Here are the matchups to decide which 4 will join Kramnik, Anand, Svidler and Morozevich in Mexico City this September.
Bareev-Leko
Grischuk-Rublevsky
Aronian-Shirov
Kamsky-Gelfand
Which 4 do you pick to advance?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
And then there are 8
Definately:
Leko,
Grishuk,
Kamsky,
Shirov
Leko, Rublevski, Aronian, Kamski. Definitely.
final eight in Mexico City:
favorites:
1. Anand
2. Kramnik (a little too drawish for a RR)
3. Aronian (a little too unstable)
5% chance:
Svidler (too drawish)
Morozevich (too unstable)
Leko (too drawish–but he can win w/ Black)
the field:
Kamsky (if he fixes openings, could become an outsider) / Gelfand (great player slightly past his prime)
Rublevsky/Grischuk (great players, not quite strong enough)
No disrespect intended to the great players included/omitted above.
Leko, Grischuk, Kamsky & Aronian.
Kamsky #1
Aronian
Leko
Grishuk
No one is going to have a match like the Carlsen Aronian match. That was spectacular. I agree with everyone who says both Aronian and Carlsen deserve to go to Mexico. What a show stopper when Magnus tied up the score at 5-5 sending the match into blitz.
I pick Leko, Grishuk,Kamsky and Shirov, for sure.
Leko
Rublevsky
Aronian
Kamsky
Leko Rublevsky Aronian Kamsky
Leko
Grishuk
Gelfand
Shirov
Leko, Grishchuk, Kamsky, Aronian advance
With utmost certainty:
Leko, Grischuk, Aronian, Kamsky
Or maybe Rublevsky will pull it off. And you can never count Shirov out. And will Leko draw, draw, draw and then blunder? Maybe so…maybe so
Leko
Grischuk
Aronian
Gelfand
1.With all due respect,Bacrot,Malakhov and Gurevich did not deserve to be in 16 (imagine Ivanchuk,Radjabov,Nakamura,instead)
2.Two Kramnik’s team member(present?)Bareev and Rublevsky advanced(looks like they “learned” something from World Champion)
My prediction:
1.Bareev
2.Rublevsky(I noticed, Grischuk is very active poker player?!..)
3.Gelfand(better in opening,Kamsky without second?!…
4.Shirov(Adams is very tough match player,remember his FIDE knock-out matches)
Leko,Grischuk,Aronian,Gelfand
is the most likely.
Adams had the talent to bet Shirov and would have created an interesting challenge for Aronian.
I think that Shirov has a lot of creativity and imagination but has had difficulties at the very top level against Anand,Kramnik. For a reason I dont quite understand he is unable to surprise and beat the very best.
It will be nice to have a few additional players in Mexico, i.e players who are very strong but didn’t play the ’05 championship Topalov won.
Aronian,
Leko,
Grischuk,
Gelfand.
I expect Gelfand-Kamsky to be very close, but the other three have definitely the status of favorites.
let me be the first person on this blog page to predict leko, rublevsky, aronian and gelfand.
let me be the second person on this blog page to predict leko, rublevsky, aronian and gelfand.
Shirov against Aronian will probably be fights in the Marshal and Grunfeld and I guess that Shirov will get a ticket to Mexico
Gelfand will beat Kamsky in the rapids, if he won’t do so before that.
Leko and Grischuk will beat Bareev and Rublevsky in the rapids.
My picks:
Leko, Grischuk, Aronian, Kamsky.
The pick in which I am most confident: Aronian over Shirov.
The one that I am least confident: Kamsky over Gelfand.
My picks:
Aronian, Leko, Grischuk, Kamsky.
Most confident prediction: Aronian over Shirov.
Least confident: Kamsky over Gelfand.
I predict Leko, Grischuk, and Aronian. Grischuk I am not too confident though.
What about Gelfand/Kamsky I hear you ask. I can not decide- this will be the best match up. Gelfand and Kamsky both have candidate match experience from 10-15 years ago, Kamsky did better, but Gelfand has a decent record versus Kamsky and his super-solid! It is a match where you want to be there, seeing their composure and determination with great experience, live! I like them both, Gelfand is sort of having a comeback too- he is nearly 40 and at his highest ever rating!
I like Judit’s game and fighting spirit, wish she had won.
I enjoy your blog. Please keep it up. However, please consider not covering Judit — for her sake.
Some things that may have hurt her chances: (a) inadvertently giving away secrets, such as how she took her training for the Bareev match seriously (gives the opponent motivation to work harder), (b) covering her game live here (unnecessary pressure + distraction).
Do not mean to criticize, just a suggestion. You are a great champion, please just take it as an input for what it’s worth.
hm… where is topalov?
Aronian
Leko
Grischuk
Gelfand
to anon 9:25
While it is true that Shirov has problems against Kasparov and Anand, this is NOT the case with Kramnik. I remind that Shirov has beaten Kramnik 5.5-3.5 in a world championship match (slow time controls) and has an overall postive record against Kramnik. Aronian is different player, but I would write off Shirov that easily.
Leko over Bareev, by a margin.
Grishuk over Rublevsky, close but clear.
Aronian over Shirov, by less of a margin than most people think.
Gelfand over Kamsky – almost a tossup, and Kamsky’s *lucky camel* may be the decider in Kamsky’s favour
Leko over Bareev (TB blitz)
Grischuk over Rublevsky (+1)
Aronian over Shirov (+1)
Gelfand – Kamski (is a tossup, cant say anything)
Hi,
I will not be unusual:
Leko, Kamsky, Aronian, Grischuk.
Gelfand has showed nothing against Kasi.
Leko has had more time for the relax.
Grischuk has had good performance.
Aronian is exhausted, he may have some problems.
Regards
Pony.