39th Olympiad Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 (the chess)

[Maxim Devereaux]

I am very surprised that Gawain traded minor pieces. I hope Roger has got it right.

I think Jones has found the right plan. At some point Black will have to block a check with the rook to avoid being forked. Then the pawns fall and it's 50 moves to win KQ vs. KR.

Well, it wasn't quickest, since the stalemate plan wins faster, but it was certainly simplest, since there appears to be no defence to White winning the pawns this way. In fact, Black appears to have played perfectly so far, but he's still lost. Let's see how long it takes Gawain to actually win the QvR though, because it'll be a relatively favourable starting position for Black, so could take almost 30 moves (with best play).

[Simon Williams]

I believe that Morozevich once failed to win Q vs R. The best defence is to keep the rook on the 3rd rank in front of the king but this defence can be broken down.

I am sure Gawain will win, Morozevich has nothing on Gawain! Let's hope Gawain gets a board prize!

[Maxim Devereaux]

I like Gawain's style - I think he's deliberately not going to take the rook's pawn, because there's no way Black can defend it long-term, so he'll improve his position first and drive Black back, then take it and have another 50 moves

EDIT: Spoke too soon Maybe he's pretty sure of his technique.

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

Not updates for ages. Hopefully Black has resigned, but maybe he's claiming a draw (10.2?).

[Maxim Devereaux]

No, still going, but Gawain's just about to win the rook

[Ian Kingston]

I am very surprised that Gawain traded minor pieces. I hope Roger has got it right.

I think Jones has found the right plan. At some point Black will have to block a check with the rook to avoid being forked. Then the pawns fall and it's 50 moves to win KQ vs. KR.

Well, it wasn't quickest, since the stalemate plan wins faster, but it was certainly simplest, since there appears to be no defence to White winning the pawns this way. In fact, Black appears to have played perfectly so far, but he's still lost. Let's see how long it takes Gawain to actually win the QvR though, because it'll be a relatively favourable starting position for Black, so could take almost 30 moves (with best play).

Agreed about the stalemate idea (61.Qd3 looked good) - I posted after Jones had opted for the alternative. But any clear winning plan is a good one when playing with 30 second increments.

[Alex Holowczak]

I don't mean any disrespect to our best players from earlier
generations,and indeed some of them achieved impressively high world
rankings,but equally I don't think that it is fair to today's team to
suggest that standards at the top of English chess have fallen
away,and that somehow we are a shadow of our former selves.

I personally believe that the current England team is our strongest
ever.I know it's difficult to compare strengths across generations,but
even excluding the continual rise in standards worldwide,I believe
that the current team would not have had to play above themselves to
come second if it were transported back to the days when there was
just one Soviet team,and France(etc etc etc) were so much weaker.

In the 1999 World Championship, England had 5 players in the top 44 seeds (so were presumably ranked in the top 60 or so in the world). By contrast, Gawain Jones is 5th in England now, but ranked only 239 in the world. Luckily, we do have five young players in the 2500+ region on an upward curve, McShane, Howell, Jones, Pert and Gordon. Hopefully they can reach the heights English players did 11 years ago!

[Alex Holowczak]

Not updates for ages. Hopefully Black has resigned, but maybe he's claiming a draw (10.2?).

You can't claim a 10.2 with an incremental time control.

[Maxim Devereaux]

The wheel came off the Chucky express today I see :/ Nice game by Mamedyarov.

[Keith Arkell]

I don't mean any disrespect to our best players from earlier
generations,and indeed some of them achieved impressively high world
rankings,but equally I don't think that it is fair to today's team to
suggest that standards at the top of English chess have fallen
away,and that somehow we are a shadow of our former selves.

I personally believe that the current England team is our strongest
ever.I know it's difficult to compare strengths across generations,but
even excluding the continual rise in standards worldwide,I believe
that the current team would not have had to play above themselves to
come second if it were transported back to the days when there was
just one Soviet team,and France(etc etc etc) were so much weaker.

In the 1999 World Championship, England had 5 players in the top 44 seeds (so were presumably ranked in the top 60 or so in the world). By contrast, Gawain Jones is 5th in England now, but ranked only 239 in the world. Luckily, we do have five young players in the 2500+ region on an upward curve, McShane, Howell, Jones, Pert and Gordon. Hopefully they can reach the heights English players did 11 years ago!

I'm sure that your stats are quite correct Alex,but my point is that you have to be a helluva lot stronger these days to achieve those high rankings

[Jon D'Souza-Eva]

No, still going, but Gawain's just about to win the rook

Aha! It ends with Qg2+ and it's Goodnight Vienna. You have to admire Gawain's technique in this game.

[Alex Holowczak]

I'm sure that your stats are quite correct Alex,but my point is that you have to be a helluva lot stronger these days to achieve those high rankings

Well if other countries can do it, then we should aspire to too!

[Keith Arkell]

I'm sure that your stats are quite correct Alex,but my point is that you have to be a helluva lot stronger these days to achieve those high rankings

Well if other countries can do it, then we should aspire to too!

Of course and if we did achieve it in todays changed,far far tougher climate,then it would be an achievement incomparably greater than any before it!

[Jonathan Rogers]

Ukraine did win after all, despite Chucky's loss; and it's now

Ukraine 16
Russia and France 15
Israel, USA, China 14

predictions, anyone?

[Alex Holowczak]

Ukraine did win after all, despite Chucky's loss; and it's now

Ukraine 16
Russia and France 15
Israel, USA, China 14

predictions, anyone?

I hope Ukraine win, but then I am biased.

Top board will be Ukraine v France tomorrow. If only the French had Bacrot!