English Chess Forum

Unfortunately, Howell has just made a big blunder... (scarcely believable if that is what was played).

That looks to me like a deliberate "blunder" from David

Well, Howell somehow (without me noticing) got short of time, so that might explain it as well (plus the 'threat' of Ra8 in some lines).

Presumably some kind of desperate way to stir up something, anything

Christopher Kreuzer wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 4:19 pm

Damp squib of a round at the top.
Any signs of life on the lower boards?

Not exactly a lower board, but Anton is winning, and with his tiebreak is headed for a high finishing position

Hao down to 12 minutes. Probably drawn now.

Chris - the position hasn't changed since David's "big blunder" apart from Wang Hao taking a bit more clock time. I think that Justin is right, but there is also a psychological element since Wang Hao is faced with a totally different position.

I was looking at the position after move 20 - now it has changed a lot!!

Kudos to David for trying. He won't win, but it was worth a go.

Pfft! Pretty undignified from Howell. I'll be interested to hear his post-match explanation

Maybe someone could calculate how much prize money Howell lost? Or would that be cruel?

David Robertson wrote: ↑

Mon Oct 21, 2019 5:09 pm

Pfft! Pretty undignified from Howell. I'll be interested to hear his post-match explanation

You had a better winning attempt in mind?

Disappointing but well done Wang Hao for winning the tournament and qualifying for the Candidates, which I think on balance he deserved given the opponents he faced

I know where Nick is coming from and I rather agree. But in my view, David should have played a bit quicker (yes, really, David) and forced Wang Hao to commit to a completely drawn position when a draw wouldn't necessarily have qualified or to do something else. Not perhaps that easy a choice over the board though. But well done to Wang Hao.

I am thinking that Kirill Alekseenko may be less than impressed.