Why can't I get excited about Carlsen Karjakin?

[Mick Norris]

Karjakin reported by Chessvibes as playing in Bilbao 13-23 July and will meet Carlsen twice

[Jonathan Rogers]

To answer the thread question - because no one really thinks Karjakin is the second strongest palyer in the world, though he might be one of the two toughest; and because the event is five months away?

[Paolo Casaschi]

To answer the thread question - because no one really thinks Karjakin is the second strongest palyer in the world.

Maybe Carlsen should follow Kasparov's example and pick the best challenger, fixing the clear issue with the qualification process that failed to produce the desired result. This would make the match more interesting to chess fans and likely to sponsors in NY as well.

[Barry Sandercock]

Karjakin may surprise everyone, but I think it is unlikely. Magnus is the greatest ! (like Ali)

[Jonathan Rogers]

To answer the thread question - because no one really thinks Karjakin is the second strongest palyer in the world.

Maybe Carlsen should follow Kasparov's example and pick the best challenger, fixing the clear issue with the qualification process that failed to produce the desired result. This would make the match more interesting to chess fans and likely to sponsors in NY as well.

It always seemed to me that Kasparov did not get enough credit for doing just that. Sure, he probably expected he would rise to the occasion and see off the challenge from Kramnik, but he was under no illusion that Kramnik was his most dangerous opponent, notwithstanding his dreadful results in match play against others.

[MJMcCready]

It's a nice idea but who would Carlsen choose?

[Paolo Casaschi]

It's a nice idea but who would Carlsen choose?

Probably Caruana, in order to please American sponsors. In that case we'd probably get both a match in New York (Carlsen/Caruana) and a match somewhere in Russia (Karjakin/Anand): everybody currently discussing the next world championship location would actually be right!

[Jonathan Rogers]

It's a nice idea but who would Carlsen choose?

I wasn't actually proposing it! - I was just offering one take on why Carlsen v Karjakin fever is not yet upon us.

[MJMcCready]

Well if I were Magnus, I'd choose Kasparov.

[Mick Norris]

It's a nice idea but who would Carlsen choose?

Kramnik, as Kasparov did

[NickFaulks]

It's a nice idea but who would Carlsen choose?

Kramnik, as Kasparov did

But this time, Carlsen would put in a rematch clause.