Zurich 2014
-
- Posts: 8806
- Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:34 am
- Location: London
Zurich 2014
A preview here of Zurich 2014:
http://en.chessbase.com/post/zurich-201 ... hours-away
"The strongest tournament in chess history"
1 Magnus Carlsen (Norway, 2872)
2 Levon Aronian (Armenia, 2825)
3 Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 2789)
4 Fabiano Caruana (Italy, 2782)
5 Boris Gelfand ( Israel, 2777)
6 Vishy Anand (India, 2773)
First tournament for the new World Champion. Any predictions?
http://en.chessbase.com/post/zurich-201 ... hours-away
"The strongest tournament in chess history"
1 Magnus Carlsen (Norway, 2872)
2 Levon Aronian (Armenia, 2825)
3 Hikaru Nakamura (USA, 2789)
4 Fabiano Caruana (Italy, 2782)
5 Boris Gelfand ( Israel, 2777)
6 Vishy Anand (India, 2773)
First tournament for the new World Champion. Any predictions?
-
- Posts: 6028
- Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:05 pm
- Location: Evesham
-
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:37 pm
Re: Zurich 2014
Another outstanding tournament.
I would expect a close battle between Aronian and Carlsen, with Aronian very much wanting to demonstrate that he is fully on level terms with the new World Champion.
Perhaps Caruana as third, but he needs to cut down his high proportion of losses.
I would expect a close battle between Aronian and Carlsen, with Aronian very much wanting to demonstrate that he is fully on level terms with the new World Champion.
Perhaps Caruana as third, but he needs to cut down his high proportion of losses.
-
- Posts: 3452
- Joined: Sun May 11, 2008 3:54 pm
Re: Zurich 2014
Bit of a turn around for Anand. World Champion to tournament bunny in a couple of months.
The Abysmal Depths of Chess: https://theabysmaldepthsofchess.blogspot.com
-
- Posts: 8806
- Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:34 am
- Location: London
Re: Zurich 2014
The colours may play a big role here, as this is a single-round APA (no rest day), not a double-round, and hence only 5 rounds, not 10. As such, it can't really be compared with Zurich 1953 (which was 28 rounds). We may have to wait until the next major double-round APA. Norway Chess is larger, but still single-round. Which tournament is the next double-round APA between the world's top players?
EDIT: Surely the Candidates Tournament 2014 is the next big one?
EDIT: Surely the Candidates Tournament 2014 is the next big one?
-
- Posts: 10330
- Joined: Tue Apr 17, 2007 10:12 am
- Location: Bolton, Greater Manchester
Re: Zurich 2014
TWIC says the format is
Code: Select all
5 rounds of Blitz to decide the draw, 5 rounds of Classical Chess and finally 5 rounds of Rapid Chess
Any postings on here represent my personal views
-
- Posts: 163
- Joined: Sat Nov 10, 2012 8:37 pm
Re: Zurich 2014
And possibly even bigger bunny-drops from Gelfand and Nakamura? They both suffered big setbacks recently in the Netherlands. Nakamura might bounce back quickly, but Gelfand might well find it difficult to bounce back.
Depending on the luck of the draw, and only five rounds being played perhaps +2 with either Carlsen or Aronian, and +1 for the other and also Caruana.
Note that I am not automatically giving Carlsen as clear favourite.
Also, as an oldie, my inclination is very much on the slowplay. Nakamura might well go up the lists in the rapidplay.
Depending on the luck of the draw, and only five rounds being played perhaps +2 with either Carlsen or Aronian, and +1 for the other and also Caruana.
Note that I am not automatically giving Carlsen as clear favourite.
Also, as an oldie, my inclination is very much on the slowplay. Nakamura might well go up the lists in the rapidplay.
Re: Zurich 2014
Here's the blitz result - Colin (above) could be right that Boris may struggle to get going after Wijk.Mick Norris wrote:TWIC says the format isCode: Select all
5 rounds of Blitz to decide the draw, 5 rounds of Classical Chess and finally 5 rounds of Rapid Chess
Code: Select all
1 Carlsen, Magnus GM NOR 2879 # = 1 0 1 = 3 7.25
Code: Select all
2 Aronian, Levon GM ARM 2812 = # 0 = 1 1 3 6.75
Code: Select all
3 Nakamura, Hikaru GM USA 2789 0 1 # 1 = 0 2.5 6.75
Code: Select all
4 Caruana, Fabiano GM ITA 2782 1 = 0 # 0 1 2.5 6
Code: Select all
5 Anand, Viswanathan GM IND 2773 0 0 = 1 # 1 2.5 5.25
Code: Select all
6 Gelfand, Boris GM ISR 2777 = 0 1 0 0 # 1.5 4
-
- Posts: 662
- Joined: Tue Mar 01, 2011 11:01 pm
- Location: North of England
Re: Zurich 2014
Rather a shame that, having assembled such a super-strength line-up, they couldn't give us a double round-robin. Still only taking under a fortnight, even with a blitz day thrown in, and intrinsically much fairer as the white/black issue is avoided. Plus lots more games to see interesting chess...
Still, looking forward to seeing if Aronian can continue to trounce the opposition with his distinctly Carlsen-style play (few unnecessary risks in the middle game, remorseless conversion of small advantages in the ending) from Wijk.
Still, looking forward to seeing if Aronian can continue to trounce the opposition with his distinctly Carlsen-style play (few unnecessary risks in the middle game, remorseless conversion of small advantages in the ending) from Wijk.
Re: Zurich 2014
It might be fairer to say that Carlsen has adopted some facets of Aronian's play.
I agree that a 5 round APA creates a potentially big imbalance on the colours, depending on the draw, which, say, an 11-round would avoid.
I think the event will technically be decided by the sum of classic and rapidplay, with the classic carrying double weighting. For my money the winner will be the best score over 5 rounds of classic chess, with the rapid being a bit of fun at the end.
I agree that a 5 round APA creates a potentially big imbalance on the colours, depending on the draw, which, say, an 11-round would avoid.
I think the event will technically be decided by the sum of classic and rapidplay, with the classic carrying double weighting. For my money the winner will be the best score over 5 rounds of classic chess, with the rapid being a bit of fun at the end.
-
- Posts: 47
- Joined: Thu May 05, 2011 10:10 pm
Re: Zurich 2014
To be compared to the legendary Zurich 1953, a double round-robin with 15 participants and 210 games !AustinElliott wrote:Rather a shame that, having assembled such a super-strength line-up, they couldn't give us a double round-robin.
What a game from Carlsen in round 1 by the way. This whole g4-idea was brilliant to get the initiative.
-
- Posts: 8806
- Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:34 am
- Location: London
Re: Zurich 2014
Talking of game broadcasting set-ups (prompted by the mention of ChessCasting in another thread), what do people think of the one used at the Zurich site compared to other sites and tournaments?
http://www.zurich-cc.com/games.html
http://www.zurich-cc.com/games.html
-
- Posts: 6028
- Joined: Fri Dec 08, 2006 8:05 pm
- Location: Evesham
Re: Zurich 2014
Hard work.Christopher Kreuzer wrote:Talking of game broadcasting set-ups (prompted by the mention of ChessCasting in another thread), what do people think of the one used at the Zurich site compared to other sites and tournaments?
http://www.zurich-cc.com/games.html
I really don't like the actual board and pieces but can almost forgive the rest of the interface.
Cheers
Carl Hibbard
Carl Hibbard
-
- Posts: 8806
- Joined: Fri Aug 06, 2010 2:34 am
- Location: London
Re: Zurich 2014
The verdict by the engine is cute:
"Houdini 3a Pro x64 | Depth: 21 with 300.680.433 positions [...] White is slightly better"
"Houdini 3a Pro x64 | Depth: 21 with 300.680.433 positions [...] White is slightly better"