Edit: until just now obviously. players not cooperatingPaul Cooksey wrote:if the clock times are reliable, they are very interesting. Howell has been playing on the increment, under 1 min for most of the game. Hawkins around 5 minutes most of the time. So Hawkins playing at the same speed, but keeping a small cushion. Maybe a tactic for keeping calm.
James Byrne wrote:Hawkins has a won position, hopefully he won't blunder in time pressure. I think he needs to move his king to b8 or somin? so he can meet the check with check.
hear hearChristopher Kreuzer wrote:Hawkins 1-0 Howell. Second GM norm for Hawkins!
<applause>
Result of the day not the same thing as game of the day, methinks. Anyhoo, who was it who said they never got their games published because they usually went on too long? (Keith Arkell?)Gavin Strachan wrote:not Hawkins...
Agreed about ... Nc6. I thought that was more Speelman's cup of tea than Short's - but then his opening repertoire is pretty broad these days. Howell is routinely late to the board. THat's the most likely explanation I would say.AustinElliott wrote: Could I give surprise of the day to Nigel Short's 1... Nc6 against 1. d4 ??!
..and... has Howell really spent ages thinking about his first move as White? Or is he late? Or are the moves not getting updated?
I'm trying to work out whether a noted time-scrambler also being routinely late is logical (brinkmanship, last-minute-itis) or plain bloody daft (if you're always time troubled, why blow 20 min by being late?).Jonathan Bryant wrote:Howell is routinely late to the board. That's the most likely explanation I would say.