Doesn't anybody want to win this thing? The Bilbao supertournament, the Grand Slam Final, or call it the "Final Chess Masters" if you must, is still waiting for a chessic prince to sweep it off its feet. So far every time someone reaches the peak they are immediately knocked off. Then there's that even more ephemeral peak, that of the #1 spot on the next FIDE rating list. At the start of the tournament it belonged to WCh Vishy Anand, who has been first or equal first (one list with Kramnik, who has a habit of that) since April 2007. But halfway through the event, an Anand loss and a few Carlsen wins but the 17-year-old Norwegian in line to take over. He was a few points ahead of Vishy on the unofficial live list, which will duly become official on October 1.
But just as Morozevich flew too close to the sun in the Tal Memorial last month, Carlsen's wings melted and he lost two in a row after having the #1 spot in his reach. Anand lost yet again and may end up as far down as #5 on the tightly packed next list. So the magic bean is now in the hands of Vassily Ivanchuk, the oldest player in the field. He beat Radjabov in a typical mad time scramble. Chucky has never been #1, though he came close to storming Karpov and Kasparov's castle back in the early 90's. There are still two rounds to go, so anything can happen. The way these would-be kings keep falling off the hill, they might find a way to make Morozevich #1 through the backdoor while he sits at home watching. At the start of the event he was around 11 points away from the #1 spot. Now it's only four! The final round in Bilbao might just decide who's #1 on the next rating list.
But it's the man as yet unmentioned, the Battling Bulgarian himself, who now leads the field. Veselin Topalov fought through Carlsen's deep preparation in his favorite Dragon line to reach a superior position. Then he exploited Carlsen's inaccurate defense with several very nice moves to crash through. The computer sez Topalov had some faster wins, but he got the job done and vaulted over Carlsen into the lead. A great game with many interesting ideas. I found 29.Ne3! particularly attractive, not allowing Black to sacrifice the exchange on d5 to break the attack. Instead of taking the material, White swaps off the best black defender, the knight on g4. Of course this is normal for Topalov, who would much rather be sacrificing exchanges than accepting them. Credit to Carlsen for constantly playing sharp stuff even when he's not at his best. Live by the sword, die by the sword and all that. He had a bad stomach problem from something he ate in Moscow at the blitz event but he says he's fully recovered according to his father Henrik, who is occasionally blogging here.
Anand was getting an edge against Aronian in an endgame when several mistakes led to a blunder (41.f5?, after reaching time control) and a lost position. Anand just looks a mess, no matter what he's saving -- openings, energy -- for the Bonn WCh match next month. Maybe he's trying to lure Kramnik into a false sense of security? Ivanchuk-Radjabov is mostly interesting for keeping in mind they played roughly 25 moves in less than two minutes. Really. They kept blitzing madly, unaware they had already passed move 40, though the damage had already been done. Ivanchuk isn't the world blitz champ for nothing and he kept an extra exchange. The arbiter came over to tally things up and get the scoresheets in order. By the time that was done Radjabov just resigned without making another move. Ivanchuk gets into these insane zeitnots because he can't help it. Radjabov often seems to provoke these situations, although I admit it's hard to tell the difference. But he's fond of shuffling around so the game eventually turns into a rapid game. Whatever the cause, it didn't work out for him here and he fell to -2 alongside Anand. All three games decisive for the second time in the event.
So, with the 3-1-0 scoring system in effect, here are the standings. Topalov 13, Aronian 12, Ivanchuk and Carlsen 11, Anand and Radjabov 6. Aronian and Ivanchuk are tied on +1 in a normal crosstable, so again the 3-1-0 is just functioning as a form of tiebreak, which is fine and commendable in my view. I think the massive gap between first prize (150,000 euros) and second (70K, then 60K, etc.) has more to do with any rampant bloodlust we see in these final rounds than the scoring system. With relatively no difference between the other positions, an attitude of "first or who cares" should put some kamikazes in the air. Especially since nobody seems to care about rating points!
Round 9 on Friday the 12th: Ivanchuk-Aronian, Anand-Topalov, Radjabov-Carlsen. Note that Saturday's final round starts an hour earlier than usual, 10am EDT.
Could you review the technical novelties in the openings when it's all over. Has Topalov uncorked any? If so, it suggests he's not too concerned about his match (?) to come.
g, he is concerned, but you probably cannot use a Dragon novelty against Kamsky (he never plays it).
Vishy badly needs a win to get his spirits up I should think. Maybe only focusing on opening prep for months on end can hurt a guy? Or only prepping for Kramnik hurts when playing others?
Anyway my money is on Topalov..and I will be very surprised if Kamsky manages to increase the level of his openings to match him. Can't see Topa getting beaten by the Bg5/Nb3 Najdorf or Torre Attack etc!
Anand does seems to be suffering its not just that he has lost 2 and drawn the rest its the wsy he has done it. It was quite sad to see him playing the scotch - its a long time since I saw him avoid his beloved Ruy Lopez I guess he had painful memories of losing badly to Aronian in the Marshal but still...
Let's not forget that Kramnik also is NOT playing that well lately. Anand in the last place here, Kramnik at the bottom of Dortmund, how the mighty have fallen!
It's a pity that they play a match now, not a year ago when they were clearly the two best players in the World. It's a still a WC title match and a match between two very strong players, so it's bound to be very interesting. However, a year ago it would have been the match for the title of the very best player, but now it doesn't feel that way anymore. Some luster is gone.
Ivanchuk's in a great position to become official number 1. Due to playing the most games tiebreak, the other three (Anand, Topalov, Carlesn) need +2 relative to Ivanchuk to overtake him, and Ivanchuk needs just to share his last 2 games to stay ahead of Morozevich.
I hope Ivanchuk makes it to official number 1 finally after all these years.
Go Chucky!
I guess it's impossible for Moro to be #1 after this tourney. Some of the other contenders play against each other and therefore *have* to overtake him.
Anand and Kramnik are still the best all right. Players commonly don't play their best when they're hiding their openings.
Aspirador- no- there is a some chance for Morozevich to be top- eg Ivanchuk loses to Aronian, and all other games draw in both rounds, and Morozevcih is official world number 1 next list.
I would not write off Anand or Kramnik yet as no longer being the best in the world. Psychologically, it has to be difficult not to look ahead of these tournaments to the championship match. In the big scheme of things, to them these tournaments are meaningless.
Kramnik was fine in Tal Memorial. Dortmund was of course another thing altogether. I wonder if Anand's play here isn't even worse than that. His -2 is actually somewhat lucky. Hard to compare though.
Without saying that everything can be explained by the match, most is due to the fact that they are both focusing on the by far most important event in the chess world since at least 2006, an event much more relevant than any tournament. Of course both will play better there, but whoever wins we'll unfortunately have to hear that "yes, but the other guy was in such bad shape".
Viva Chucky!
Chucky... Chucky... Chucky...!!
Yeah I wouldnt worry about Kramnik and Anand. I'd say they'll both be ready for the big October fest. I definitely think there will be major choice of opening surprises. I predict Anand to open 1 d4. Kramnik to open 1. c4 There you go!
In the years of KK matches these two also were hiding the openings, still they didn't sit in the tournament basement. Hiding the opening is one thing, the level of play that Anand and Kramnik show is another. I don't see say Ivanchuk uncorking smashing opening novelties (except the one against Karjakin in Amber rapid), however he still manages to outplay his opponents somehow.
It's normal for your result to drop A BIT when you are hiding your openings. What we see from Kramnik this year is not a little drop though. He wasn't even in contention for the top prize in any single event that he participated in. His best result is +1 in Tal's memorial. If we forget for a second his past achievements, this year his results are maybe good enough for a spot #10 in the world. Anand is having a slightly better, but still a very underwhelming year. At least he won Linares, but his play in this tournament is beyond pale.
In any case I don't see any grounds to consider Anand and Kramnik best in the world at the moment, when Ivanchuk, Carlsen and Aronian are winning all the tournaments in sight. I hope the match lives up to it's billing, but I have a gut feeling that it's going to be an ugly affair chess wise, and winning it will be about making less blunders, not about creativity, determination, and playing fine chess.
I expect it will be. Matches are always tense and decided to a large extent by which player keeps control of themselves better.
Besides, as Kramnik has always said, being world champion does not mean you are the best of the world, it merely means that you have won a world champiosnhip match.
Yeah, that I agree with. Just saying that a year ago that match would have been also about who is the best in the world, hence more excitement.
What fun it will be to see Ivanchuk at the No. 1 spot. Hope nature rewards him with the crown of the Second Wind ! Carlsen will get there somehow or the other. Anand, Topalov have been there already.
"Yeah, that I agree with. Just saying that a year ago that match would have been also about who is the best in the world, hence more excitement."
I don't think anything much has changed in a year, though. In July 2007 Anand and Kramnik were 1st & 3rd in the ratings, in July 2008 they were 1st & 3rd in the ratings. (They've both dipped a little before the match, but when players are so close in terms of ratings the live ratings really don't mean a whole lot.)
Topalov, Morozevich and Ivanchuk were the others in the top 5 both times. Topalov has had a world championship match, and though I'd like to see Morozevich and Ivanchuk play one I'd fear for both of them in terms of dealing with the pressure.
So I think this is still the perfect time for this match. Anand and Kramnik have the best record of players in their generation, and Carlsen and co. probably aren't quite ready to topple them.
p.s. talking of Carlsen and co. - in his Sport-Express.ru interview Kramnik was asked about Wang Yue (2735 in the live ratings) and said that the Chinese player is almost a continuation of his career - playing nearly the same openings, with a similar style, and being extremely difficult to beat.
Ratings are ratings. They are good as a ballpark estimate of the strength. A couple of points of rating lead that Ivanchuk or whoever will have after Bilbao wouldn't mean much in answering the question who is the best player right now.
There is still a big picture though. A year ago the big picture was that Kramnik and Anand consistently scored better than the rest of top pack in high level events. Kramnik beat Topalov, won in Dortmund and Tal's memorial, second in Mexico, won in Amber, scored a respectable +2 in Wijk. Anand won Mexico and Morelia/Linares with no horrible failures as well. Nobody else at the top had that kind of consistency. Aronian won Wijk and beat Kramnik in rapid match, performed well in candidates, but failed miserably in Mexico. Ivanchuk also had a share of highs and lows.
This year the picture is entirely different. People who dominate the chess scene this year are Ivanchuk, Aronian and Carlsen (and Wang Yue, but he is playing lesser tournaments). The bottom line is that Ivanchuk won 2 supertournaments with mind boggling performance, defeated Anand in Leon rapids, crushed the first board in Russian team championship, won Tal's memorial blitz. Aronian also won 2 classic events plus Amber. Carlsen won or shared win in 3 events. Kramnik won nothing.
Kramnik and Anand still have decent ratings, probably they will be #5 and 6 on the list, but that's due to their domination in 2006-7, not due to their recent results. Nobody questions the record of Anand and Kramnik, but it's much more exciting to see the battle of the giants at their best, not some 92 Fischer-Spassky match.
Any other sport a WC playing 8 games getting ZERO wins????
I agree no-one wants a Fischer-Spassky type match, osbender, but this is nothing like it. Anand and Kramnik are still at the very peak of the game.
You forgot to mention that Anand won Linares, and seeing as he was still topping the live rating list before Bilbao he can't have been doing too much wrong recently.
Kramnik is notorious for not pulling out the stops unless he really has to, but as recently as November 2007 he put in a brilliant performance at the Tal Memorial. He had one bad result in Dortmund and Anand's currently suffering in Bilbao, but that's about it. As both of them are just warming up while they focus all their energy on the match it doesn't make too much sense to draw any conclusions.
Hou Yifan just won the semifinal and will be the WWch soon at 14 years old. Is it possible that some years later, Hou and Carlsen will be in the Wch match? That will be amazing.
16. Qd2? Dang! Anand is playing for a draw. Topalov will oblige him.
Bit cheeky of Topa playing this opening, since I'm guessing it's something Anand would think Kramnik might play, and thus won't want to show his hand against.
The way Anand has been playing, I predict Kramnik will crush him and regain both the WC and #1 rating. As osbender noted above, it is not just about hiding openings and ideas, Anand seems to find it hard to even survive playing decent (at this level) moves. The last time he slumped like this was, IIRC, Dortmund 2002 where he finished with a -4 or some such. It took him a while to exorcise that ghost. It is also sad to see that he's fallen from the top 3 for the first time in nearly a decade. Given his age and relatively docile real life nature (unlike Kasparov's aggression-through-every-pore, and so reminiscent of Spassky), a WC loss to Kramnik might just lead him to throw in the towel altogether.
And yes: Go Chucky!
Anand and Kramnik have been hiding whatever it might be for the match, without taking care of the rating points. So, right know their places in the ELO list do not represent their real strength, and the possible #1 spot is not really that important right now when two of the contenders for that place have been purposedly underperforming and losing rating points in the process.
I guess the winner of the WC match will try to regain the #1 spot in the ratings as soon as the match ends and will likely get it; in that moment we will see if the top spot for Ivanchuk or Carlsen is the real deal or not.
bs, that is such bs
If you argue about Anands recent (MINOR) slump you should take Kramniks Dortmund performance into account. If you argue about "Anands docile nature" then such argument speaks against throwing in the towel.
Q
Think Anand had the attitude that the tournament was unimportant for him and that led to his disastrous showing. At such a high level you can't not take it seriously I guess!
All these different unofficial number ones . Topalov was never even virtual number 2 all season. But after the last game before the official October list for these players, guess who is on top ? Yes Topalov!
Topalov was top in 4 earlier lists in a row too from April 2006 - he was top for a year. So this is his fifth time. Anand has been top 5 times too. Kramnik only tied twice but he has the match record.
Still only 6 different officicial number ones since it began in 1970.
So since kasparov went off the list, the next 11 lists are basically shared between Anand and Topalov (5 each) withj Kramnik being first once by having the same rating as Anand but playing more games.
Here's hoping for the resurrection of veselintopalov.net, the website for the "N1 world chess player" - an unrivalled source of entertainment :)
Topa strikes again. Number 1 in Bilbao, number 1 in the rankings. Topa haters, have the decency to keep low profile for a while.
Yeah, Topalov is #1 in the list, so what? Great win, but that's his only win of the year. It's pretty clear that in the grand scheme of things this #1 spot has only symbolic meaning, the strength of the guys at the top is so close that it's hard to tell #1 from #7. IMO it's a great thing as every tournament is unpredictable.
It's a shame though that Chucky missed the #1 spot. Even if it's symbolic, still he deserved it probably more than anyone this season. He also got his results by playing such an inspired chess while having the toughest schedule imaginable and being the oldest at the top, which makes it even more impressive.
Nice!!! I was caught slightly off-guard by Topalov's incredible
turn of events this week. Taking 6 from Carlsen, the future King,
Oh my... Sweet, but don't want to overplay it, nor underplay
it. It was beautiful although that nothing will be lasting at the
top until Carlsen settles in solidly up there for decades to
come.
Until then my greatest source of entertainment are the few
anti-Topalov gadflies that spot this forum.
Great win. Pleasing. Wonderful. Unexpected. Logical, actually...
Between now and the end of October our souls are engaged in "Go
Anand" -- Slay the Ugliest Beast of Chess that Ever Walked the
Board -- The Nerd of Nerds! Then Anand should get a special award
for saving Chess from the Faceless, Defensive-minded Evil... If
can't, well, then someone else is coming up again.
The best news for Saturday evening. (Ouch, a bunch of Germans
drinking and shouting here on my right at the Internet Cafe)
D.
Congrats Dimi! Congrat's for Topalov's fans! My opinion is the same as yours. The most important in the world of chess is that Coward - Kramnik to be crushed by Vishi next mont and chess world must forget about him - Clear Evil!
The vitriol directed against Kramnik here really surprises me. Although, come to think of it, I suppose it should not, for reasons evident if you *do* think about it.
"Sweet, but don't want to overplay it, nor underplay
it."
Too late by half, you whinging infant.
Dimi and Sherman.
One word of you lot.
Ignorant.
Quely and Chesshire,
I think there is more to be read in Anand's showing here than Kramnik's in Dortmund (despite the huge category differential). I only remember Kramnik's game against Naidtisch where he clearly lost to home prep out of the opening. Unfortunately, I don't recall the game he lost to Ivanchuk. The trouble with Anand's performance here is not just the games he lost - it seems to me that he actually got lucky to get away with just -2. Kramnik did win a game at Dortmund, albeit against the miscast Van Wely, while Anand never looked like he had even a remote chance of winning here at all - except for the game with Aronian which ended up going the other way. These are clearly danger signs for him unless he was deliberately looking for worse positions to defend against just to prep up, but that's hard to imagine. You only hide opening ideas, not middle and endgame play. That's where I see the alarm bells ring - Anand was *not* outplayed out of the opening in Bilbao - except for the decisive Topalov game. And yet soon after the opening, he ended up in desperate situations ever too often. It is his chess judgement, not openings that I think will be his downfall against Kramnik. Either way, I agree with most posters here that neither is the dominant force in world chess anymore. The NewOrder of Carlsen, Aronian et al is upon us.
It's not just about hiding opening preparation before a match. Kramnik mentioned that he was experimenting in the middle games in the Tal Memorial (who knows exactly how - perhaps heading for particular positions, dividing his time differently, or using a different approach to calculating variations etc.). Anand might have been trying something similar.
He probably just wanted to coast through the tournament and conserve energy, though, which is dangerous against super elite players with an incentive to go all out to win games. I'm still surprised Anand didn't manage it, but who knows what other factors were involved. Maybe he wasn't feeling well or just didn't like playing in a gold fish bowl/glass cube.
Actually, I'd like to hear more player views on the venue - Carlson's dad mentioned that one day Magnus avoided some lines because it was too hot to calculate variations, while at the beginning they apparently had to get the commentator to speak a bit more quietly as the players could hear his Rybka variations! I suppose no-one wants to upset the sponsors, so we probably won't hear too much more about it. Personally I'd rather have a venue that's comfortable for the players and a tournament that uses the classical time controls (to ensure the best quality of play), but I suppose that's wishful thinking nowadays.
p.s. Dimi, I love the irony of calling Kramnik the "Nerd of Nerds" when you're posting on a chess blog from an internet cafe on a Saturday evening :)
So before 2009 there will still have been just 6 players who have been official number 1 since it began in 1970.
Below I give what is going to be the lengths of time at official number 1 after October 2008 list for all players reaching it since it began in 1970 (I count ties for first as half the time):
1 Kasparov 21 years 6 months
2 Karpov 08 years 6 months
3 Fischer 06 years 0 months
4 Anand 01 years 4.5 months
5 Topalov 01 years 3 months
6 Kramnik 00 years 4.5 months
Fischer might have been number 1 some periods before 1970 but he benefits from only being struck off the list in 1976 after last playing in 1972- over 3 years- compare that to Kasparov who was counted only for one year afterwards.
Kramnik has shared first for a total of 9 months which is why I gave 4.5 months there. Since Kasparov left the list, we have the 33 months shared with Anand 16.5 months, Topalov 15 months and Kramnik 1.5 months making it seem that Anand and Topalov have been most successful here, but still a long way from the 6+ years of the top 3 on the above list.
It is an exclusive list, I wonder what it willlook like in ten years time? No doubt some new names will be there like Carlsen. 6 players in nearly 40 years is very exclusive- but no one looks like having 5 years or more on top for a while yet so it looks like increasing in number relatively rapidly- just avoided it this time by the narrowest of margins!
Note in the list I gave before- Kasparov was number 1 for 21.5 of the 39 years, and the bottom 3 added together were only there for a total of 3 years.
"while at the beginning they apparently had to get the commentator to speak a bit more quietly as the players could hear his Rybka variations!"
Sigh...didn't know that. Well, it has some high-level precedents. Very high-level.
Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam: "As it turned out the sound-proof cabin wasn't all that sound-proof. It wasn't view-proof either, as you could see the monitor with the commentators' comments on it."
Anand: "It's amazing, we could see Fritz. But there was a great story. One day, I think it was during the sixth game, I went outside and I heard some commentary. Some moves and what could happen within a few moves. Nothing too important, so I shrugged. Sometimes there are good moves that are too obvious. I saw them, they had seen them, so I laughed and went back to the booth. After the game, I decided I probably shouldn't mention it, he might be upset. So, I figured, OK, I won't tell him. After the eighth game he came charging in, we agreed a draw and he said, 'You know, Yasser (Seirawan) is analysing Re2, but I think that after this and this I can draw.' (Laughs with an incredulous impression) This was amazing for me. He took it as given that both of us could listen to this and thought, 'What is there to pretend about?' A very refreshing attitude. I was a bit embarrassed to admit it, but he just came and said... I found this hysterical. In general, trying to do things for the spectators they lost sight that you have players also. Something with the conditions here were just weird. It looked more like the World Open in Philadelphia than a world championship. If you have to sit and explain to someone that you're not supposed to see Fritz. You shouldn't have to do this."
(New In Chess 1995/7)
To be fair, some of the players were asked about playing behind glass here: http://chesspro.ru/_events/2008/bilbao8.html
Ivanchuk - "I can't say that I feel any worse than in the normal conditions" (then he quotes some stoical Russian poetry!)
Aronian - "I really like it... the pluses outweigh the minuses. So many people! Popularity. That's all true."
Anand - "I had other problems..." :)
The bottom line for the upcoming Kramnik-Anand WCC is that it will be one of the weakest of all time. I'd still bet Kasparov could come back and within one year's "play-in" time win the WCC back. Kramnik got very lucky in the one match with Kasparov and then cowardly ducked a rematch.
Not that I am a Kramnik-lover, but if he was lucky against Kasparov, it was helped out by some deep preparation and solid chess-playing. Against Leko there was perhaps more luck, but he certainly played well against Topalov.
I wish people would stop going on about how awful the A-K match is going to be until we get a game and can see the quality of play.
"Kramnik got very lucky in the one match with Kasparov and then cowardly ducked a rematch."
By defeating Kasparov in a World Championship match, Kramnik did what Karpov failed to achieve in 5 attempts. Now I guess we're to believe Karpov was a patzer. Riiiiiiiggghhhtt! Can't say I'm any great lover of Kramnik's stylistic preferences, but face it folks, he is EXTREMELY STRONG.
Kasparov didn't win a single game in the match vs. Kramnik, and was not entitled to a rematch. Botvinnik backed by the USSR was able to enforce abusive rematch rules - worst when Tal had a kidney problem. Kramnik didn't duck Leko or Topalov. I'm not a fan - merely fair. Anand's #1 at Linares was convincing. Topalov was impressive at Bilbao. Carlsen impressed earlier against some sub-elite competition. The top 6 are very close these days - no significant differences in strength - and Aronian is nearly making it an elite top 7. This cordon of quality is the reason for Anand's bottom rank at Bilbao, which included 4 of the elite 6. Sadly, Si is better than elite.
Isn't it interesting that the crowd at the top and the interesting tussle for the top spot comes after the two big Ks retired. Don't know if it has anything to do with this though, but a lot of things have changed.
More big tournaments, more money, more fight, and so on.
Jagadish. I think it's just a transition phase. Golf had no clear number one till Tiger Woods came along. Tennis has had similar states. Chess is interesting now with several players jostling for number one. I think Kramnik and Anand are a little better than the others right now. I attribute their current form as a side affect of the upcoming match.
Gazza & Karpov were able to cruise through tournament victories around match times but they were miles ahead of the opposition. If Kramnik or Anand slack off even slightly they get swallowed up by the hungry chasers. Has anyone any historical evidence that prior to a world championship match players lose focus?
Topa, Moro, Chukky, Carlsen & Aronian are all really impressive but would prefer Anands/KRamniks chances in a one to one long match.
Speaking of the that match i think Anands performance will be more interesting. With KRamnik we know how tough he will be. He may not be quite as motivated as for previous matches. Anand I feel is under a fair degree of pressure to "deliver". His collapse against Gazza and the perception that he doesnt really push hard against the very top players are the only real blots on a great career. If Anand secures a victory he will be a true successor to Steinitz et al.....
"The bottom line for the upcoming Kramnik-Anand WCC is that it will be one of the weakest of all time".
Yes,I'm thoroughly sick of these 2800 patzers. I suggest that Anand pull out and I be given my rightful crack at the title.
Chesshire, my manager will contact you with the details of our contract for the match next month. I don't see why Kramnik should get to play you when my rating is solidly under 1600!
rdavis, chesshire cat was being ironic. You can't have a WCC match if your rating is not near 1700.
So I phoned Kramnik's manager, who was a bit sneery about my proposal until I whispered my Petroff refutation down the line. There followed a long silence followed by several choking noises and the upshot is Kramnik has backed out too, therefore we agreed that the best Dirt poster decrying the weakness of super GMs and I will contest the championship instead next month. I'm off to prepare now.
Hardy,
I absolutely agree, but in my heart of hearts, I think I play like a 1750er, so does that entitle me? Perhaps Kirsan can work something out?
But it looks like chesshire made a deal behind my back. Oh well, there goes my chance at glory.
sorry rdavis, but its hard at the top and i have my hands full already sniffing out these cheaters prearranging their games and tearing down ceilings looking for cables.
chessfire I'm the new manager of rdavis. We can contract for match with Mr Kramnik's manager if the diarrhoea of Mr Kramnik is stoped and only in this case!
I had a dream to start my own firm, however I did not earn enough amount of money to do it. Thank God my close dude suggested to utilize the loan. Hence I received the commercial loan and made real my desire.