2021 World Cup

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NickFaulks
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by NickFaulks » Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:00 pm

IM Jack Rudd wrote:
Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:55 pm
Why Carlsen is in it is a question well worth asking
No it isn't, he is a chess player and it's a top level chess tournament. I think it's great having a World Champion who is willing to play in all sorts of events.
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IM Jack Rudd
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by IM Jack Rudd » Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:45 pm

NickFaulks wrote:
Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:00 pm
IM Jack Rudd wrote:
Fri Jul 16, 2021 9:55 pm
Why Carlsen is in it is a question well worth asking
No it isn't, he is a chess player and it's a top level chess tournament. I think it's great having a World Champion who is willing to play in all sorts of events.
Yes, that's the sort of response that always comes up when the question is raised. I think the specifics of what the World Cup is and what it is for are relevant here.

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MJMcCready
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by MJMcCready » Fri Jul 16, 2021 11:05 pm

Have to admit, I like listening to Nigel commentate. He said Gelfand said when a player says things like "I was +6 in this game and I lost" what he really means is he can't calculate. Never heard quite put like that before.

NickFaulks
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by NickFaulks » Fri Jul 16, 2021 11:36 pm

IM Jack Rudd wrote:
Fri Jul 16, 2021 10:45 pm
I think the specifics of what the World Cup is and what it is for are relevant here.
Like the Grand Swiss, it is intended primarily a prestige event. Qualification for the Candidates is a by-product of that.
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MJMcCready
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by MJMcCready » Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:12 am

I find it pleasant to watch commentary of GMs I have never seen before rather than the usual suspects.

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MJMcCready
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by MJMcCready » Sat Jul 17, 2021 7:02 am

Irene Sukandar has tweeted that she is pulling out of the world cup due to safety reasons.

https://twitter.com/irene_sukandar/stat ... 0831781896

Paul Cooksey
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by Paul Cooksey » Sat Jul 17, 2021 9:46 am

MJMcCready wrote:
Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:12 am
I find it pleasant to watch commentary of GMs I have never seen before rather than the usual suspects.
I enjoyed Topalov recently, but I think old stagers like Short and Miro have their merits too.

I did not have chance to watch live during the week so am starting with rapid tiebreaks today which, from my point of view, is a bit unlucky. Still, I think Ravi has a decent shot, so I am looking forward to it.

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Sat Jul 17, 2021 1:34 pm

Ravi draws game 3.

Alex Longson
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by Alex Longson » Sat Jul 17, 2021 2:46 pm

In game 4 Ravi uses a line of the French I never knew existed...though Bacrot clearly prepared.

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 h6!?

Engine doesn't approve of 10...Nc6 as white can retreat the bishop with 11.Bb3 and after 11...Bxc3 take back with the pawn. So looks like advantage Bacrot but game is still complicated enough.

10...Bxc3 11.Nxc3 Nc6 is what stockfish was suggesting - I wonder if Bacrot had intended 12.Ne4 Qxd4 13.Bxc6 bxc6 14.Qxd4 Rxd4 which doesn't look like much but white can keep the game going and could end up better I suppose.

John Swain
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by John Swain » Sat Jul 17, 2021 3:12 pm

Paul Cooksey wrote:
Sat Jul 17, 2021 9:46 am
MJMcCready wrote:
Sat Jul 17, 2021 12:12 am
I find it pleasant to watch commentary of GMs I have never seen before rather than the usual suspects.
I enjoyed Topalov recently, but I think old stagers like Short and Miro have their merits too.
......
Both Short and Miro are excellent commentators who provide many interesting insights.

I find their respective accents amusing.

Miro's pronunciation of "move" as "meuve" makes it sound as though he's auditioning to be the next Inspector Clouseau.

I remember Short as a junior playing for Bolton School (1976-81) Atherton CC and Lancashire during which time he could have been hired as a junior actor in Coronation St. The Lancashire accent has long gone; he seems to have had a faux Home Counties accent for decades.

Kevin Thurlow
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Sat Jul 17, 2021 5:35 pm

Sadly Ravi lost Game 4, but a splendid overall result anyway.

LawrenceCooper
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by LawrenceCooper » Sat Jul 17, 2021 6:10 pm

Kevin Thurlow wrote:
Sat Jul 17, 2021 5:35 pm
Sadly Ravi lost Game 4, but a splendid overall result anyway.
Agreed, great experience and two wins in standard play against 2600+ GMs.

Peter Shaw
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by Peter Shaw » Sat Jul 17, 2021 10:51 pm

There was a farcical armageddon game in the women's tournament, the conclusion of which can be viewed here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=otSiTlwTAnc&t=22735s

Between them they managed to blunder all 4 rooks in 10 seconds, but by this stage both players were knocking the pieces over and it all happened so fast I don't think you could say who was most at fault. In the end white won because she had a knight on the queenside so could put it on a random square and quickly bash the clock, while all black's pieces were on the kingside.

I may have posted on this topic before because it really annoys me to see games in important tournaments decided by this kind of nonsense. I cannot understand why they haven't changed the rules to include an increment from move 1. If this gives black too much advantage then make it 5 v 3 (or whatever numbers that give both sides an equal chance).

NickFaulks
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by NickFaulks » Sat Jul 17, 2021 11:14 pm

Peter Shaw wrote:
Sat Jul 17, 2021 10:51 pm
I cannot understand why they haven't changed the rules to include an increment from move 1.
They continue to believe that today's farce is what the chess public wants to see. Makes you weep - especially if they're right.
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Kevin Thurlow
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Re: 2021 World Cup

Post by Kevin Thurlow » Sun Jul 18, 2021 7:06 am

And what makes it even worse is that the pieces are too light, they should not fall over so easily.

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