WC Match 2016 - New York 10-30 November

[Roger de Coverly]

Ha ha did anybody ask her how many people were watching the match?

"Highbrow" mainstream media, by which I mean Newsnight and the Guradian (my typo!) covered it, the Guardian emulating the type of coverage it gives to Test Matches, ODIs, important football matches etc. By this I mean a minute by minute or over by over text discussion of what's happening. Ironically, if Agon had their legal requests upheld, the Guardian's coverage would have been outlawed.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

It must be really hard to see the sacrifice on h6 on move 50 when calculating at move 47 (when taking the pawn on f4) because the pawn on f4 would mentally block most people from even considering sacrifices like that. The position with White to play at move 49 might make it into some combination anthologies, though maybe not as other moves win as well.

The drawing move at the end by Karjakin in game 2 was very nice as well. A twist on that endgame that I'd not seen before. Might be worth remembering that one. And the way the engines screamed "mate in 23" at move 73 in the (rapid) game 2 was hilarious. It seems obvious, but watching Carlsen stumble around trying to find the mating net with his clock ticking must have been painful.

[John Brewitt]

Which just goes to show how you can manipulate statistics to say just about anything!

I wonder whether I could make a similar claim regarding myself and all other participants of the Hastings Premier?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpmDIP3Fn2Y


Just for the Record I predicted Karjakin to win from the start

So what did you think to the final coup de grace Qh6+?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

BBC has pushed out an article on Carlsen's win:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38165491

Good show.

[Angus French]

BBC has pushed out an article on Carlsen's win:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-38165491

Good show.

Although there are multiple errors in the short report:
- Magnus is now 26;
- Spectators paid from $75 to watch at the venue; and
- The winner takes 55% of the prize fund (in the event of a 6-6 draw in the regular games).

[Roger de Coverly]

Although there are multiple errors in the short report:

Taking the audience at face value

Organisers said the event was followed by about six million chess fans around the world.

That's still only 1% of the supposed headcount of chess players.

[Geoff Chandler]

So Carlsen ends up with 50% after his 10% was appealed down to 5%.

The should have given him back the 5% after the Queen sac.

2R5/4bppk/1p1p4/5R1P/4PQ2/5P2/r4q1P/7K w - - 0 50

Carlsen played 50.Qh6!!

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Good spots (the match concluding on his birthday makes that maybe slightly forgivable). The BBC journalist also spelled Karjakin two different ways. Yes, it is a bit short. Sadly, the report on the Russian GM that died was longer (with Taimanov's death only tacked on the end of that). To be fair, covering the death of any GMs is rare - was Korchnoi's death the previous one?

[Mick Norris]

Well done Magnus, great finish and a good birthday for him, validating his game 12 decision after all

Takes his rapid rating above 2900; his normal rating is now only 26.8 above Caruana, which I imagine is the smallest gap for a while; he'll now be able to relax and play more freely for a while

Karjakin up to no 6 on the live ratings; it will be interesting to see if he can use what he prepared for this match (and Carlsen didn't let him play) to push further forward; and who will get to play Magnus next time (when is next time, by the way, 2018?)

[MartinCarpenter]

Well, one could wonder what Karjakin did prepare for this match in theoretical terms? Mentally he did his work very well indeed of course, and that'll help him a bit going forward.

He never really even seemed to try to throw any sort of meaningful theoretical punch with white though. Have to imagine that his black preparation was probably more about the mental side of things than anything else.

[Brian Towers]

the Guardian emulating the type of coverage it gives to Test Matches, ODIs, important football matches etc. By this I mean a minute by minute or over by over text discussion of what's happening. Ironically, if Agon had their legal requests upheld, the Guardian's coverage would have been outlawed.

Perhaps that was the point behind the Grauniad's [traditional typo] coverage? Absent Agon I doubt very much they would have bothered.

[Michael Farthing]

Perhaps that was the point behind the Grauniad's [traditional typo] coverage? Absent Agon I doubt very much they would have bothered.

I think this must be the first time I've seen an implied criticism (albeit very gentle) of someone for misspelling a misspelling

[Matt Mackenzie]

(when is next time, by the way, 2018?)

I think (and hope) that we are on a regular 2 year cycle now?

[Mick Norris]

It isn't in the FIDE Calendar, but that's a reasonable assumption

It has the World Cup in Batumi Sept 2017, and the Grand Prixs in Feb, May, July, Nov 2017, so Candidates March 2018 and WC match Nov 2018 seem likely to follow

It doesn't say in the FIDE Calendar, but I think the GPs are in Sharjah, Moscow, Geneva & Majorca

Anyway, back to this match, Jonathan Tisdall report on the tiebreaks

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Strange blunder. What did Karjakin miss?

My only idea is that he didn't appreciate he could block the way to g2 if the queen came to the g-file.

Looking at this again, I think he maybe thought the continuation was 38...Nxg2 39.Qc3. That is the only thing that makes sense.