Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

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LawrenceCooper
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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat May 25, 2013 4:10 pm

Some entertaining games today; Morozevich-Nakamura in particular.

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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Simon Brown » Tue May 28, 2013 1:31 pm

Looks like Ivanchuk has self-destructed again.

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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Andrew Bak » Wed May 29, 2013 1:56 am

Simon Brown wrote:Looks like Ivanchuk has self-destructed again.
Remember this? - http://en.chessbase.com/home/TabId/211/PostId/4007815

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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Mick Norris » Wed May 29, 2013 2:07 pm

13 move draw today by Ivanchuk against Grischuk
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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Simon Brown » Wed May 29, 2013 3:21 pm

Nice to see fellow professionals not taking advantage of what must be a very difficult time for him.

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Wed May 29, 2013 3:29 pm

Simon Brown wrote:Nice to see fellow professionals not taking advantage of what must be a very difficult time for him.
Maybe, but not very, well, professional is it? Grischuk is only half a point behind the leaders, two of whom beat Ivanchuk. I actually doubt that this is a case of "fellow professionals not taking advantage" of Ivanchuk's run of poor form, unless there is more to this than meets the eye?

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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Simon Brown » Wed May 29, 2013 4:23 pm

Maybe, maybe not. Ivanchuk made a similar "draw offer" (by exchanging pieces at every opportunity, moving quickly) two rounds ago, when he drew with Kamsky - as white - which was happily accepted. Ivanchuk is clearly a well-liked and fragile character, and his troubles are not new. Anyone remember when he missed a mate in one in the Intel London event in the mid nineties? He was not happy.

If correct, I would applaud Grischuk for giving back half a point - why else would you take a draw in 13 moves, having equalised, against someone who is clearly struggling? Clearly more to life than chess for Grischuk (as we know).

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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Simon Brown » Wed May 29, 2013 5:14 pm

Maybe it's catching. 47 Nf1 by Morozevich wasn't clever.

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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by David Robertson » Wed May 29, 2013 10:59 pm

Simon Brown wrote:Maybe it's catching. 47 Nf1 by Morozevich wasn't clever.
It just goes to show how weak Morozevich and kindred super-GMs really are. No CC player, not even the most humdrum these days, would play 47 Nf1

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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Roger de Coverly » Thu May 30, 2013 12:35 am

David Robertson wrote:It just goes to show how weak Morozevich and kindred super-GMs really are. No CC player, not even the most humdrum these days, would play 47 Nf1
I would just add it to the long list of "how players blunder". Had the Knight been on f1, and the Black Knight had just moved to f4, many players' "cheapo alert" would have spotted Nh3 check as a problem.

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Greg Breed
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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Greg Breed » Thu May 30, 2013 11:00 am

I've got a sneaky suspicion that Naka might win his last 4 games. I'd put a pound on it anyway :roll:
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Mick Norris
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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Mick Norris » Thu May 30, 2013 11:07 am

Greg Breed wrote:I've got a sneaky suspicion that Naka might win his last 4 games. I'd put a pound on it anyway :roll:
Black against Kamsky and Ivanchuk, white against Ponomariov and Svidler - I'd be surprised
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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Thu May 30, 2013 3:40 pm

Looking at the cross-table, the one player who has already played the leading seven players, and who might be expected to clean up with 4/4 against players from the bottom five, is... Ivanchuk! This scenario is slightly spoilt by the fact that he is in last place at the moment (EDIT: and the fact that he just resigned his round 8 game against Svidler). At the top, Caruana has yet to play Kamsky or Dominguez, so those games will be critical. If those games are hard-fought and results go the right way, then Ponomariov (undefeated on +1) could take the lead if he gets a plus score against the 4 players currently lying in 7th to 10th places. Kamsky still has to play three of the same four players, so if he draws or wins against Caruana, then Kamsky could be strong favourite to win this tournament (EDIT: and looks to be winning against Nakamura in round eight).

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Christopher Kreuzer
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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Christopher Kreuzer » Thu May 30, 2013 6:39 pm

Five decisive games today and only one draw.

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Re: Thessaloniki FIDE Grand Prix May 21 - June 7 2013

Post by Mick Norris » Thu May 30, 2013 10:24 pm

rest day tomorrow, they may be getting tired by now
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