2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

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David Robertson

Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by David Robertson » Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:48 pm

Who is Alireza Firouzja? And what is he smoking, ranked 169, to be lying 3= (and +135 Elo) with two rounds to go?

Alex Holowczak
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Alex Holowczak » Fri Dec 28, 2018 4:17 pm

David Robertson wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:48 pm
Who is Alireza Firouzja? And what is he smoking, ranked 169, to be lying 3= (and +135 Elo) with two rounds to go?
He's a 2600+ rated standard player, and only 15 years old. If you look at his FIDE profile, you can see the direction his ratings are going, and quickly - he just hasn't played as much rapid as he has standard and blitz, so his rating hasn't caught up yet.

Incidentally, there is another Iranian doing very well in the Women's competition.

Tim Harding
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Tim Harding » Fri Dec 28, 2018 4:50 pm

Alex Holowczak wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 4:17 pm
David Robertson wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:48 pm
Who is Alireza Firouzja? And what is he smoking, ranked 169, to be lying 3= (and +135 Elo) with two rounds to go?
He's a 2600+ rated standard player, and only 15 years old. If you look at his FIDE profile, you can see the direction his ratings are going, and quickly - he just hasn't played as much rapid as he has standard and blitz, so his rating hasn't caught up yet.

Incidentally, there is another Iranian doing very well in the Women's competition.
Yes, Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat has finished in a tie for second/third. She was interviewed before the last round and didn't seem surprised to be doing so well. She had previously finished fourth but couldn't play last year because of the visa issue in Saudi.
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter

Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com

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Matt Mackenzie
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Matt Mackenzie » Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:03 pm

Tim Harding wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 4:50 pm
Yes, Khademalsharieh, Sarasadat has finished in a tie for second/third. She was interviewed before the last round and didn't seem surprised to be doing so well. She had previously finished fourth but couldn't play last year because of the visa issue in Saudi.
Her name is not infrequently shortened, maybe unsurprisingly.
"Set up your attacks so that when the fire is out, it isn't out!" (H N Pillsbury)

Mick Norris
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Mick Norris » Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:03 pm

Going into the final round, Dubov leads with 10.5

On 10 are Shak, Carlsen & Artemiev, with Naka set to join them; 9.5 has Karjakin, Giri, Yu Yanghi, Korobov, Matlakov, Ponkratov

Shak v Dubov
Naka v Magnus
Karjakin v Artemiev
Any postings on here represent my personal views

David Robertson

Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by David Robertson » Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:25 pm

Tasty, tasty. Final round sees:

Mamedyarov - Dubov

and, for the 4879th time

Naka - McArlsen

Tim Harding
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Tim Harding » Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:25 pm

Last round draw WITH SCORES:

Mamedyarov (10) v Dubov (10.5)
Nakamura (10) v Carlsen (10)
Karjakin (9.5) v Artemiev (10)

In the last game to finish in the penultimate round, Black resigned a theoretically drawn position:

Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter

Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com

David Robertson

Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by David Robertson » Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:31 pm

Tim Harding wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:25 pm
Black resigned a theoretically drawn position
Black resigned a totally lost position. It may have been drawn a move earlier. But now, after B played 142..Ke6??? 143 Kb5 & 144 RxB wins

Brian Towers
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Brian Towers » Fri Dec 28, 2018 6:11 pm

So, Dubov is the undefeated world rapid champion.
Ah, but I was so much older then. I'm younger than that now.

Tim Harding
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Tim Harding » Fri Dec 28, 2018 6:21 pm

David Robertson wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:31 pm
Tim Harding wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:25 pm
Black resigned a theoretically drawn position
Black resigned a totally lost position. It may have been drawn a move earlier. But now, after B played 142..Ke6??? 143 Kb5 & 144 RxB wins
Are you sure? I copied the PGN from chess24 which ended after White's 142nd.
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter

Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com

Tim Harding
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Location: Dublin, Ireland

Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Tim Harding » Fri Dec 28, 2018 6:21 pm

Brian Towers wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 6:11 pm
So, Dubov is the undefeated world rapid champion.
Dubov interview coming up.

Gawain Jones finished on a creditable 8.5
Tim Harding
Historian and FIDE Arbiter

Author of 'Steinitz in London,' British Chess Literature to 1914', 'Joseph Henry Blackburne: A Chess Biography', and 'Eminent Victorian Chess Players'
http://www.chessmail.com

Leonard Barden
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Leonard Barden » Fri Dec 28, 2018 6:22 pm

David Robertson wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:48 pm
Who is Alireza Firouzja? And what is he smoking, ranked 169, to be lying 3= (and +135 Elo) with two rounds to go?
You're really out of touch, Prof. Firouzja is a great talent, already compared to Tal and Anand and forecast in print to become world champion by his respected coach Ivan Sokolov. He's also singled out in today's Guardian column which has just gone online and will be updated later when I know who has won silver and bronze.

Mick Norris
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Mick Norris » Fri Dec 28, 2018 7:56 pm

Chess results has Shak & Naka 2nd and 3rd, then Artemiev then Carlsen on tiebreak with Firouzja next on 10 having gained 157.4 rating points
Any postings on here represent my personal views

Peter Shaw
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Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by Peter Shaw » Fri Dec 28, 2018 8:21 pm

Tim Harding wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 6:21 pm
David Robertson wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:31 pm
Tim Harding wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 5:25 pm
Black resigned a theoretically drawn position
Black resigned a totally lost position. It may have been drawn a move earlier. But now, after B played 142..Ke6??? 143 Kb5 & 144 RxB wins
Are you sure? I copied the PGN from chess24 which ended after White's 142nd.
It's on the video, he played Ke6 and resigned before white played Kb5.

David Robertson

Re: 2018 FIDE Rapid & Blitz World Championships

Post by David Robertson » Fri Dec 28, 2018 9:21 pm

Leonard Barden wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 6:22 pm
David Robertson wrote:
Fri Dec 28, 2018 3:48 pm
Who is Alireza Firouzja? And what is he smoking, ranked 169, to be lying 3= (and +135 Elo) with two rounds to go?
You're really out of touch, Prof. Firouzja is a great talent
I am a mere grasshopper, oh Master! I struggle to keep up with the progress of Iranian teenagers these days. I struggle to understand how a nation, whose Government within recent times deemed chess an activity worthy of decapitation, should be bursting forth with 2600+ players when a nation blessed with the inestimable efforts of the ECF Chess Academy, CSC, the ziga-giga-frigga UK Chess Challenge, and kindred efforts should struggle to increase its supply of youthful IMs. Much have I still to learn!