game, and who give so much of their time, in a media savy fashion, to promote it.
Short, perhaps, has been at the stage where he is known as much for his 'media personality' and the fact that he played Kasparov as much as his actualy chess strength. If he solely focused on being a selfish chess player (like at least 80% of GMs) then he'd probably get better results but have less fun.
I don't have any love or hate for Short -- but, really, I do think it's a bit pathetic to crumble simply because your opponent arrives late. Are the minds of chess players really that fragile? How many thousands of games has this professional played? He's, what, in his 40's now? No experience to draw upon? To get so rattled at the event of actually being forced to play a game that 24 minutes earlier you'd prepared properly for -- to get so rattled as to lose *because* you had a massive time advantage seems poor...
1) Barmidze's late appearance for the game is not confirmed by a valid resource yet.
2) No one can relate Short's loss solely to this story.
To be honest, there are only a few entertaining and nice people present in our corrupt and unfriendly chess world these days and Short is one of them. He had a bad year so far. New year is coming. let's wish him luck and more pleasant days in 2008.
Happy New Year Nigel. Go and rest for a while and then come back crushing.
Yeah Artin, it has been confirmed by a valid resource. I believe Nigel Freeman is on-site.
I was told, Baramidze sat in toilet and read the latest Pravda chess jokes and laughing over the jokes about he forgot his appoitment with Nigel Short. But this was told to me by a not valid resource.
Short's bad year was 1993 and it damn well affected all of us. He knows that he knows that he was the catalyst that screwed things up. At least Kasparov recognizes and admits his part in it these days. If only Garry had said nyet to Short's proposal, much of this chess lunacy the last 14 years would just have been dust in the wind.
The following is a snippet from the most recent blog entry on Susan Polgar's blog.
"A person is in trouble; of course I'm not indifferent to that," Karpov told Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. "In Russia right now we have, what, four world chess champions? And of course the fate of any one of them is important to other chess players, both in Russia and abroad."
I am very curious to whom Karpov is referring to when speaking of four (4) world chess champions in Russia. Most likely, he means Karpov, Kasparov, Kramnik and Smyslov (!), the four classical world chess champions still alive. Notice that this does not include people like Khalifman and other FIDE champs. Any other theories...?
Spassky?
Spassky has lived in France for nearly 3 decades now. The "living in Russia" is no longer applicable to him.
Kramnik doesn't live in Russia either. So perhaps Karpov counted Spassky + Kramnik as one?
Is it possible Karpov meant the other 4, excluding himself? Perhaps he meant to say something like "Other than me, there are only 4 world champions in the country and I (like others) care about what happens to them".
Another possibility is that he forgot someone or didn't mean to be precise on purpose. The wording can be interpreted to mean "close to/somewhere around four". And Spassky is indeed easy to forget, since he doesn't live in Russia - neither does Kramnik, but Kramnik does represent the country in the Olympiads and stuff.
Maybe Karpov misremembered the number, or didn't include himself in the calculation? I think "living in Russia" might be an inaccurate translation or that Karpov really meant 4 living Russian world chess champions.
Hey Mig,
Nice pic.. you look like Bruce Willis!!
regards,
b12
Karpov, Kasparov, Smyslov and Khalifman? Can't think of any other living world champions living in Russia.
Although maybe Kramnik might count. My understanding was he divided his time between France and Moscow.
In reply to someone higher up, certainly there are many English chess players who dislike Short considerably, largely for his consistent pissing on those in the north-west who helped him when he was young and tried to help him in 1993, although his support of Margaret Thatcher, ludicrous behaviour at the Isle of Man in 2002 (?), repellent obituary of Tony Miles, self-obseesed behaviour over the Olympiad team for many years, and probably some other characteristically Short behaviour which escapes me just now, haven't helped either.
The fundamental point about Nigel's character is that it's very important to him to be disliked by the little people. Since that includes in his view virtually everyone in England, naturally he is unpopular there.
rdh, since this is the daily dirt, why not give some more details, for those relatively unfamiliar with most of what you cite..
rdh--
Remember Nigel's reporting on San Luis?
Chessbase. October 14, 2005:
"For twelve long days the team of Veselin Topalov and its talisman – yours truly – has taken its place on a table in the corner of the dining room before each game. This sacred union has given spiritual strength to “La Topadora Topalov” (Toppy the Bulldozer) and allowed him to surge to his commanding lead."
"Topalov could and indeed should have defeated both Anand and Morozevich. He has outclassed everyone here and has deserved his success. Congratulations! Let us hope that he continues to thrill us with his exuberant brand of chess and not rest on his laurels – not that I think he will."
Chessbase: February 1, 2007:
“In San Luis I did observe, indeed I was quite struck by the fact, that Danailov sat in close physical proximity to Topalov during play. Furthermore, his not infrequent entering and exiting the hall would have provided facile opportunities for receiving communication from a third party....I believe there is a clear case for setting up an independent committee of decent honorable people to examine the dozens of hours of TV footage from San Luis."