2018 Wijk aan Zee 12 - 28 January

[Matt Mackenzie]

Why did Jones agree a draw with the final position? Was it more to do with the stature of his opponent rather than the nature of the position itself? Had his opponent been a few hundred points lower, he would have played on surely?

FWIW the engines give only a tiny Black advantage, and its the sort of position you could actually go wrong in quite easily.

Jones will just be relieved to break his duck against VK, I expect.

[NickFaulks]

Why did Jones agree a draw with the final position?

I've just seen the final position and can't imagine why either side might think they had legitimate winning chances.

[Mick Norris]

Chess Mind report, game analysis and Carlsen-Svidler post mortem video

[MJMcCready]

Jones plays a c3 Sicilian. I can why the bishop cannot go to b5 with the d-pawn on d7 still but Bc4 after e6 has already been played seems rather pointless in itself. I suppose its a better square than e2 but other than to exchange it off later, it doesn't have much of a future on that square.

[LawrenceCooper]

Jones plays a c3 Sicilian. I can why the bishop cannot go to b5 with the d-pawn on d7 still but Bc4 after e6 has already been played seems rather pointless in itself. I suppose its a better square than e2 but other than to exchange it off later, it doesn't have much of a future on that square.

Fast forward a few moves and it looks well placed.

[MJMcCready]

On move 15 it still looks misplaced. I think with an IQP and d5 coming it has a reason to be on c4 but other than that it is only blocking the c-file. After 15 moves it seems that white only has a slight space advantage.

[LawrenceCooper]

On move 15 it still looks misplaced. I think with an IQP and d5 coming it has a reason to be on c4 but other than that it is only blocking the c-file. After 15 moves it seems that white only has a slight space advantage.

At that level you are unlikely to get a huge advantage from the opening, especially against such a strong opponent.

[MJMcCready]

Yes sure. I just hope he has the sort of position he wants, just looks like his bishop should not be where it is.

[Jonathan Rogers]

The biggest stories still seem to be Mamed's great form and Caruana's poor form. Of course the latter might be hiding his prep for Berlin but surely that is not the full story.

Incidentally a straw poll of Barbican players, taken last weekend, showed what was (to my mind) surprising support for Mamed's chances in Berlin - I suppose I am beginning to see it now, though somehow it still seems rather sudden.

[Jonathan Rogers]

really, Caruana basically lost a pawn for nothing in what seems rather a casual manner (at their level)

[Matt Mackenzie]

Kramnik's first *ever* win over Anand with Black in classical chess, I believe?

[LawrenceCooper]

Kramnik's first *ever* win over Anand with Black in classical chess, I believe?

Stavanger last year?

[Matt Mackenzie]

Really, had totally forgotten that

A bit like buses, then?

[Mick Norris]

The biggest stories still seem to be Mamed's great form and Caruana's poor form. Of course the latter might be hiding his prep for Berlin but surely that is not the full story.

Incidentally a straw poll of Barbican players, taken last weekend, showed what was (to my mind) surprising support for Mamed's chances in Berlin - I suppose I am beginning to see it now, though somehow it still seems rather sudden.

He explained the reasons for his recent improvement (I think lack of alcohol and getting married featured?), and he must have a great chance based on the simple fact he's in great form; his live rating of 2817.5 is the 11th highest of all time, overtaking Grischuk and only 0.3 behind Kramnik

[Christopher Kreuzer]

Gawain gets to play Magnus tomorrow (Sunday). Carlsen has Black against Mamedyarov on Friday. Three more rounds before then. Enough time for the rating gap to be narrowed further. I wonder what Carlsen's view is on who his challenger might be after Berlin (the Candidates Tournament)?