2017 Shamkir - Gashimov Memorial

[Christopher Kreuzer]

An effortless draw with black against Radjabov to leave Mickey on 3/5 going into the rest day. White against Harikrishna followed by blacks against Mamedjarov & Kramnik and white against Wojaszek to follow.

Yes, though it could have been better. Mickey missed a win against Eljanov, which was a pity.
Still, the potential is there for a good result, as you say.

I didn't actually comment on how things may turn out, white with Harikrishna looks like a good pairing but he did have two recent losses to him so is a potential banana skin. The double black is definitely tough.

Sorry, I see now that you didn't comment on how things may turn out. Maybe I should change it to... (no, don't want to jinx things!). Three draws and a win would be great, but all games at this level are usually very tough.

[Tim Harding]

So has beaten Karjakin. Back to number 2 maybe?

[Chris Rice]

So has beaten Karjakin. Back to number 2 maybe?

So already achieved that when he beat Kramnik but this win now brings him to within 15.6 points of Carlsen on the live ratings and puts some distance between him and the chasing pack. http://2700chess.com/

[Joshua Gibbs]

Michael Adams is unbeaten despite being the oldest player in the tournament. I'd love to see more published material on the loose.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

So has beaten Karjakin. Back to number 2 maybe?

So already achieved that when he beat Kramnik but this win now brings him to within 15.6 points of Carlsen on the live ratings and puts some distance between him and the chasing pack. http://2700chess.com/

So and Carlsen are both playing in Norway Chess in June. I think that is their next event. So has three more rounds here to get close to Carlsen and make things really exciting in Norway.

I hope So can't or won't catch Carlsen by winning the next three games, against Eljanov (2751), Radjabov (2710), and Harikrishna (2755). Does anyone want to do that calculation?

(Only a small chance now that Norway Chess will have the top 10 in the world, as Mamedyarov will likely stay in the top 10 unless he has a nightmare in the Moscow Grand Prix.)

[IM Jack Rudd]

If So were to beat So, So and So, he'd gain 15.0 rating points. He can't gain 15.6 rating points from three games unless one of them is against Carlsen.

[Chris Rice]

Round 6 results and Mamedyarov's win over Kramnik now raises him to the World number 7 on the live ratings:
1 Wojtaszek, R. (2) 2745 ½ - ½ GM Radjabov, T. (2) 2710
2 GM Topalov, V. (2½) 2741 1 - 0 GM Eljanov, P. (3) 2751
3 GM Kramnik, V. (2½) 2811 0 - 1 GM Mamedyarov (3½) 2772
4 GM So, Wesley (2½) 2822 1 - 0 GM Karjakin, S. (2½) 2783
5 GM Adams, M. (3) 2761 ½ - ½ GM Harikrishna. (1½) 2755

Standings:
1 Mamedyarov 4½
2-4 Topalov, So, Adams 3½
5 Eljanov 3
6-9 Karjakin, Kramnik, Radjabov, Wojtaszek 2½
10 Harikrishna 2

Round 7 pairings:
1 Karjakin, S. (2½) 2783 — Kramnik, V. (2½) 2811
2 Eljanov, P. (3) 2751 — So, Wesley (3½) 2822
3 Radjabov, T. (2½) 2710 — Topalov, V. (3½) 2741
4 Harikrishna. (2) 2755 — Wojtaszek, R. (2½) 2745
5 Mamedyarov (4½) 2772 — Adams, M. (3½) 2761

[Brian Towers]

If So were to beat So, So and So, he'd gain 15.0 rating points. He can't gain 15.6 rating points from three games unless one of them is against Carlsen.

So, if I understand correctly if So plays three so-and-sos he can only overtake Carlsen if at least one of the so-and-sos is Carlsen?

[Ian Thompson]

I hope So can't or won't catch Carlsen by winning the next three games, against Eljanov (2751), Radjabov (2710), and Harikrishna (2755). Does anyone want to do that calculation?

If So were to beat So, So and So, he'd gain 15.0 rating points. He can't gain 15.6 rating points from three games unless one of them is against Carlsen.

My spreadsheet says that:

1 win against Carlsen and 2 wins against Caruana would gain him 15 points.
2 wins against Carlsen and 1 win against Caruana would gain him 15.3 points.
3 wins against Carlsen would gain him 15.6 points.

So it's only 3 wins against Carlsen that would allow So to match Carlsen's current rating in 3 games. (Obviously, 2 wins against Carlsen would allow So to overtake Carlsen because So would gain 10.4 points and Carlsen would lose 10.4 points.)

[LawrenceCooper]

A surprisingly comfortable hold with black for Adams against Mamedyarov. Radjabov-Topalov was also a draw.

[LawrenceCooper]

Five draws today.

[Chris Rice]

Just noticed Kramnik has now slipped to number 4 in the live ratings as Caruana nudges above him into 3rd.

Standings:
1 Mamedyarov 5
2-4 Topalov, So, Adams 4
5 Eljanov 3½
6-9 Karjakin, Kramnik, Radjabov, Wojtaszek 3
10 Harikrishna 2½

Round 8 pairings:
Kramnik, V. (3) 2811 — Adams, M. (4) 2761
Wojtaszek, R. (3) 2745 — Mamedyarov (5) 2772
Topalov, V. (4) 2741 — Harikrishna. (2½) 2755
So, Wesley (4) 2822 — Radjabov, T. (3) 2710
Karjakin, S. (3) 2783 — Eljanov, P. (3½) 2751

[Matt Mackenzie]

Defeats for both the leader Shak and Adams.

[Tim Harding]

Round 9 pairings:
Mamedyarov (5) v Topalov (4.5)
Harikrishna (3) v So (4.5)
Adams (4) v Wojtaszek (4)
Eljanov (3.5) v Kramnik (4)
Radjabov (3.5) v Karjakin (4)

So at least one player must get 5.5 or 6, and then there is a possible large tie for second or third place on 5 points.

[Chris Rice]

Round 8 ChessBase report by Yermolinsky, so you know its going to be quality. His verdict on Mickey "Adams hasn't been doing too badly recently. Keeping his rating on the north side of 2750 isn't a small feat these days. Mickey just needs to survive the last game to count the event as a modest success."