Candidates Matches 3rd - 27th May 2011

[Mick Norris]

http://kazan2011.fide.com/principals.html

This has Alex there for the first round only

[Alex McFarlane]

That puzzled me as well!!

I can confirm that I am there (or here) for the duration. My return flights are booked for the 27th.

And now to lunch and then work.

[Mick Norris]

Alex

Best of luck and enjoy it - seems a long way from the Northern League in more ways than one - we'll have to be more reverential when we see you next season

[David Robertson]

we'll have to be more reverential when we see you next season

Fat chance!

Don't forget to announce the cricket scores at regular intervals. I'm sure the Candidates will welcome that

[LozCooper]

we'll have to be more reverential when we see you next season

Fat chance!

Don't forget to announce the cricket scores at regular intervals. I'm sure the Candidates will welcome that

I think that's only necessary if Peter Svidler is playing

[John Saunders]

I get the impression that game transmission froze about 30-40 minutes ago. Anyone know any more?

[John Saunders]

Ah... some signs of life at last, just as I posted the last message.

[Matthew Peat]

It is worth noting that www.russiachess.org has a live video feed from the playing hall (or rather it looks like a small room)

[Roger de Coverly]

It is worth noting that www.russiachess.org has a live video feed from the playing hall (or rather it looks like a small room)

http://video.russiachess.org/view/265 is the high quality feed. Not just live, you can move the slider backwards and forwards to watch any part of the recording. Alex M seems to be managing to stay out of camera.

[Mick Norris]

Live games also available here:
http://www.chess.co.uk/twic/live

Kramnik drawn with black already, Topalov already sacrificed an exchange - seems to be normal operations

[Eoin Devane]

So four draws to open up with, then. The most interesting looked to be Aronian-Grischuk, where the latter's tenacity payed off when Aronian went wrong (perhaps in time trouble) in what looked to be an ending with good prospects.

What are people's predictions for these first-round matches? I'll go for a win for Topalov in the longplay games, and then Aronian, Mamedyarov and Radjabov to prevail in tie-breaks. I think this could be Radjabov's time for a big performance.

[Matt Mackenzie]

I think that depends on how well Radjabov's beloved KID holds up - Kramnik is quite possibly the best in the world against it

[Eoin Devane]

Indeed. I was a bit disappointed when I saw the draw, as to reach the final he's going to have to beat Kramnik and probably Aronian. But I've been thinking for a while that he's due to take that step up "to the next level" sometime soon, and having had the time to prepare, I wonder if this could be it. It'd be nice to see another player from Baku in the World Championship!

[LozCooper]

Gata Kamsky has just beaten Veselin Topolov with black to lead 1.5-0.5 whilst Alexander Grischuk and Lev Aronian have drawn to take their score to 1-1. Other two games still in progress here: http://kazan2011.fide.com/live-games.html

Gelfand-Mamedyarov now drawn

[Ben Purton]

It was the patience of c5 that was beautiful in the Kamsky game... That really was what got him the win in my view.

Ben