Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

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LawrenceCooper
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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by LawrenceCooper » Fri Mar 31, 2017 9:43 am

LawrenceCooper wrote:Svidler-Ding clocked off early.
Followed soon after by Adams-Yu so just Giri-Harikrishna left.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by LawrenceCooper » Fri Mar 31, 2017 10:57 am

LawrenceCooper wrote:
LawrenceCooper wrote:Svidler-Ding clocked off early.
Followed soon after by Adams-Yu so just Giri-Harikrishna left.
The round was completed by a third draw just after the time control. Penultimate round pairings:

1 GM Svidler, P. (4) 2741— — GM Giri, Anish (4½) 2769
2 GM Ding, Liren (5) 2759— — GM Adams, M. (3) 2761
3 GM Yu, Yangyi (3½) 2750— — GM Harikrishna. (4) 2758

Tim Harding
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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by Tim Harding » Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:07 am

75 per cent of the games have been drawn in Shenzhen. The format may be cheap to run (ten rounds while only paying expenses to six players) but it doesn't seem to lend itself to enterprising play. The price of a mistake is too high,
Tim Harding
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Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
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LawrenceCooper
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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by LawrenceCooper » Fri Mar 31, 2017 11:11 am

Tim Harding wrote:75 per cent of the games have been drawn in Shenzhen. The format may be cheap to run (ten rounds while only paying expenses to six players) but it doesn't seem to lend itself to enterprising play. The price of a mistake is too high,
Harikrishna has been involved in four decisive games but no one else has had more than two.

I suspect the cost would also include prize money and appearance fees.

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Fri Mar 31, 2017 6:11 pm

Tim Harding wrote:75 per cent of the games have been drawn in Shenzhen. The format may be cheap to run (ten rounds while only paying expenses to six players) but it doesn't seem to lend itself to enterprising play. The price of a mistake is too high,
Also the fact the players are "much of a muchness" strength wise has to be a factor. No obvious rabbits in particular.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Apr 01, 2017 10:17 am

Svidler-Giri and Ding-Adams already drawn so just Yu-Harikrishna still going.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Apr 01, 2017 11:08 am

LawrenceCooper wrote:Svidler-Giri and Ding-Adams already drawn so just Yu-Harikrishna still going.
Another round of three draws leaving the last round tomorrow:

1 GM Giri, Anish (5) 2769 — — GM Yu, Yangyi (4) 2750
2 GM Harikrishna. (4½) 2758 — — GM Ding, Liren (5½) 2759
3 GM Adams, M. (3½) 2761 — — GM Svidler, P. (4½) 2741

I think it starts at around 3.30am UK time so the excitement may be over by the time we wake up.

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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by Tim Harding » Sat Apr 01, 2017 4:26 pm

LawrenceCooper wrote:
LawrenceCooper wrote:Svidler-Giri and Ding-Adams already drawn so just Yu-Harikrishna still going.
Another round of three draws leaving the last round tomorrow:

1 GM Giri, Anish (5) 2769 — — GM Yu, Yangyi (4) 2750
2 GM Harikrishna. (4½) 2758 — — GM Ding, Liren (5½) 2759
3 GM Adams, M. (3½) 2761 — — GM Svidler, P. (4½) 2741

I think it starts at around 3.30am UK time so the excitement may be over by the time we wake up.
I certainly won't be setting the alarm clock expecting brilliant play.
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter

Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com

Leonard Barden
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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by Leonard Barden » Sun Apr 02, 2017 6:36 am

Something seriously wrong with Adams today. White against Svidler in a routine 3 e5 Caro-Kann, he has dropped first his e5 pawn to a knight and then his h4 pawn to a rook, and seems headed for a one-sided defeat and -3.

Meanwhile Ding is outplaying Harikrishna and should win the tournament by a full point.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: Shenzhen March 22nd to April 3rd 2017

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sun Apr 02, 2017 8:22 am

Leonard Barden wrote:Something seriously wrong with Adams today. White against Svidler in a routine 3 e5 Caro-Kann, he has dropped first his e5 pawn to a knight and then his h4 pawn to a rook, and seems headed for a one-sided defeat and -3.

Meanwhile Ding is outplaying Harikrishna and should win the tournament by a full point.
A strange end to the tournament. I'm not sure what Adams missed when he sacrificed the e5 pawn but it must have been a very frustrating way to end the tournament.

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