Croatia Grand Chess Tour Event in Zagreb

[David Robertson]

Quality of some of the other games less impressive. Are some of the players struggling with this time control?

No idea about the time control. But they are struggling with the heat. Nepo suggested the heat had affected Anand, and went on to say "at one point, the conditions were unbearable". Actually, just checking back, Nepomniachichi said the conditions were "unplayable"

[Kevin Thurlow]

"But they are struggling with the heat. Nepo suggested the heat had affected Anand"

I sympathise - anything over 25 C is too much, (best to play in Norway and Iceland!) but it must be seriously hot to upset Vishy?

[Nick Grey]

I like Magnus' aggression with white and black. But getting an edge to win by heat exhaustion is not chess or cricket.

[John McKenna]

Not cricket?

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/ ... ydney-heat

[Nick Grey]

Time for a drink break.

[John McKenna]

As long as it's not the amber nectar.

That's as overrated as Carlsen's win, yesterday, against Giri - 9.Nfd2 was a patzer's move.

Instead 9.Qe2 followed by Nc3, or Na3, or Nbd2 have all stood white in good stead.

[Alex Holowczak]

Nepomniachichi said the conditions were "unplayable"

Not sure you found the right tweet?

There were highs of 35C in Zagreb today, so it certainly isn't ideal weather to stay indoors. I'm certainly delighted that having had a few games of cricket called off recently due to heavy rain, and even when I've got as far as the ground been on and off in changeable wet/windy conditions, I'm going to be indoors at a Gigafinal in the forecasted 33C in London on Saturday.

[Nick Grey]

Take lots of cold water for all. Not sure why Carlsen did not win. Not Norway's day.

[Mick Norris]

Chess Mind

[NickFaulks]

Chess Mind

Having roundly criticised the players for their incompetence, Monokroussos concludes the article by getting the scores wrong ( So has 1.5 ).

[John McKenna]

Then - with thanks to Dennis, Mick & Nick -

Chess Mind

Caruana (1) - Carlsen (1.5)

Vachier-Lagrave (1) - Ding (.5)

Giri (.5) - So (1.5)

Anand (.5) - Aronian (1)

Mamedyarov (1) -Nepomniachtchi (2)

Karjakin (1) - Nakamura (.5)

Not easy to pick any winners, however, I'll go for Carlsen and So to try hardest.

[Mick Norris]

chess.com

[Mick Norris]

Not easy to pick any winners, however, I'll go for Carlsen and So to try hardest.

Carlsen certainly burning time, but looking level at move 24; as does So at move 23

Nepo looking most likely of the players to win; 2 games already drawn

[LawrenceCooper]

3/3 for Nepo after a quick win with black against Mamedyarov!

[NickFaulks]

3/3 for Nepo after a quick win with black against Mamedyarov!

When they work, these blitzkrieg Black attacks can look entirely routine. Of course, as I have also discovered, when they go wrong, they go very wrong.