WC Match 2016 - New York 10-30 November

[JustinHorton]

More radical but also barmy, no?

Why?

Because it's the world championship, not a weekend mixed-format tournament. You may as well replace the World Cup Final (almost always a tedious game since 1990) with penalty shootouts and five-a-side.

[Paul Cooksey]

I have found most of the games very interesting, but I understand many people have not.

However I don't really see the problem as openings. I think this is about the players who are in the final.

MVL-Topalov would be entirely different, even with the same rules.

[Matthew Turner]

I think they actually have rather a good format for this match. Purists would prefer it not to end with rapid play games, but Karjakin has been a mentally strong challenger and Carlson hasn't played well enough to win the match. Carrying on until one player tires and makes a mistake hardly seems fairer than mixing it up with faster time controls.
I do though hope we have a winner in the 25 minute matches. I think Carlsen is back to being a strong favourite - I'll give him a 75% chance of winning. However, if Karjakin wins I will not be disappointed and I think he'd make a very worthy World Champin.

[Mick Norris]

I think 14 or 16 games would be a reasonable compromise. Perhaps with fewer non playing days as you suggest. At least they don’t get to take a day off just because they don’t feel like playing these days

You could have an opening ceremony at a weekend, and then play Mon, Tue, Wed, rest, Fri, Sat, Sun, rest, Tues, Wed, Thur, rest, Sat, Sun, Mon, rest, Wed, Thur for a 14 game match; playoffs on Sat, closing ceremony Sun; maximising games at the weekend with no weekend rest days

The format of a rest day after 3 games means that you don't have to have the WBWBWB then BWBWBW colour sequence to avoid one player always having white after the rest day

The event duration would be similar to the current 12 day match with rest days after every 2 games; I think Mark Crowther at TWIC has been pushing for this

[JustinHorton]

I'll give him a 75% chance of winning.

My estimate too

[Matthew Turner]

I have found most of the games very interesting, but I understand many people have not.

However I don't really see the problem as openings. I think this is about the players who are in the final.

MVL-Topalov would be entirely different, even with the same rules.

I haven't met a single chess player who hasn't found this match exciting. It is a match with a lot of intrigue on various level; I am slightly surprised that it hasn't attracted more mainstream commentary - it links in very easily with other non-chess narratives.

[Chris Rice]

More radical but also barmy, no?

Why?

Because it's the world championship, not a weekend mixed-format tournament. You may as well replace the World Cup Final (almost always a tedious game since 1990) with penalty shootouts and five-a-side.

I'm not sure that I understand this comment given that rapid games will decide this WC match ie its a mixed format already? Anyway think we do agree that 12 games is too short and as Jon says above 24 games may be too long so we need a Goldilocks number somewhere in between. In addition, I would be happy If we go back to the champion having the draw odds so we can do away with a tie break system altogether.

[Matt Mackenzie]

Draw odds would need more than 12 games, surely. 16 might just be enough, maybe?

[Roger de Coverly]

maximising games at the weekend with no weekend rest days

During the 2008 EU Championships at Liverpool, the organisers commented that the number of website hits to follow the games was higher during the working week than at weekends. From memory that was just a plain relay of the games in progress, without video or commentary.

[David Robertson]

During the 2008 EU Championships at Liverpool, the organisers commented that the number of website hits to follow the games was higher during the working week than at weekends

Well-remembered! That was from my closing speech. I recall the information caused great merriment among the assembly when I linked it to a collapse in productivity across the EU. And the data we had then spoke clearly. 'Hits' peaked by Monday noon, plateau'd, then fell away on Friday to much lower weekend levels. Games were shown 'live', much as now; but no commentary

[JustinHorton]

Similar with hits to our old blog, for what it's worth.

[Brian Towers]

I am slightly surprised that it hasn't attracted more mainstream commentary - it links in very easily with other non-chess narratives.

Magnus couldn't have done much more after playing the Trumpowsky in game 1.

[Roger de Coverly]

An interesting suggestion by Seirawan that matches should be over an odd number of games with the player having more Blacks being the winner in the event of a tie.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/seirawan-r ... 6-new-york

Rather than randomly assigning who has the draw odds, shouldn't it be the defending champion?

[Jonathan Bryant]

An interesting suggestion by Seirawan that matches should be over an odd number of games with the player having more Blacks being the winner in the event of a tie.

Interesting idea. Not sure I find it perfect but first feeling is that it’s better than rapidplay off and Armageddon at least - assuming match is long enough.

Presumably somebody of a mathematical bent - i.e. not me - could work out a model that take the results of games from World Championshio matches over the last 10 years (say) and demonstrate the length of match you’d need to balance the proportional chance of a decisive game and the need to score +1 against having an extra White.

[Mick Norris]

An interesting suggestion by Seirawan that matches should be over an odd number of games with the player having more Blacks being the winner in the event of a tie.

http://en.chessbase.com/post/seirawan-r ... 6-new-york

Rather than randomly assigning who has the draw odds, shouldn't it be the defending champion?

Yes, best idea so far if the Champion has the draw odds i.e. the extra black ( a game 13 in the current scenario)

I think there are fewer problems with any system if there are enough games; 12 isn't enough, 14 would be better, maybe 16 ideal although I think Anand reckoned 16 would be too tiring now?

On a different note, Jonathan Tisdall has expanded (from WTF?) on his game 12 report Why The Fuss which includes the interesting observation about Carlsen's food being "searched"