08 May '11 21:591 edit

From Alex McFarlane's daily report on the Scottish site.

"It is interesting to see how the players act during a game.

The playing hall from the players point of view has two adjacent doors leading off.
One leads to a corridor which has toilet facilities, a nurses room and a smoking
room (only one of the 8 players actually smokes) leading off.

The other door leads to the players’ lounge. Of the 8 only Topalov remains at his
board whilst the opponent is on the move. On the few occasions when he does get
up he usually remains on the stage either watching the other games or doing
some stretching exercise.

Gelfand on the other hand spends much of his opponent’s time pacing around in
the players’ lounge.

Earlier today I was in the lounge having some nibbles (I had again missed lunch)
and was watching Aronian, Kramnik and Gelfand all parading around the room
making elaborate patterns around the furniture and each other.

It is possibly the first time I have ever seen synchronised walking.

Inside the lounge we have food and drink at one end and a huge screen
displaying the four games at the other. When a player realises from the screen
that the opponent has moved they rapidly return to their board.

Gelfand also likes to juggle with a piece. He spins it in his hand with considerable
dexterity.

It normally starts with the spare queen which is available but thereafter
bishops or pawns are used as they are captured.

This is done in view of everyone if the opponent is absent,
but under the table if the opponent is there.

Invariably, the piece is returned to the pile and a move played within seconds.

It will be interesting to see how the behaviour varies in the tie-breaks. "

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Video of Mamedyarov vs Gelfand game