Kramnik (Russia)
Anand (India)
Svidler (Russia)
Morozevich (Russia)
Aronian (Armenia)
Leko (Hungary)
Gelfand (Israel)
Grischuk (Russia)
Which players will finish in the top 3? Who will win it all? Will it be Anand, Aronian or Kramnik?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
I hope FIDE officials change their mind and include V. Topalov. If they do this world championship will be one for the ages.
At least 4 players will compete for the top:
Aronian, Kramnik, Leko and Anand. Gelfand would be dark horse. I don’t see Svidler, Moro and Grischuk winning this event.
Anand or Aronian will win. I expect Kramnik to make a plus score but he’ll be keeping his powder dry for the match to follow – and why shouldn’t he?
Excellent list of players. Just like what one would expect in a top Linares or Corus event. Weldone qualifiers! Weldone FIDE!
Did I get this right? If Kramnik wins Mexico, then he has to play a match against Topalov? If I were Kramnik, out of pure malice would I not want to win, even if possible.
whoever but kramnik, please.
Lex Dura Lex.
Topalov out !
Kramnik, Anand o Aronian ?
Leko !!
It’s an excellent lineup, regardless of the outcome. I expect Aronian or Anand to win, however.
Sam Sloan
The 4 favourites have to be Anand, Kramnik, Aronian, and Leko. I think Anand and Kramnik have slightly better chances than Aronian and Leko.
I think Kramnik will try and win this. He won’t want to be not Champion for 9 months or so.
Of course, if FIDE want this to be a REALLY proper WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, then they should rescind the idiotic provision excluding Topalov. After all Kramnik got the agreement that he and Topalov signed for their match changed in his favour. So why can’t it be changed for Topalov?
A tenth place should then be created for the winner of an event consisting of Radjabov, Carlsen, Mamedyarov, and Ivanchuk.
Now that would be a properly decent World Championship [if that’s what we’re supposed to be having] event.
Wouldn’t it?
I like Kramnik to win the event, and then Anand and Morozevich for second and third.
“Did I get this right? If Kramnik wins Mexico, then he has to play a match against Topalov? If I were Kramnik, out of pure malice would I not want to win, even if possible.”
Right on the Spot !
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=3912
The old Soviet Union didn’t do very much right, but it sure did create a dominating chess machine!
if kramnik wins he will play himself for the world title,
Kramnik vs. Kramnik – Elista 2008
what a match-up!
>>Did I get this right? If Kramnik wins Mexico, then he has to play a match against Topalov?>>
Yeah, that’s right. The last defeated champion plays a match with the winner of Mexico, and FIDE considers Topalov to have been a World Champion (which is unfortunate, because otherwise it would be Kramnik-Kasparov II).
>>If I were Kramnik, out of pure malice would I not want to win, even if possible.>>
Problem is Topalov is one of the easiest opponents for him. I don’t think he has as big a winning score against any of the others as he’s got against Topalov.
But since Anand-Kramnik I would be much more interesting than Topalov-Kramnik II, I’ve got to root for Anand.
>>whoever but kramnik, please.>>
Since keeping Kramnik out keeps Topalov from a totally undeserved title shot next next year, I have to agree with you. Good thinking.
Gelfand is “rock solid”? Yes! And he is going to win it!!!
Technion – Haifa
Frankly, the more I look at this lineup, the more it dawns on me…this is one of the strongest tournaments of all-time. Perhaps top 2 or 3. The chess world has come out of the Kasparov retirement in very good, if not outstanding, shape.
Danailov :))
>>I hope FIDE officials change their mind and include V. Topalov. If they do this world championship will be one for the ages. >>
And then even if he loses, they should nullify it and declare him champion anyway because he’s too good to lose.
(See? I’m goofier than you.)
Old configuration is back. Among 8 players there are 4 Russians (Kramnik, Svidler, Morozevich and Grischuk), plus Gelfand, who migrated to Israel only a few years ago.
This surely will improve Kramnik chances. Even if all Russians play fair, Anand or Aronian will feel less comfortable.
Imagine for instance that before last round Anand and Kramnik are leading with the same result, and Kramnik is playing Svidler – who is no longer fighting for anything.
OK, maybe that will be fair game. But now, imagine that one round earlier Kramnik and Anand have the some points count, and Kramnik makes quick draw. Wouldn’t Anand feel obliged to desperately try to win?
“Of course, if FIDE want this to be a REALLY proper WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP, then they should rescind the idiotic provision excluding Topalov. After all Kramnik got the agreement that he and Topalov signed for their match changed in his favour. So why can’t it be changed for Topalov?
A tenth place should then be created for the winner of an event consisting of Radjabov, Carlsen, Mamedyarov, and Ivanchuk.
Now that would be a properly decent World Championship [if that’s what we’re supposed to be having] event.
Wouldn’t it? “
chesss44,
You are distorting the facts. Nothing has changed in aggrement signed by Kramnik and Topalov.
WCC tournament will be played with the 8 players mentioned. And it is proper the way it is.
Topalov should pray for Kramnik to win or wait for the next qualification cycle.
It will be Anand, Aronian and Kramnik in that order.
If Topalov is allowed to play, he’ll be one of the top four.
Leko will lead the second tier.
I am definitely rooting for Anand to win this event, he clearly has the best chance of anyone to do it.
Aronian is fabulously strong as well and will, I am guessing, finish in at least a tie for second, possibly clear second.
Kramnik is obviously a strong contender but is, I think, much better in the match format than the tournament format. However, I am looking forward to seeing how he finishes.
As for Morozevich, if only he would just stay on form he’d be World Champion! As it is, his results, even within tournaments, tend to go up and down like a yo-yo. I feel I can’t really make a prediction about Morozevich–anything could happen there!
Gelfand is rock-solid, but I don’t think he has what it takes to win an event like this. However, I am confident he will at least make an even score and possibly a plus.
As for Topalov, he made an agreement and he has to stick with it. I hope this request from the Bulgarian Chess Federation dies a quiet death without any action being taken.
“Imagine for instance that before last round Anand and Kramnik are leading with the same result, and Kramnik is playing Svidler – who is no longer fighting for anything.
OK, maybe that will be fair game. But now, imagine that one round earlier Kramnik and Anand have the some points count, and Kramnik makes quick draw. Wouldn’t Anand feel obliged to desperately try to win? “
Mekk,
Do you really think that the world is the same as it was 30 years ago ?
Chess players in Russia are neither sponsored, nor paid nor ruled by the government. Those days are over. All chess players need to beat their opponents, increase their elo ratings to get invitations to the prestigious events like Wijk an Zee or Linares to make a decent living. Kramnik and Svidler may be friends but that’s all.
They all fear Topalov!
That’s why they decided to get him off this event …
LOL, you’re funny, chess44. Topalov once played in a FIDE championship where 7 of the world’s top 10 were missing, and never once suggested that it wasn’t a real championship or that he wouldn’t feel like the champ if he won.
Now, if you’d stop wasting our time with these feeble rationalizations, and learn to lose with dignity, like Susan is always saying, maybe Topalov’s reputation might slowly recover.
The world championship should not give automatic places to anyone (e.g. past champions). All should be competing equally.
>>They all fear Topalov!
That’s why they decided to get him off this event … >>
You’re saying Topalov lost the match to Kramnik because he was afraid of himself?? You realize that makes no sense whatsoever. You don’t have to admit it, as long as you realize it.
Yeah, it makes no sense to give an eliminated player a free spot because we think he’s so good. If the results of the games don’t matter, there’s no point in playing at all.
To Anonymous at 3:40 PM:
I am not distorting the facts. After winning the Topalov match, Kramnik manipulated FIDE into giving him an unqualified for title challenge next year if he doesn’t win in Mexico. There was nothing about this in the agreement signed by Kramnik and Topalov, so it represents a major change to it.
I find it difficult to understand why you want a half-pie event instead of a really decent one.
To Anonymous at 7:01 PM:
With regards to San Luis, Kramnik refused to play, so what can you do? You don’t say Karpov wasn’t World Champion because Fischer refused to play in 1975.
Kasparov was already retired, and Kasimdzhanov had to be accomodated. So it was not as bad as you make out. Most of the rest of the best, or near as, including four that are playing at Mexico, plus Topalov, were there.
You seem to be under the impression that I want Topalov there because I am a supporter of his. This is not the case. I have been highly unimpressed with Topalov’s actions since he took the Title in 2005. He has acted like a jerk, just as Kramnik has since taking the Title in 2000. Neither deserves a Title shot next year.
The reason I want Topalov there is simply so that the event is as strong and complete as possible. Supposedly it is a World Championship. Then let’s make it one. Surely this is just common sense. Such opportunities appear rarely enough. Why waste it on a half-pie event?
Why isnt Topalov in the list? When Topalov participates, Kramnik doesnt participate. When Kramnik does, Topalov doesnt. This is frustrating.
chesss44,
“There was nothing about this in the agreement signed by Kramnik and Topalov, so it represents a major change to it.”
Based on your above comment, I suggest you to read a primary book on analytical thinking something like “Logical thinking for Dummies” or “Logic 101”
it is very ridiculous which the world no 2 player ,Veselin TOPALOV can not play in Mexico.!!
certainly Toplalov is the most strong and the most attaching player in the world.
without Topalov ,the mexico
games are not world champion!
ok, maybe i should make my statement again:
whoever but kramnik. whether it is aronian or anand or whether topalov is in or out, doesn’t matter to me.
whoever but kramnik.
(yes, even boring leko prior to kramnik)
I think that Gelfand may do just as well as Kramnik with respect to being solid and tough to beat. Both could only realistically win the tournament if it is low scoring (which is more likely now that Topalov is not in it and there are no clear underdogs- have to see what Anand/Aronian will do about it)..
>>it is very ridiculous which the world no 2 player ,Veselin TOPALOV can not play in Mexico.!!>>
What’s ridiculous is that Carlsen can’t play. Yeah, I know he was eliminated, but so what? He should be let back in anyway.
>>
certainly Toplalov is the most strong and the most attaching player in the world.
without Topalov ,the mexico
games are not world champion! >>
And by the same token, since Topalov won the FIDE title in a tournament in which the World #1 was missing, then Topalov was never champ.
But the World #1 WILL be at this tournament, so it should be a lot more meaningful than San Luis was.
It’s Anand’s time to win it!
Leko,will win.!!
But now i take(for few time because i love chess too mutch),a pause from chess,because my book that i’m writting is very important
If I was head of FIDE I would allow Judit Polgar to participate in the upcoming world championship on the basis of her being strongets ever femal player. This would then make a complete set of top player minus the unfortunate and stupid Topi.
If I was FIDE head I would let Judit Polgar play in the world chess championship as she deserves it for being strongest female player.
Topi is just unkucky and stupid. I think in last world championship Topi would have won had he not pushed for win in drawn positions.
Kramnik is an imposter. A guys who hides from Kasparov. The only super world champion was Kasparov. I think they should have two separate titles one for world chanmpion and one for super world champion.