Candidates Matches 3rd - 27th May 2011

[David Sedgwick]

Quote from facebook regarding Kramnik-Radjabov: "with matches like this its a wonder that top level chess has a problem attracting sponsorship"

Another quote from the same thread:

Kramnik is attempting to make history by winning the event without winning a single game.

It wouldn't make history. In 1968 Reshevsky won his triangular Candidates play-off match against Stein and Hort by drawing all his eight games.

[Simon Ansell]

Aronian was a lot better, if not winning, then cocked it up and had to defend R + 3 vs R + 4 which he did easily.

This Kramnik - Radjabov match has been completely pathetic.

[Peter Shaw]

In the 3rd rapidplay game Aronian and Grischuk reached almost the same rook ending as they had in the last standard game, except this time Grischuk had the extra pawn.

[David Sedgwick]

what actually happneed in game three of Aronian v Grischuk?! I am only following the games on the official site, and missed the last game through being out of the office. Now I am back and they are just ready to start game four. But they seem to start afresh for each game with no apparent record anywhere on the site of the previous games!(E.g, it just says Grischuk v Aronian for game four, and not Grischuk (1.5) v Aronian (1.5) )

The game was drawn, with Aronian holding a drawn rook and pawn ending a pawn down.

On the live coverage at http://www.susanpolgar.blogspot.com/, you can look up earlier games as well as follow the ones currently in progress.

Edit: I've just seen that two other posters have already answered the question.

[benedgell]

Qf7-f8, Kh8, Bg8. Kramnik clearly out for blood in this one.

[Simon Ansell]

Why are Kramnik and Radjabov plying blitz at the same time Aronian and Grischuk are still playing 25 + 10? Has to be a big distraction for Aronian and Grischuk with blitz on the next table. Would have thought they'd synchronize the games somehow?

[David Sedgwick]

Why are Kramnik and Radjabov plying blitz at the same time Aronian and Grischuk are still playing 25 + 10? Has to be a big distraction for Aronian and Grischuk with blitz on the next table. Would have thought they'd synchronize the games somehow?

From the Regulations posted by Mick Norris up thread, it looks as though each game starts ten minutes after the end of the previous one.

[LozCooper]

Why are Kramnik and Radjabov plying blitz at the same time Aronian and Grischuk are still playing 25 + 10? Has to be a big distraction for Aronian and Grischuk with blitz on the next table. Would have thought they'd synchronize the games somehow?

From the Regulations posted by Mick Norris up thread, it looks as though each game starts ten minutes after the end of the previous one.

Radjabov won the first blitz game so Kramnik now needs to win the return to force another mini match of two blitz games

[Steve Rooney]

what actually happneed in game three of Aronian v Grischuk?! I am only following the games on the official site, and missed the last game through being out of the office. Now I am back and they are just ready to start game four. But they seem to start afresh for each game with no apparent record anywhere on the site of the previous games!(E.g, it just says Grischuk v Aronian for game four, and not Grischuk (1.5) v Aronian (1.5) )

The game was drawn, with Aronian holding a drawn rook and pawn ending a pawn down.

On the live coverage at http://www.susanpolgar.blogspot.com/, you can look up earlier games as well as follow the ones currently in progress.

Edit: I've just seen that two other posters have already answered the question.

Curiously http://www.susanpolgar.blogspot.com is already reporting that Aronian won 1.5-0.5. I thought there might be a delay in the video and game feed but that scoreline ignores Grischuk's win so is clearly an error. Whoever is writing on the site must have been still asleep for the first game today as Aronian's win is reported as the first of the playoff games.

Edit - it's now been amended but still shows Aronian one up.

[Ben Purton]

Kramnik out

[benedgell]

Looks like the dullest match since Kramnik- Leko is coming to an end. Gotta love Kramnik's 'must-win' attacking chess.

[Ben Purton]

If Aronian goes out, it means the semi final was the least likely one to occur out of them all...

[Ben Purton]

I think that Grischuk has a great position here surely its curtains for Armenia

[Jonathan Rogers]

I think Kramnik still has chances - he will probably try to threaten mate on f7, and after that is parried it may be harder for Black to defend the g6 pawn. You know, lots of shuffling is still possible...

[Phil Neatherway]

It looks like Grischuk's c-pawn is going for an early bath.