World Cup Baku 10 September to 4 October 2015

[Mick Norris]

Game 2 underway - any surprises with the choice of opening?

Karjakin spent over 13 mins on move 19, Svidler already over 20 mins thinking about his reply

[Roger de Coverly]

Game 2 underway - any surprises with the choice of opening?

A Breyer today, rather than Svidler's newish idea in the Zaitsev of playing exd4, Nfd7 and Bf6. Svidler plays the move order which threatens the Marshall, but he only seems to play the Marshall about 1 in 3 games. He doesn't often play the Breyer, but one of these was against Karjakin in 2008.

Up to move 17, they were following a Short-Portisch game from 1990 where Portisch played g6. Perhaps more to the point, it was also a game Karjakin-Carlsen from 2013 where 17. .. Qc7 had been played. I think one could infer that both players remained within their respective preparation zones.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 O-O 8. c3 d6 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. a4 Bf8 14. Bd3 c6 15. Qc2 Rc8 16. axb5 axb5 17. b4 c5 18. bxc5 exd4 19. c6 dxc3 20. cxb7 cxd2 21. Qxd2 Rb8 22. Bxb5

[NickFaulks]

I hate talking about top players blundering, but am not sure how else to describe 37.Rb5.

[LawrenceCooper]

I hate talking about top players blundering, but am not sure how else to describe 37.Rb5.

Hard to explain but maybe the thought process went "black can't move his king because the rook is defended" before playing one of the few moves that means this is no longer true. I suspect the reality dawned on him very quickly after pressing the clock.

[JustinHorton]

That wouldn't surprise me. As soon as he took his fingers off.

[MartinCarpenter]

Going by the online video he doesn't have a future as a poker player!

Not so shocking that something cracked really - they've been playing chess for ages now, under extreme pressure a lot of the time.

[Barry Sandercock]

Will Karjakin go for a win today or will he settle for an early draw because he's had enough of this match ?

[Barry Sandercock]

It's an interesting game, but looks like a draw anyway.

[Andy McCulloch]

Another game decided by a double blunder, and what a pair of blunders. From +3.2 to -19.3 in two moves!

[Barry Sandercock]

Tomorrows game should be worth watching, after this win by Karjakin.

[MartinCarpenter]

Have to say I simply assumed they got a rest day yesterday! Might have been a kindness.

Mutual pragmatism to get queens off early today and reduce the blunder risk

[Tim Harding]

Svidler doesn't seem to have been in the mood to play today. Head in hands after three moves.
Positionally lost after 15 moves whatever the engines say.

TWELVE MOVES LATER: Karjakin doesn't seem to have maximised the chances of his position and is now down to 5 minutes plus increments to reach move 40. It's not a clear draw though.

[JustinHorton]

Head in hands after three moves.

...which is odd in itself, no?

[Barry Sandercock]

Karjakin looks to be better at move44. Hopefully no blunders this time.

[Tim Harding]

Karjakin looks to be better at move 44. Hopefully no blunders this time.

Commentators and engines suggested 44...d5 which probably would have lost in the end. What Svidler played looked hopeless.

So rapids tomorrow with Svidler mentally all shook up. Just two bad moves in succession yesterday and he seems to have lost self-belief.

Apparently Ilyumzhinov said today there is now a US bid for the Candidates.

The Azeris are considering bidding too, with a match between Radjabov and Mamedyarov to decide who gets the wild card.