Search found 287 matches

by Martin Benjamin
Fri Dec 29, 2023 12:46 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: 2023 World Rapid & Blitz
Replies: 58
Views: 3788

Re: 2023 World Rapid & Blitz

It is incredible how strong GMs make blunders, like Vokhidov's Rxb2?? in round 6, against Carlsen which they would not make against other players. Carlsen has a psychological grip over them.
by Martin Benjamin
Fri Dec 29, 2023 12:04 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: 2023 World Rapid & Blitz
Replies: 58
Views: 3788

Re: 2023 World Rapid & Blitz

Maybe this is more pertinent to the ratings section of this forum, but there is an egregious example of under rated players in the blitz with Botiraliev, Abdumajid rated at 1515 on 1.5/4 against 2300 - 2500 opponents.
by Martin Benjamin
Thu Dec 28, 2023 7:09 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: 2023 World Rapid & Blitz
Replies: 58
Views: 3788

Re: 2023 World Rapid & Blitz

Pressure/tiredness seems to be kicking in judging by the Andreikin-Yu Yangyi and Sarin-Fedoseev endings. Maybe that also had something to do with Ganguly letting himself be mated on move 8 with White in round 8. Perhaps fatigue, jet lag, and playing during the festive period have all contributed. W...
by Martin Benjamin
Sat Dec 09, 2023 11:29 am
Forum: ECF Matters
Topic: London Chess Classic 2023
Replies: 140
Views: 14343

Re: London Chess Classic 2023

I have only dipped into this tournament from time to time, but looking at yesterday's (Friday round 7) games, Tabatabaei - Vitiugov, and Niemann - Bartel are well worth a few minutes playing through. Great entertainment..
by Martin Benjamin
Sun Sep 17, 2023 2:41 pm
Forum: General Chat
Topic: what do you consider as biggest threat to organized chess?
Replies: 70
Views: 8242

Re: what do you consider as biggest threat to organized chess?

As others have mentioned above, the diminishing number of volunteers is (in my opinion) the biggest threat to organized chess, certainly at amateur level. To add to the points already made about why this is so, I find myself more reluctant to take on voluntary roles, not only in chess, but in other ...
by Martin Benjamin
Sun Aug 06, 2023 9:49 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: 2023 FIDE World Cup Sun 30th Jul 2023 - Thu 24th Aug 2023
Replies: 177
Views: 8457

Re: 2023 FIDE World Cup Sun 30th Jul 2023 - Thu 24th Aug 2023

A reminder of how hard it is even for strong players to arrest the slide when things start to go wrong in a game after gaining an overwhelming advantage. Wenjan Ju v Ulviyya Fataliyeva in round three, game two. When this sort of thing happens to me, I go home remembering how the game stood after (sa...
by Martin Benjamin
Tue Jul 04, 2023 12:29 am
Forum: Not Chess!
Topic: Test match at Lord's
Replies: 68
Views: 3077

Re: Test match at Lords

I think there is and needs to be an indefinable "spirit of the game", otherwise the game could become unplayable if you simply follow the laws. One example: the rules entitle wicket keepers to break the stumps after every delivery in case the batsman is out of his crease, or allow bowlers to pull ou...
by Martin Benjamin
Mon May 08, 2023 7:24 pm
Forum: Deaths & Obituaries
Topic: FM Mike Franklin (02-ii-1931 25-iv-2023)
Replies: 27
Views: 4211

Re: FM Mike Franklin (02-ii-1931 25-iv-2023)

I knew Michael for 50-60 years from my childhood, as he became a lifelong friend of my father Bryan when they were students in London, and they played in a lot of tournaments together in the 1950s (Whitby, Bognor Regis, Scarborough and Paignton spring to mind, but I may be wrong; Leonard Barden will...
by Martin Benjamin
Tue Apr 18, 2023 6:14 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: World championship match in Astana
Replies: 355
Views: 26380

Re: World championship match in Astana

Losing a move with White does not only exist in the realm of fantasy, even between strong players. I remember a Watson - Hebden game going 1.c3 Nf6 2. c4? William explained to me that Mark was stronger with Black (this was the 1980s)! It was a very long time ago, but I recall William telling me tha...
by Martin Benjamin
Thu Aug 04, 2022 12:13 am
Forum: International News
Topic: 44th Olympiad, Chennai 28 July to 10 August 2022
Replies: 652
Views: 35249

Re: 44th Olympiad, Chennai 28 July to 10 August 2022

Just glancing at a few of the games on the lower boards of the low scoring teams, I have ambivalent feelings about one aspect of the Olympiad. On the one hand, I like the idea of an open to all nations event, which may encourage interest and participation in chess around the world, and which at lea...
by Martin Benjamin
Wed Aug 03, 2022 11:42 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: 44th Olympiad, Chennai 28 July to 10 August 2022
Replies: 652
Views: 35249

Re: 44th Olympiad, Chennai 28 July to 10 August 2022

Just glancing at a few of the games on the lower boards of the low scoring teams, I have ambivalent feelings about one aspect of the Olympiad. On the one hand, I like the idea of an open to all nations event, which may encourage interest and participation in chess around the world, and which at leas...
by Martin Benjamin
Wed Mar 02, 2022 12:24 am
Forum: International News
Topic: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
Replies: 335
Views: 25887

Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow

By posting for a second time, I am acting against my own self-imposed rule of not allowing myself to being dragged into pointless internet squabbling which solves nothing, but some of the responses seem to have missed the point. There is a huge difference between on the one hand casually calling som...
by Martin Benjamin
Tue Mar 01, 2022 12:06 am
Forum: International News
Topic: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow
Replies: 335
Views: 25887

Re: 44th Chess Olympiad, Moscow

There has been plenty of informed and intelligent speculation about Putin's state of mind from mental health professionals, and many who have known him. To take just one example, Andrei Illarionov towards the end of this interview (link below) makes an observation about a change he thinks has taken ...
by Martin Benjamin
Thu Dec 30, 2021 1:46 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: FIDE World Rapid and Blitz December 25-30, 2021
Replies: 105
Views: 11005

Re: FIDE World Rapid and Blitz December 25-30, 2021

Nakamura has already said on Twitter that he has tested positive and can not finish the tournament.
by Martin Benjamin
Sun Dec 26, 2021 7:58 pm
Forum: International News
Topic: FIDE World Rapid and Blitz December 25-30, 2021
Replies: 105
Views: 11005

Re: FIDE World Rapid and Blitz December 25-30, 2021

Rasmus Svane loses with queen and 2 pawns v queen in round 4 v Anish Giri. Unfortunately, the transmission from the board cut out, and it is said he blundered into a two move mate. Very surprising with a 10 second increment in rapidplay, a little more understandable had it been in the blitz tourname...