The candidate matches for the World Championship have started today. Currently I am listening to Seirawan's commentary at Playchess. I am surprised that I can, because it's supposed to cost ducats (which I have and would be willing to pay, but haven't been asked to pay), and the last time I wanted to listen to a live broadcast, you also needed a subscription to Playchess, which I don't have. Probably a glitch, but I won't complain!
Edit: Magnus just lost with white. 🙁
Aronian defeated Carlsen in effective style!
Games Kamsky -Bacrot, Leko -Gurevich, Ponomariov - Rublevsky finished draw.
Other 1st round games (Gelfand - Kasimdzhanov, Grischuk - Malakhov, Adams - Shirov and Polgar - Bareev) are still in progress.
Adams have dangerous initiative against Shirov.
Gelfand have winning endgame against Kasimdzhanov.
Grischuk will win Malakhov - his advatage is very large.
Polgar and Bareev have interesting endgame with about equal chances.
Originally posted by KorchI was following this game online and on Susan Polgars blog.
Polgar - Bareev 1/2:1/2
Im really surprised Judith got away with a draw, I thought her position was really really hard to defend.
Im sure Bareev missed a few changes
Anyone any thoughts?
Originally posted by sannevssrI agree that Bareev had good chances for win and he could play better, but it`s not so easy to find sure way to win for black.
I was following this game online and on Susan Polgars blog.
Im really surprised Judith got away with a draw, I thought her position was really really hard to defend.
Im sure Bareev missed a few changes
Anyone any thoughts?
Originally posted by KorchIm quite sure it isnt, even more since a player like Bareev wasnt able to convert the point.
I agree that Bareev had good chances for win and he could play better, but it`s not so easy to find sure way to win for black.
Really too bad that Malakhov didnt went for one of his pet lines in the accelerated dragon, he has such great results with it. But I guess he didnt want to play it since Grischuk was probably well prepared.
I didnt analyse the Kasim vs Gelfand game yet, but im really curious which tactic Gelfand has overlooked.
I checked online when the endgame was still in progress, Gelfand was a pawn up but the position didnt look too easy.
Korch, he did miss it in the endgame or before that?
Originally posted by sannevssrI think Gelfand should not play 53.Rf7?! - in my opinion better was 53.Kh2 Avoiding check on e2 and moving king closer to doomed pawn on g7.
I didnt analyse the Kasim vs Gelfand game yet, but im really curious which tactic Gelfand has overlooked.
I checked online when the endgame was still in progress, Gelfand was a pawn up but the position didnt look too easy.
Korch, he did miss it in the endgame or before that?
Decisive mistake which allowed Kasim to force draw was 54.Rxg7? which allowed his opponent to force draw. 54.Rc7 left some chances to fight for win.
Leko - Gurevich (after black 22nd move): Queens are exchanged. Black have more active position, because their bishop and knight are placed better than 2 white bishops and black q-side majority of pawns are more dangerous.
Rublevsky - Ponomariov (after black 20th move): White got some plus from opening - their pieces are seems more active, but its not easy to find plan how to exploit it, because black have passive but safe position.
Malakhov - Grischuk (after black 17th move): White got more comfortable position in opening, and black have given up pawn for initiative.
Bareev - Polgar: (after white 24th move): Like 1st round queens are exchanged and Bareev have better endgame.
Shirov - Adams (after white 20th move): Black have sacrificed pawn for nice bishop pair and some initiative. Position seems unclear.
Kasimdzhanov - Gelfand (after black 16th move): White is pushing to black "hanging" central pawns and now they have chance to take one of them, but black have counterplay.
Bacrot - Kamsky (after black 13th move): In Dutch defence black have reached equal position.