London Chess Classic 2017

[Jonathan Bryant]

Despite being the exchange up, the chessbomb stockfish thinks Nigel is worse. Alternatively Alan Merry found a strong exchange sacrifice.

Interesting opening choice from Merry in game 2 given Short’s association with the 4 Knights. Curious that Shott should repeat the line that Speelman played against him in that game all those years ago.

I was rather alarmed to discover that the match was played 5 years before Alan Merry was born.

[Martin Benjamin]

In successive moves from move 78 in the opposite coloured bishops ending v Gawain Jones, Luke McShane has moved his bishop from e2-d1-c2-b1-a2-b3-c4-d5-e6-f7-g8-h7-g6-h5-g4 before making the mighty leap on move 93 from g4 to e6 without taking a pit stop on f5. Normal service resumed with B from e6-d5-c6 before another mighty leap from c6 to a8, ignoring the presumably all important b7 square. And now the bishop has worked its way back to b1. I don't play much chess these days. Presumably White has to try to engineer winning chances with f4 at the appropriate moment, but how has this tortoise like bishop manoeuvring helped towards achieving this?

[LawrenceCooper]

In successive moves from move 78 in the opposite coloured bishops ending v Gawain Jones, Luke McShane has moved his bishop from e2-d1-c2-b1-a2-b3-c4-d5-e6-f7-g8-h7-g6-h5-g4 before making the mighty leap on move 93 from g4 to e6 without taking a pit stop on f5. Normal service resumed with B from e6-d5-c6 before another mighty leap from c6 to a8, ignoring the presumably all important b7 square. And now the bishop has worked its way back to b1. I don't play much chess these days. Presumably White has to try to engineer winning chances with f4 at the appropriate moment, but how has this tortoise like bishop manoeuvring helped towards achieving this?

It increased the time on his clock from about a minute to about ten thereby giving him more time for the critical moment around the f4 pawn break. It also gave his opponent a chance to build up time though so it was unclear who would benefit most.

[NickFaulks]

Classic Luke. He either wins or disrupts the tournament schedule.

edit : looks like the arbiters will get their dinner.

[Martin Benjamin]

In successive moves from move 78 in the opposite coloured bishops ending v Gawain Jones, Luke McShane has moved his bishop from e2-d1-c2-b1-a2-b3-c4-d5-e6-f7-g8-h7-g6-h5-g4 before making the mighty leap on move 93 from g4 to e6 without taking a pit stop on f5. Normal service resumed with B from e6-d5-c6 before another mighty leap from c6 to a8, ignoring the presumably all important b7 square. And now the bishop has worked its way back to b1. I don't play much chess these days. Presumably White has to try to engineer winning chances with f4 at the appropriate moment, but how has this tortoise like bishop manoeuvring helped towards achieving this?

It increased the time on his clock from about a minute to about ten thereby giving him more time for the critical moment around the f4 pawn break. It also gave his opponent a chance to build up time though so it was unclear who would benefit most.

One of the very few disadvantages of increments is that it allows players to gain time through aimless shuffling in games like this. Delay mode is better in these circumstances, but nothing is perfect.

[NickFaulks]

The official report on the first round of the Classic says "Unfortunately, neither Carlsen nor Anand were able to drive the full point home and now all the players have equal points". I don't imagine Nakamura and Caruana see it that way.

[Jonathan Bryant]

In successive moves from move 78 in the opposite coloured bishops ending v Gawain Jones, Luke McShane has moved his bishop from e2-d1-c2-b1-a2-b3-c4-d5-e6-f7-g8-h7-g6-h5-g4 before making the mighty leap on move 93 from g4 to e6 without taking a pit stop on f5. Normal service resumed with B from e6-d5-c6 before another mighty leap from c6 to a8, ignoring the presumably all important b7 square. And now the bishop has worked its way back to b1. I don't play much chess these days. Presumably White has to try to engineer winning chances with f4 at the appropriate moment, but how has this tortoise like bishop manoeuvring helped towards achieving this?

It increased the time on his clock from about a minute to about ten thereby giving him more time for the critical moment around the f4 pawn break. It also gave his opponent a chance to build up time though so it was unclear who would benefit most.

Maybe the point was not so much gaining time on the clock but rather just keeping the game going on and on wth the consequent build up in tension?

Not pleasant to play when the very best you can do is draw. Especially when losing means you’re out of the tournament.

[Nick Grey]

Yes it is about time a thread was posted. Are Gawain and the other losers going to jump straight into the Open.
Hopefully tomorrow not too much transport disruption.
I'm playing midweek. And looking forward to it.

[John Saunders]

The official report on the first round of the Classic says "Unfortunately, neither Carlsen nor Anand were able to drive the full point home and now all the players have equal points". I don't imagine Nakamura and Caruana see it that way.

I was surprised to read this comment, especially since I haven't actually published the 'official report' of round 1 yet.

[NickFaulks]

I was surprised to read this comment, especially since I haven't actually published the 'official report' of round 1 yet.

Surprised by my own comment or by the one I quote from Grand Chess Tour Press? Perhaps they're not as "official" as I thought.

[JustinHorton]

Weirdly, I can find that text on Susan Polgar's site, on Chessdom and on something called Chess Business News which I think is Chessdom in another form, but not anywhere else. So where does this particular merry-go-round begin?

(Also oddly, what site Google gets me is dependent on which phrase I search for, as opposed to any part of the text finding all of the sites.)

[Barry Sandercock]

Is it usual to have a rest day after the first round as this year ?

[LawrenceCooper]

Is it usual to have a rest day after the first round as this year ?

It isn't but it's the first time that round 1 has been played at a different venue.

[NickFaulks]

Remarkable play by Luke, even given the time control.

[Alex Holowczak]

At the start of Round 1 today in the FIDE Open, Malcolm addressed the Hall and confirmed that despite the earlier question marks, the London Chess Classic will indeed take place again in 2018.