London tournament announcement

[Matthew Turner]

I cannot really believe that Short isn't doing well 17.f4 maybe?

[Leonard Barden]

Well, Fischer used to quote games of Soviet women players, but if I recall right Anna's opponent didn't take at f8. The present game is following Smeets v Radjabov, Euroteams 2009, which was drawn speedily after Nf5 Qc3 Bxc1 Kxc1 Bd7 Bd3.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Carslen seems to have a comfortable position but a lot of work will be needed to engineer a win out of this. But he might have to. Naka is playing a touch oddly - why on earth 9 a3 ? - and although he is probably just about OK, I certainly wouldn't trust him to hold Kramnik if I were in Carlsen's shoes. (I mean, is this Naka's first game v any of Kramnik, Anand, Topalov?)

[Matthew Turner]

Nakamura does seem to be playing oddly but after 0-0-0 I'm not sure how Kramnik will play.

[Carl Hibbard]

At least Kramnik has something, I cannot see anything to play for in the Carlsen game?

[Carl Hibbard]

Isn't Short just a little better after 26. f4 or is this just a quick draw leaving Kramnik to take the title?

[Jonathan Rogers]

After an extremely steady tournament, Howell has sacced something! Probably quite sound but it's an interesting contrast with his other games thus far.

Carlsen has set himself to work then, but much more to do ....

[Ian Lamb]

shorts trying to win his first game here looks like. Can't belive he not won one yet .When he was 6-4 to be top Brit!!! look like in the fide event GM Hammer, Jon Ludvig 7.5 NOR 2588 GM Williams, Simon K 6.5 ENG 2550 ½-½ bailed out with a draw v hammer last round even though he was a point behind him but he had black.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Only Carlsen can be better - simply a matter of piece activity and co-ordination.

[Nick Thomas]

I agree Jonathan. In order to win Short must exchange queens or push the queenside (very risky verses Carlsens Q + N). Carlsen can play against both queenside and kingside with his active pieces and relatively safe king.

[Jonathan Rogers]

And Howell seems to have regretted his pawn sac sooner rather than later - he surely hadn't intended to follow up ..b3 with a move like ...Be6.

A good finish for Ni Hua perhaps? Perhaps we will end the tournament with just four players to have won a game - but each of them having won at least twice?

[benedgell]

Quick mention for a few people in the open section:

Jude Lenier, who I believe is 14, finished on 5/9 (albeit with 2 half point byes), with a RP almost 400 points above his actual rating. Peter Roberson faced 5 IMs and a GM, losing only once to finish with a RP 100 points higher then his actual. IM Jovanka Houska could finish 2= with a 2500+ perf. with a win today. Credit to whoever picked Matthew Piper as a surprise result- he's faced 3 GM's, 2 IM's so far and lost only once, although he does have a tough pairing as black against Keith Arkell today. Odion Ajkhoje has faced 2 IM's and 4 GM's in this tournament, and up until today is performing 171 points above his rating. Robin Shaw of Australia is performing 300 points above his rating coming into today's game.

[benedgell]

Looking through the results of the weekender: 11 people over 200, and another 16 180+ graded players. Reminds me of the last simul I did

[Ian Lamb]

that was Matt Turner who Predicted piper would do well. But piper not working at the moment So i guess he studying a lot of chess when he was young Matt piper was Brtish champion at Several Junior levels. looks like the Nakamura v kramnik there been a sham sack from Nakamuraor is it !!!! we shall see.

[Nick Thomas]

I predict a draw in Short Carlsen due to the 2 exposed Kings