2016 Candidates Moscow 10-29 March

[Matt Mackenzie]

A bit of a contrast between Anand's form with W and B in this event - he couldn't get away with that against Magnus.

[LawrenceCooper]

A bit of a contrast between Anand's form with W and B in this event - he couldn't get away with that against Magnus.

He's certainly been caught twice in the opening/early middle game in the last two black games. I've been very impressed with how he ground down Aronian & Karjakin though from what appeared to be positions with very little happening.

[Martin Benjamin]

Deja vu in terms of the press conference. Vishy Anand sits there not volunteering anything and not being asked any questions. It seems both cruel and pointless to require a player to turn up if no one asks him for a comment.

[Martin Benjamin]

It's a real pain not being able to believe what it says on the clocks.

The official site seems to have correct times (although only to hh:mm, rather than hh:mm:ss)

[JustinHorton]

The official site seems to have correct times (although only to hh:mm, rather than hh:mm:ss)

Yeah, I guess we can go by them, though as it's a generally substandard site I'm reluctant to assume it.

Talking as I have been of players tsking their chances, it serms Giri might have let another chance slip by today. His long drawing streak shoukdn't obscure the fact that he's had the opportunities to win this tournament (or indeed that he's failed to take them).

[John McKenna]

This is a headscratcher:

The two lines (13.O-O-O... and 13.h5...) have different evaluations (0.57 and 0.37) because although they converge at 14... Ne5, they diverge again, with 17... Rxc4 and 17... Nxc4, and go their separate ways. Anyway, Karajakin played 13.h5, Topalov replied Nbd7 and Karjakin went his own way with 14.g6... instead of O-O-O... leaving the two lines shown trailing in the dust.

Am I wrong to presume that Giri and Caruana still might win today?

Edit: move 13.O-O-O corrected to 13.h5 that was actually played.

[JustinHorton]

The two lines (13.O-O-O... and 13.h5...) have different evaluations (0.57 and 0.37) because although they converge at 14... Ne5, they diverge again, with 17... Rxc4 and 17... Nxc4, and go their separate ways.

Yes of course, but why diverge?

[John McKenna]

My experience is that such lines will often converge again when the engine has had sufficient time to complete both evaluations.

Edit: If the position reached in both lines at Black's 17th move is put into an engine it will then decide (for itself) if 17... Rxc4 is really a bit better than 17... Nxc4.

[LawrenceCooper]

Karjakin has won to become the (temporary?) leader on 7/12.

[John McKenna]

I'll stick my own neck out and say that Caruana and Giri still have practical winning chances today.

[NickFaulks]

Yeah, I guess we can go by them, though as it's a generally substandard site I'm reluctant to assume it.

and it is now saying that Caruana has lost on time...

[JustinHorton]

He has 0.00 on Worldchess as well. I assume the video shows nothing amiss?

[Martin Benjamin]

00:00 on the official site means he has under a minute, not a loss on time.

[MJMcCready]

He still has 0.001 left apparently.

[NickFaulks]

00:00 on the official site means he has under a minute, not a loss on time.

I know, but it seemed to be stuck on 00:00 for a long time when it was his move.