FIDE Grand Swiss Tournament 2019 - Isle of Man

[David Sedgwick]

So are we sure what the respective players' tiebreaks are? The TB1 column on the standings after 10 rounds doesn't appear to have updated after the round 11 draw was made, which I thought that it would.

I make the order Wang Hao, Caruana, Alekseenko, Aronian, Carlsen, Nakamura, Vitiugov, Howell. So I agree with Mick regarding the six in contention for the place in the Candidates.

[Mick Norris]

Not surprisingly, I agree with David about the order of the 8 in contention for 1st place (although if Justin is correct, I'm basing it on incomplete data)

The prize money is shared in the event of a tie, so I assume Caruana would be happy with a draw today (which is a 1:30 pm start by the way)

[Chris Rice]

I don't know who Frankie Sheehy is but he tweeted out the following which may be useful later this afternoon:

[Paul Cooksey]

That is useful. ALthough I think qualification ok for Wang Hao if Caruana beats Naka, rather than all draws.

It still feels like Wang Hao is the player with the biggest decision to make. Long experience of seeing top players go safety first in last rounds, and his willingness to draw a dull game with Magnus earlier in this event, makes me think he will be cautious. But one game for a big prize with white against a player likely to allow complications. Maybe

[JustinHorton]

I don't know who Frankie Sheehy is but he tweeted out the following which may be useful later this afternoon:

For some reason, though I can find his account, I cannot find his tweet.

[Chris Rice]

For some reason, though I can find his account, I cannot find his tweet.

Tweet here

[Mick Norris]

That is useful. ALthough I think qualification ok for Wang Hao if Caruana beats Naka, rather than all draws.

Agreed; a Carlsen win wouldn't matter for the same reason

It still feels like Wang Hao is the player with the biggest decision to make. Long experience of seeing top players go safety first in last rounds, and his willingness to draw a dull game with Magnus earlier in this event, makes me think he will be cautious. But one game for a big prize with white against a player likely to allow complications. Maybe

My view is that only having 1 qualification place improves this event, as opposed to the Interzonals of old; also, the absence of playoffs; I think this almost eliminates the idea of the top boards halving out; if there weren't the Champion and Challenger in the event, I'd be happy to see it again, although whether it ought to be at the start or end of the qualification process, I'm not sure

As you say, Wang has a decision to make; if he goes for it and loses, but subsequently discovers a draw would have been enough, he'll kick himself

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Howell also now back in the 2700 club and clearly ahead as England number one. You would hope he would go for it, as he also would kick himself if the other games drew and he hadn't tried to win. It could be a very nervy game. Ditto for Alekseenko and Vitiugov. I too like the format and the resulting tension. Having Carlsen and Caruana playing feels like it does affect things quite a lot. What might be an idea is having more than one such event. I don't think having two players qualify for the Candidates via two such tournaments would be excessive.

[NickFaulks]

What might be an idea is having more than one such event.

True, but they do not come cheaply - I was surprised and impressed that this one happened. Elsewhere, money has not been easy to find this year.

[Mick Norris]

Howell also now back in the 2700 club and clearly ahead as England number one. You would hope he would go for it, as he also would kick himself if the other games drew and he hadn't tried to win. It could be a very nervy game. Ditto for Alekseenko and Vitiugov. I too like the format and the resulting tension. Having Carlsen and Caruana playing feels like it does affect things quite a lot. What might be an idea is having more than one such event. I don't think having two players qualify for the Candidates via two such tournaments would be excessive.

I'd be happy to scrap the GP and replace it with another couple of Grand Swisses, each providing 1 qualifier; as long as no-one already qualified competed in a subsequent event

I guess it is all about finance, though; I wonder how attractive a Grand Swiss would be for a sponsor if it wasn't unique; not sure if there were any viable bidders other than IoM

If FIDE want more events in e.g. South America, this might be a possibility; maybe China would host a Grand Swiss too

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Channelling Tarjei Svensen on Twitter:

12:55 PM - 20 Oct 2019:

BREAKING: Carlsen has tied Ding's streak of 100 games without a loss by beating Matlakov in R10 of #IOMchess after 80 moves. His score since July 31st 2018, 446 days ago, is +33 =67 -0 against an average rating of 2757. Ding's score was +29 =71 -0 against an average of 2699.

1:07 PM - 20 Oct 2019:

Carlsen has actually only lost a total of two games since January 2018.

1:17 PM - 20 Oct 2019:

Carlsen's 2019 performance is 2897, which will likely be the highest he's ever had in a calendar year breaking his personal best of 2875 in 2012 and 2013.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Is this Carlsen's last classical chess of 2019?

[JustinHorton]

Exchange French in Nakamura v Caruana

[Tim Harding]

Is this Carlsen's last classical chess of 2019?

Unlikely. Although he is not listed on the Norway team for the European Team Championship, that could change.

More likely, he will be one of the four in the Grand Chess Tour Finals in London in December. He is top of the standings at present with two rapid/blitz events to come, in one of which he will feature.

There is also the European Club Cup but I don't think he usually plays in that.

[Mick Norris]

Is this Carlsen's last classical chess of 2019?

There is also the European Club Cup but I don't think he usually plays in that.

He's not on the list, but his Dad is; Adams, Jones, Howell & Dan Fernandez are playing