English Chess Forum

After yesterday's game Carlsen said that he was tired. Not so tired that he couldn't demolish Aronian today, though

MVL - Vallejo Pons. I'm looking at this game at move 43 currently. And I'm thinking, if Carlsen were sitting either side, we'd be in the process of witnessing the world's first 1000-move game

David Robertson wrote: ↑

Sat Apr 27, 2019 6:22 pm

MVL - Vallejo Pons. I'm looking at this game at move 43 currently. And I'm thinking, if Carlsen were sitting either side, we'd be in the process of witnessing the world's first 1000-move game

I suggest you check out the 75-move rule (article 9.6.2) in the FIDE Laws of Chess.

Svidler- Carlsen White found a pleasing way to end the game

MVL - Keymer The youngster is having rings run around him. No final GM norm now from this tournament

Carlsen wins GRENKE at a canter with 7.5 from 9. Remarkable performance! (But does anyone here care?)

I do, tbh.

Looks like it could be an action packed last round too, this tournament has been an excellent one overall.

Incredible performance from Carlsen. I don't think anyone thought he could get near his previous peak of 2882 again, but now here he is with a live rating of 2875 and 'only' seven rating points away from setting a new record. In his last 18 games, he is +11 (that is 11 wins and 7 draws) with a gain of 30 rating points. As someone said, it must have been the prep for the match with Caruana that he is now unleashing on everyone else!

To put that in context, Caruana is also unbeaten over that time period where he has played 20 games, with 7 wins and 13 draws, but having played a much lower-rated field (and drawn far more games) has only gained 0.1 rating points.

Carlsen was one missed win v Anand away from a TPR of over 3000.

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 29, 2019 6:07 pm

... it must have been the prep for the match with Caruana that he is now unleashing on everyone else!

Ironic if true, given the amount of criticism Carlsen’s team got during the match.

But actually I don’t think it is true. Obvs he’s using the same openings but he’s not getting winning positions from theory is he? His score on the black side of the Sicilian is extraordinary but he’s winning those games by playing better than his opponent not because his book ends at +3 in his favour.

A more interesting explanation - despite/because it being harder to pin down - is the weakness f his opponents play in his games today and yesterday. That’s not luck. He crushed Svidler and MVL’s spirit. Probably before they even got to the board to a great extent.

I was watching Carlsen-Anand live. Leko was baffled that Anand let Magnus get in his WC prep, but to Jonathan's point, that is one of the games Carlsen did not win.

I agree Magnus at full power is probably intimidating to even Svidler and MVL. But I don't think it is coincidental that a match with a worthy opponent seems to have raised his level.

Magnus benefitting from “prep”, an array of novelties and new opening ideas that he is only now getting the chance to play, no. Magnus benefitting from World Championship preparation - significant amounts of work put in to both expand and tighten up his opening repertoire, to seek deeper understanding of certain types of position (and comfort playing them), thinking more about chess psychology etc etc - undoubtedly.

And he gives the impression that he is really enjoying the game again.

Richard Bates wrote: ↑

Mon Apr 29, 2019 10:11 pm

And he gives the impression that he is really enjoying the game again

Absolutely!

There was a time, a while back, when he looked bored, on the verge of jacking it in. No longer. He's utterly dominant now. As others have observed, both Svidler & MVL gave way to his inevitable procession. Remarkable