Anand v Gelfand

[Phil Neatherway]

As the clear favourite, I should have thought that it's up to Anand to force a decision before the lottery of the tie-break.

[Jonathan Rogers]

It could be said that Gelfand now has some kind of initiative. He has drawn 3 black games, now has 2 whites in a row, and if the draws continue he will be playing white first in the second half of the match, a bit like the player serving first in the final set of a tennis match.

The player serving first in the final set of a tennis match loses more often than he wins, incidentally.

well, I would never have thought that. What about penalties in football - does the side which shoots first do better?

[Ian Kingston]

It could be said that Gelfand now has some kind of initiative. He has drawn 3 black games, now has 2 whites in a row, and if the draws continue he will be playing white first in the second half of the match, a bit like the player serving first in the final set of a tennis match.

The player serving first in the final set of a tennis match loses more often than he wins, incidentally.

well, I would never have thought that. What about penalties in football - does the side which shoots first do better?

According to research at the LSE, yes: 60% of teams shooting first win the shootout.

Chess is mentioned there as well - the player with White in the first game of a match has a similar advantage. I'm sure I've seen that somewhere else (ChessBase?), but I can't find it.

There is also some interesting research summarised here: http://www.penaltyshootouts.co.uk/research.html

[Mick Norris]

The Dutch did quite a bit of research on the strategy of penalty shootouts, when they got sick of losing them and I think the Italians have taken on board the results of the research too - I think of the countries that fail repeatedly, that just leaves the English thinking it is down to luck and there is nothing that can be done about it

[John McKenna]

Saw some where that Kasparov might attend the match today - might be just a rumour to put them on their toes. Even if he does he may not say much as I read his usual speaking fee is $60,000.

[Graham Borrowdale]

Saw some where that Kasparov might attend the match today - might be just a rumour to put them on their toes. Even if he does he may not say much as I read his usual speaking fee is $60,000.

That, along with the discussion about the offer of a junior simul for £1000 a board makes me think that the great one has probably priced himself out of the market.

Anyway, back to today's game, and it doesn't look like a black win at the moment!

[Angus French]

Saw some where that Kasparov might attend the match today - might be just a rumour to put them on their toes. Even if he does he may not say much as I read his usual speaking fee is $60,000.

The official commentary team (Peter Svidler and Dirk Jan ten Geuzendam today) just said that Kasparov will be joining them in about 45 minutes - i.e. at about 1:15 our time. The commentary is available here, for example: http://moscow2012.fide.com/en/live?g=20120518.

[Paul McKeown]

With 22. h4, Gelfand has a position that one could see White trying to win between two reasonable club players. Between two world class players, though, it's almost certain to be drawn, can't imagine Anand giving any chances.

[Paul McKeown]

But 22... Qc6 seems very accurate. Pair of rooks come off, queens come off. Draw soon.

[Roger de Coverly]

But 22... Qc6 seems very accurate. Pair of rooks come off, queens come off. Draw soon.

The engines don't seem bothered about the weak pawns on a6 and c6. Perhaps the ability of the Bishop on b6 to act as a super pawn makes a difference.

[Matthew Turner]

FIDE announced today that the second half of the match will be sponsored by Dulux. Ivor Brush, Marketing Director at the international paints manufacturer has said that they are very excited by this opportunity. "Many of the spectators of this tense encounter to determine the World Champion chessplayer will undoubtedly enjoy observing our products."

[John McKenna]

One, or both, "reasonable club players' would have to do something unreasonable to make pig's ear out of this. The greatest danger would be trying too hard to win, in my opinion.
Has Gary said much? Perhaps they are going pay him per word so are pretty safe. Yesterday one commentator called the game 'thin gruel'. Any advance on that?
BTW, 10.Rd1 Nb4!? was Sadler-Hodgson 1996 Hastings 1/2 (47), a more unbalanced game as Julian kept trying to be 'unreasonable'.

[Ian Kingston]

Game 6 drawn in 29 moves.

The art history interludes are slightly more interesting than the games.

[Ray Sayers]

FIDE announced today that the second half of the match will be sponsored by Dulux. Ivor Brush, Marketing Director at the international paints manufacturer has said that they are very excited by this opportunity. "Many of the spectators of this tense encounter to determine the World Champion chessplayer will undoubtedly enjoy observing our products."

Ba-dum Tish!

[John McKenna]

That depends on whether it's a babe, a babushka or the Moscow Evening Standard's equivalent of Brian Sewell presenting the art talk.
(Expecting to be censored soon as the temporay shelter of the watershed is still distant.)