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Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 4:27 pm
by Jonathan Rogers
I have been thinking about that. Of course the Black win in Kramnik v Caruana could have gone either way and the Aronian v Kramnik game was an opening bombshell, so that has helped Black's score somewhat. By contrast the three White wins, and this might also apply if So wins today, have been genuine cases of massaging some relatively normal advantage from the opening.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 5:56 pm
by LawrenceCooper
Two draws so far but with white wins likely in the So-Aronian & Mamedyarov-Kramnik games. That would give Caruana & Mamedyarov a point lead of the next highest score.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 8:21 pm
by Chris Rice
Leaderboard after round 6:

1-2 Caruana, Mamedyarov 4
3-6 Kramnik, Grischuk, Ding 3
6-7 So, Aronian 2½
8 Karjakin 2

Rest day tomorrow which hopefully will give Kramnik a chance to get his bearings. Mamedyarov looks the iron man at the moment but with 8 rounds to go no one is really out of it if they can put a little sequence of wins together.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Fri Mar 16, 2018 11:26 pm
by NickFaulks
Marathonbet offering both Caruana and Mamed at 7/4. Mathematically offside no doubt, but reasonable odds if you have a view.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:37 pm
by JustinHorton
It's not out of the question that we could go into the second half on a triple tie for first place.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 6:32 pm
by Mick Norris
JustinHorton wrote:
Sat Mar 17, 2018 4:37 pm
It's not out of the question that we could go into the second half on a triple tie for first place.
Or 4 if there's a winner in Vlad v Ding

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sat Mar 17, 2018 6:48 pm
by JustinHorton
Ah, good point

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 5:49 pm
by Chris Rice
Looks like a massive blunder from Wesley So in what looked a completely drawn position.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 5:52 pm
by JustinHorton
And several from Aronian, the last one probably fatal.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 5:58 pm
by JustinHorton
Chris Rice wrote:
Sun Mar 18, 2018 5:49 pm
Looks like a massive blunder from Wesley So in what looked a completely drawn position.
Quite the loss of concentration, there.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 6:01 pm
by PeterFarr
Aronian losing a crazy game must surely end his chances; also puts Caruana in the sole lead.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 6:08 pm
by JustinHorton
Ding, seven draws if he gets this one, and from memory only in trouble briefly (albeit seriously) against Grischuk. I wonder how he'll approach the second half.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 8:14 pm
by Chris Rice
Not sure whether I should be looking at Kramnik's moves with admiration or horror.

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 8:34 pm
by Chris Rice
Finally drawn, so Leaderboard after Rd 7, the halfway stage and I don't think many would have picked So and Aronian to be the back markers:

1 Caruana 5
2 Mamedyarov 4½
3-5 Kramnik, Ding, Grischuk 3½
6 Karjakin 3
7-8 So, Aronian 2½

Re: Candidates Tournament in Berlin March 2018

Posted: Sun Mar 18, 2018 8:35 pm
by Brian Towers
Chris Rice wrote:
Sun Mar 18, 2018 8:14 pm
Not sure whether I should be looking at Kramnik's moves with admiration or horror.
I think you should remember that Giri is Kramnik's second. Clearly with Giri's history Kramnik has been sent out with strict instructions to avoid a draw at almost any cost ;-)