London Chess Classic 2017

[Matt Mackenzie]

Meanwhile, all the games in the Classic were again drawn.

Which has the usual suspects chuntering on about "draw death" and how Chess960 IS THE FUTURE

[Jonathan Rogers]

They might have a better point if they said that only Nakamura's draws have been interesting ...

[David Sedgwick]

Maybe 6 minutes versus 4 (instead of the old 5) is too much advantage for White in Armageddon?

Possibly, although it looked like we were going to get a win for white and a win for black until black went astray in the Howell-Sadler game.

For the Armageddon games, Short won the toss and chose Black. Howell won the toss and chose White.

So, on the basis of Lawrence's observation, we nearly had both games won by the player who had lost the toss.

[NickFaulks]

"The next stage of both matches was a single Armageddon game, with White having 6 minutes to Black’s 4, with 2 second increments, but only from move 61 onwards. The snag in one of the games proved to be getting to move 61 and indeed, knowing if and when you had got there since the clocks didn’t have counters."

That doesn't sound ideal. For once, I think I would like the arbiters to get involved and bang a gong or something at move 60, rather like signalling the last lap in athletics.

[David Sedgwick]

"The next stage of both matches was a single Armageddon game, with White having 6 minutes to Black’s 4, with 2 second increments, but only from move 61 onwards. The snag in one of the games proved to be getting to move 61 and indeed, knowing if and when you had got there since the clocks didn’t have counters."

That doesn't sound ideal. For once, I think I would like the arbiters to get involved and bang a gong or something at move 60, rather like signalling the last lap in athletics.

If the reference is to Howell v Sadler, I did endeavour to give a more discreet signal. However, the players were concentrating so hard that they probably didn't notice.

[Brian Towers]

"The next stage of both matches was a single Armageddon game, with White having 6 minutes to Black’s 4, with 2 second increments, but only from move 61 onwards. The snag in one of the games proved to be getting to move 61 and indeed, knowing if and when you had got there since the clocks didn’t have counters."

That doesn't sound ideal. For once, I think I would like the arbiters to get involved and bang a gong or something at move 60, rather like signalling the last lap in athletics.

One simple solution for the players to know if the increments have started yet is to look at the clock when they press it and see if the seconds display increases. I suspect they are clever enough to have already worked this out.

[LawrenceCooper]

"The next stage of both matches was a single Armageddon game, with White having 6 minutes to Black’s 4, with 2 second increments, but only from move 61 onwards. The snag in one of the games proved to be getting to move 61 and indeed, knowing if and when you had got there since the clocks didn’t have counters."

That doesn't sound ideal. For once, I think I would like the arbiters to get involved and bang a gong or something at move 60, rather like signalling the last lap in athletics.

One simple solution for the players to know if the increments have started yet is to look at the clock when they press it and see if the seconds display increases. I suspect they are clever enough to have already worked this out.

Easier said than done when you are moving instantly

[Carl Hibbard]

Not a good advert the classic today.

[Barry Sandercock]

All games in the first 3 rounds drawn. I suppose this is what happens when the worlds top players are playing each other !?

[Brian Towers]

This chap has a great sense of humour - https://twitter.com/anishgiri/status/937774307509403650.

[JustinHorton]

Still, Aronian-Karjakin should have ended rather differently.

[Matt Mackenzie]

All games in the first 3 rounds drawn. I suppose this is what happens when the worlds top players are playing each other !?

Except that it doesn't normally, even in the most "super" super tournaments.

[Barry Sandercock]

Justin Horton wrote:
Still, Aronian- Karjakin should have ended rather differently.

Yes, I'm surprised Karjakin didn't play on. But ,of course it's easier when one has the computer assessments to look at.

[Jonathan Rogers]

For better or worse, this is the price one pays when one decides to join the Classic with other elite events, thus forcing them to have nine elite players (and a wildcard who will need to be pretty elite himself). The risk of more or less correct draws, where the skill lies hidden in the opening preparation and the anticipation of danger which the rest of never get to see, certainly increases. Plus, as Yermo says on chessbase, the psychological aspects; everyone is happy to draw with black, and may find it difficult to switch even if White does overpress.

It isn't just this year. I am struggling to remember a good game from last year's event too. But I can still name several memorable games from the first four years of the event where the greater number of English players (not to mention the participation of Kramnik) really mixed things up.

But it's a choice. On the other hand they do have their elite event which is part of a series. Pros and cons and all of that.

[Mick Norris]

I imagine it is more cautious than usual as some of the players will have their eye on the Candidates

Magnus isn't playing as well as he used to do at the moment, so will be drawing games where he used to manage to convert very small advantages into pressure and then wins