Carlsen, Anand and Ding Liren to play in the UK

[Matthew Turner]

Quite a creative way to promote exports to China
https://lindoresabbeydistillery.com/che ... ournament/

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Mathew,

Already have my ticket. (£20)



This group of Monks (I believe the correct collective term is 'Order') will put on a better show
than the rip-off scam non-event that was the World Championship in London and do not get me
started (I have, so I'll finish) on the carve up featuring the 'Fantastic Four' in the London Classic
(the collective term there is 'troop' as in troop of monkeys.)

[Kevin Thurlow]

It looks very professional. Never mind China, people here might be inspired to try their products as well.

[Geoff Chandler]

Found out today the 4th player is Nepomniachtchi,

Games will be live via chess24 tickets selling like hot cakes after Chessbase article. (I have mine).

https://en.chessbase.com/post/chess-and-whiskey

[Mick Norris]

Karjakin replaces Nepo (who is still playing in the Grand Prix)

[David Robertson]

Magnus gets some prep in

[Paul Cooksey]

Magnus gets some prep in

featuring a worst move on the board at the end

[Mick Norris]

Round 1 (May 25, 2019)
Karjakin, Sergey - Anand, Viswanathan 1-0 66 D37 QGD 5.Bf4
Carlsen, Magnus - Ding, Liren ½-½ 44 E24 Nimzo Indian Saemisch

Round 2 (May 25, 2019)
Karjakin, Sergey - Carlsen, Magnus ½-½ 40 E94 King's Indian Classical
Anand, Viswanathan - Ding, Liren ½-½ 40 C84 Ruy Lopez Centre Attack

Round 3 (May 25, 2019)
Ding, Liren - Karjakin, Sergey 1-0 33 E00 Catalan
Carlsen, Magnus - Anand, Viswanathan 1-0 31 E48 Nimzo Indian

[Roland Kensdale]

Some nice videos at the Chessbase India YouTube site ( https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIsEhw ... HsA/videos ) by the indefatigable Sagar Shah.

A video of a specially created handmade chess set. Sagar was too polite to tell the Distillery boss that the board was the wrong way round and Kings and Queens swapped.

In Spectator's Delight video spotted Geoff Chandler with his distinctive hat.

Sosonko and Danny King commentary. Live games at https://lindoreschessstars.lindoresabbe ... com/frame/

[Geoff Chandler]

Great chess day out. Had ringside seat to watch them playing live...



...then downstairs to catch the Sosonko - King commentary and after game interviews.
(jumped in the seat Carlsen sat in when they were not looking)



By then had more than my fair share of 'samples.'

Superbly organised, everyone agreed, a great chess treat for only £20.00.

[MJMcCready]

It looks like a waste of time and money to me.

[Geoff Chandler]

Hi Mike,

Of course I do not drop all the pearls into one post.

The charming village of Newburgh which is one minute away from the Abbey is getting Is getting a 2nd visit next week.

Everyone said 'Good Morning' - 'Good Afternoon.'
(I was thinking they had me mixed up with someone else and was hoping this someone else did not owe anybody any money.)

The Chess.

Anand gave a mini-simul against a group of Scottish juniors , Carlsen gave a lecture,
the other two end up as part of the merry crowd, Karjakin cruised and Ding mingled.

The souvenirs, hats, t-shirts, pens etc etc were at a reasonable price
(comparing that to the World Championship souvenir pen which cost £875.)

As well as chess, the abbey monks were archers.



(my ''where are the Grundys' joke went over their heads - my arrows went over the target.)

You all know me by now. If I thought it was not worth the same cost as a modern chess book then
I would have said so, as I said earlier, everyone I spoke too were really enjoying themselves.

[Matthew Turner]

It looks to me like an event where everyone, the players included, are having a lot of fun. It is great for Scottish Chess, but if it shows the players in a more human (less robotic) light, then I think it is a very good thing more generally.

[John McKenna]

This post is edited, see below -

[John McKenna]

It looks like a waste of time and money to me.

A waste of time and money??

Are you saying that if you had been about in the area you wouldn't have bothered 'wasting' any of your time and money attending it?

Are you a just a natural-born dissenter, or is it sour grapes because you're a cognac and wine man as opposed to whisky and beer one?

With thanks to Geoff and other posters here for showing the many merits of the event.

Hope all those who did attend and imbibed don't have too monstrous hangovers this morn.

Though even that must be a small price to pay compared to the enjoyment of seeing great chess in such a fine setting.

Slàinte mhath!