Candidates Tournament 2013

[Jonathan Bryant]

There were just over 100 people in the audience, with a capacity of around 300, so around one-third full.

Thanks to Chris and David for their observations. 100 doesn't seem that many to me given the status of the event, its strength and the numbers that go to the Classic. No doubt the problems documented earlier affected the turn out.

I get the impression that what's on offer is perhaps 'normal' for a chess event, but it is suffering in comparison to the Classic which has set exceptional standards for spectators. What's really bizarre, though, is the delay in the moves appearing on the display screens. That does seem unforgiveable to me.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Thanks for the links. Interestingly Mark Crowther is talking up Svidler's chances and I noticed the commentary team doing that yesterday too. I thought Peter gave a brilliant interview after his game, where he seemed both humble and focused, but I really don't see him as a potential winner. Do other people disagree?

Unfortunately I can't disagree

I've always liked Svidler and each year I hope he'll be invited to the Classic. I enjoyed this interview and his dry wit. E.g. the line about the position not playing to his strenghts "in so far as I have any"

Also: "It would be a definite trauma for me, playing a move like this."

[Matthew Turner]

Watching the commentary on-line I thought was pretty good and the players (that I saw) were very erudite when being interviewed. There seemed to be glitches with the technology and things looked a bit last minute, so they will certainly improve (and probably relatively quickly). The auditorium seems to be basically in darkness and I cannot see how that can be a great experience for spectators. I also don't really see how that is going to change in any significant way.
For a chess 'nut' I can see how it would be good to soak up the atmosphere and if I lived in London I would probably go for one day, but for most chessplayers/enthusiasts it seems that the online experience is at the least the equal of being their live.

[Barry Sandercock]

Excellent report by Christopher Kreuzer. I feel as though I've been there!

[John Foley]

I've always liked Svidler and each year I hope he'll be invited to the Classic. I enjoyed this interview and his dry wit. E.g. the line about the position not playing to his strenghts "in so far as I have any"

Also: "It would be a definite trauma for me, playing a move like this."

The cricket-loving Peter Svidler is really an Englishman born in the wrong country.

[Jonathan Rogers]

Now after 1 Kc3 b4+ 2 Kb3 Kf6 it is indeed a draw but should White play 3 g4 or 3 f4, or does it not matter? (Yes, this is episode 94 of my occasional "instructive endgame" series).

8/5k2/8/1p5p/7P/p2K1PP1/8/8

Thanks for giving the diagram, Clive.

It is nice to see Nigel following this thread and, wouldn't you know it, he got the answer right!

For those who may not have been so sure, the problem with 3.f4 is that it allows Black's king to wander into the centre of the board without any White pawn advancing further - it can go to e4 without White being able to make another pawn move, and then he has time to force a promotion on the queenside. Eg 3 f4 Kf5 3 Ka2 Ke4 4 Kb3 Kd3 5 f5 a2 6 Kxa2 Kc2, etc. This doesn't happen after 3 g4 hxg4 4 fxg4 Ke5 5 h5 - White's pawns are now further up the board and one of them queens in time if Black tries anything heroic.

I pointed it out simply because I could imagine some players thinking that any protected passed pawn would hold the draw.

[Roger de Coverly]

What's really bizarre, though, is the delay in the moves appearing on the display screens.

The DGT boards are notorious for being difficult to set up reliably for live transmissions, particularly with a large number of boards involved. I'm not sure I've ever seen an overview of how it all works, but my broad understanding is that the board sends a pgn file of the game to a local computer, which can then display the position and upload data to a server. What I've never been sure of is how often the board sends the game file to the local computer. If it does this continuously you are sending a lot of duplicated information which can explain why events with lots of boards such as Olympiads struggle. If it doesn't transmit continuously, you can get the lag effect.

The Tal memorial in Moscow along with the Anand - Gelfand match had the reverse phenomenon. They featured live video which lagged the DGT transmission. So the next move would pop up on the display board and then you would see the player make the move. I don't think Agon are doing board by board live coverage, as the video streaming was either of the commentators or of the room as a whole.

[Jonathan Bryant]

Carlsen 1 - 0 Kramnik
Grischuk 0 - 1 Svidler
Radjabov 1-0 Ivanchuk
Aronian 1 - 0 Gelfand

And a streaker invades the stage as part of the 'Original Staunton pieces for Justice' campaign.

I'm going
Carlsen 1/2 Kramnik
Grischuk 1/2 Svidler
Radjabov 1/2 Ivanchuk
Aronian 1-0 Gelfand

ALthough I'm usually appallingly bad at this sort of thing.


PS: I support the streaker.

[Jonathan Rogers]

No doubt it is incompetence on my part but I can only get the live commentary from yesterday. Since I rather enjoyed it yesterday, I'd like the link for today, if someone would please provide it.

Early draw for Carlsen again, underlining that this event will not be a walk for him, if all his oppponents are trying their hardest not to lose to him and taking more risks against some of the others.

[Eoin Devane]

Since I rather enjoyed it yesterday, I'd like the link for today, if someone would please provide it.

http://new.livestream.com/accounts/1504 ... ts/1953869

You can find the link each day by going to the ChessCasting website http://candidates2013.worldchess.com/#t ... rings-view, clicking on a game, and clicking the link "Watch video commentary" in the top right-hand corner.

[Colin S Crouch]

Very steady draw, Carlsen - Kramnik. Naturally, even Carlsen cannot be expected to win every time. Carlsen's first two opponents were tough, even in the context of all the other 2740+ opponents.

I am not too concerned with trying to predict every game. In terms of longer-term assessments, I was suggesting, before the event, that it would not be totally clear that Carlsen was automatically going to win, and I suggested that Radjabov and Aronian were players who would be in the top half. At the moment, Radjabov seems to have a clear and comfortable edge against Ivanchuk, and Aronian seems to have the better of the endgame against Gelfand.

Let us see how this all pans out...

[Colin S Crouch]

It is starting to look like a slight swing in favour of Grischuk, against Svidler. Wasn't it more logical for Black to try 20...Bxf3 ? The knight is important, the bishop less so.

Gelfand is starting to use up a lot of time.

[Eoin Devane]

Beautiful win from Aronian!

Radjabov's position is looking really nice too.

[Matt Mackenzie]

We have had the real start of the tournament today

[JustinHorton]

Eg 3 f4 Kf5 3 Ka2 Ke4 4 Kb3 Kd3 5 f5 a2 6 Kxa2 Kc2, etc.

I think you may mean 4 Kc2 rather than 3 Ka2