Tromso World Cup 2013

[Greg Breed]

It is a bit of a shame. Most children would probably have played 59.....Rb2+ and thoughtlessly hovered up with the lawnmower checkmate technique!

Yeah, as was mentioned by David Robertson Malakhov must have been under serious time pressure. Even so, the only thing to work out is what happens when the White King reached e7 and even I was able to work out in my head in a few seconds that after 59.. Rb2+ 60. Kc5 Qc1+ 61. Kd6 Rd2+ 62. Ke7 Qe1+ 63. Re6 Qxe6#
If the King comes to the centre it requires a bit more finesse but with a minute on his clock i'm sure even a 130 player could do it.

/edit Although probably not under the pressure faced there!

[Mick Norris]

Caruana is the luckiest guy alive. Take a look at his game, white v. Malakhov in Rd 3.3. After 61. Kb6, Houdini was giving (-23.7) and flagging 61...Rf6+. But Malakhov, doubtless under colossal time pressure in an awkward position, tried 61...Qd4+ instead (0.00); and went on to lose! In Rd 3.4, presumably demoralised beyond redemption, Malakhov quickly collapsed.

Yes, I was watching the commentary at that point, it was amazing and it shows the pressure they are under

Interesting games to come today, especially Ivanchuk - Kramnik

The format does seem a bit of a lottery, but the list of previous winners (Aronian, Kamsky, Gelfand, Svidler) indicates that someone very strong wins in the end

With Aronian out, he qualifies for the Candidates by rating, which puts Radjabov out of the running I think - Karjakin can qualify by reaching the final himself, or by Kramnik doing so

[Alasdair MacLeod]

The format does seem a bit of a lottery

Out of 16 players left, 15 are over 2700 ELO so that's pretty good in ensuring plenty of strong players are still there. I wouldn't like to put money on a winner as there are so many potential overall winners.

[LawrenceCooper]

Kamsky-Mamedjarov was spectacular: http://m5.worldcup2013.liveschach.net/

[Mick Norris]

Great win from Kamsky

Caruana won, and Kramnik got a bit lucky to beat Ivanchuk, so only needs a draw with white tomorrow to go through

Le - Svidler worth a look too

[Carl Hibbard]

Great win from Kamsky

Caruana won, and Kramnik got a bit lucky to beat Ivanchuk, so only needs a draw with white tomorrow to go through

Le - Svidler worth a look too

Svidler looks lost at one point?

[LawrenceCooper]

Great win from Kamsky

Caruana won, and Kramnik got a bit lucky to beat Ivanchuk, so only needs a draw with white tomorrow to go through

Le - Svidler worth a look too

Svidler looks lost at one point?

He certainly thought so in the interview after the game albeit he could have played on at the end. A shame that Ivanchuk self destructed.

[Mick Norris]

Great win from Kamsky

Caruana won, and Kramnik got a bit lucky to beat Ivanchuk, so only needs a draw with white tomorrow to go through

Le - Svidler worth a look too

Svidler looks lost at one point?

23 Rxd5 would have given Le a potentially decisive advantage - Svidler thought his main mistake was playing 21 ... g5 which he had planned for a different variation than the one Le played, but he was generally critical of his own play

[Greg Breed]

Kamsky-Mamedjarov was spectacular: http://m5.worldcup2013.liveschach.net/

wow love it!

[Mick Norris]

Some analysis here
http://www.viewchess.com/cbreader/2013/ ... 82625.html

and here
http://www.chessvibes.com/world-cup-r4- ... -with-wins

[Steven Gardner]

Caruana is the luckiest guy alive. Take a look at his game, white v. Malakhov in Rd 3.3. After 61. Kb6, Houdini was giving (-23.7) and flagging 61...Rf6+. But Malakhov, doubtless under colossal time pressure in an awkward position, tried 61...Qd4+ instead (0.00); and went on to lose! In Rd 3.4, presumably demoralised beyond redemption, Malakhov quickly collapsed.

Yes, I was watching the commentary at that point, it was amazing and it shows the pressure they are under

Interesting games to come today, especially Ivanchuk - Kramnik

The format does seem a bit of a lottery, but the list of previous winners (Aronian, Kamsky, Gelfand, Svidler) indicates that someone very strong wins in the end

With Aronian out, he qualifies for the Candidates by rating, which puts Radjabov out of the running I think - Karjakin can qualify by reaching the final himself, or by Kramnik doing so

Radjabov's not quite out of the running I think, If the final is Karjakin vs Kramnik he'll qualify via rating. If either goes out he's doomed.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Will the next Candidates line-up be decided by the end of this event? No other chances to qualify?

[Steven Gardner]

Caruana or Grischuk can qualify at the expense of Mamedyarov if they win the last grand prix event outright, and there's a wildcard entry yet to be decided.

[Maxim Devereaux]

Mamedyarov-Kamsky after move 14 has apparently got Houdini in a twist:
http://www.chessworldcup2013.com/live

This is Houdini's current PV:
15.Nxc3 Rh8 16.Rxh8 Qxh8 17.e5 Nd7 18.d6 e6 19.Qb1 Qb1+ (wait, what? Isn't Black's queen on h8?) 20.Qb1 (Uhh... when did White get two queens?) Bb7 21.Rxb1 (Hold on now Houdini, you just said White had a queen on b1, and it hasn't been taken) Qc8 (So, this is Black's second queen too) 22.Qc8 (And White's third queen moves to c8, or what?) Ba6 23.a3 Bxf1 24.Kxf1 Kxf1 (And Black's king hops from g7 to f1, taking White's king, leaving White with a +0.48 advantage)

Hmm... really?

[LawrenceCooper]

Another amazing performance from Kamsky to survive what looked a very uncomfortable position an hour down on time. Some nice tactics to keep him in the game.