2017 Sigeman & Co 10-14 May

[Kevin Thurlow]

"2699.6"

That would be rounded to 2700 presumably?

[NickFaulks]

That would be rounded to 2700 presumably?

If Nigel needed a 2700 rating for some Super GM title then yes, he would have achieved that.

[John McKenna]

Jobava is playing the same Tromp/Torre opening he tried against Grandelius and that got him nowhere, yesterday. Draw for sure. (Edit: unless Nigel is after more.)

[Roger de Coverly]

Draw for sure. (Edit: unless Nigel is after more.)

Bishop pair v Knight pair. Unbalanced so no immediate way to drain the position of content and force a draw.

[FEN "r2q1rk1/pb1p2b1/2p1p2p/5pp1/3P4/4PNP1/PP1N1PP1/2RQR1K1 b - - 3 15"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. Nd2 h6 4. Bh4 c5 5. c3 cxd4 6. cxd4 Nc6 7. Ngf3 g5 8. Bg3 Nh5 9. e3 Nxg3 10. hxg3 Bg7 11. Bb5 O-O 12. Rc1 f5 13. Bxc6 bxc6 14. O-O Bb7 15. Re1 *

[Alan Walton]

Bishop pair v Knight pair. Unbalanced so no immediate way to drain the position of content and force a draw.

Have to agree Roger, I had a position the other week with Knight pair against the Bishop pair; and thought it was more difficult for the Bishops due to the Knights jumping around the holes in the position

[Chris Rice]

That would be rounded to 2700 presumably?

If Nigel needed a 2700 rating for some Super GM title then yes, he would have achieved that.

I'm surprised there isn't such a title.

2200 CM
2300 FM
2400 IM
2500 GM

but after that nada. Shouldn't there be seperate titles for 2600, 2700 and 2800 achievers?

[NickFaulks]

Shouldn't there be seperate titles for 2600, 2700 and 2800 achievers?

Long story. It's been pushed, but there are entrenched interests opposed to it.

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Bishop pair v Knight pair. Unbalanced so no immediate way to drain the position of content and force a draw.

Have to agree Roger, I had a position the other week with Knight pair against the Bishop pair; and thought it was more difficult for the Bishops due to the Knights jumping around the holes in the position

Move 25, an online comment seems to have it right: "This won't end in a draw I think".

Black has the more exposed king, which is worrying. If the position opens up, the heavy pieces (rooks and queens) will do more damage than the two bishops versus the two knights (plus the knights and queen will wreak havoc as per usual).

[Mick Norris]

Move 31, and there are no bishops, and only 1 knight

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Move 31, and there are no bishops, and only 1 knight

Move 35, and Black's king still looks very exposed.

(And another Black pawn will likely be lost as well)

[NickFaulks]

Jobava played move 41 instantly and looks to have thrown away the win. Now he's thinking...

[Paul Dargan]

Minior miracle aroudn the time control and nigel is still holding on

[LawrenceCooper]

Plenty of interest in the other games albeit Grandelius seems likely to escape with a draw.

[NickFaulks]

Shouldn't he have lost his bishop somewhere because of back rank problems?

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Plenty of interest in the other games albeit Grandelius seems likely to escape with a draw.

Blomqvist winning again Eljanov. Nigel is still worse and I wouldn't like to be Black.