FIDE just announced the following as the candidates’ matches are getting very close:
“The Organizing Committee of the Candidates’ Matches for the 2007 World Chess Championship Tournament that will take place from 26 May to 15 June 2007 in Elista, Russia, informs that the charter flight Moscow-Elista is organized on 25 May 2007 at 05.00 p.m. from Vnukovo airport, Moscow.”
Here are the matchups:
The winner of the #1 and #16 seed (Aronian – Carlsen) will face the winner of the #8 and #9 seed (Adams – Shirov)
The winner of the #2 and #15 seed (Leko – Gurevich) will face the winner of the #7 and #10 seed (Polgar – Bareev)
The winner of the #3 and #14 seed (Ponomariov – Rublevsky) will face the winner of the #6 and #11 seed (Grischuk – Malakhov)
The winner of the #4 and #13 seed (Gelfand – Kasimjanov) will face the winner of the #5 and #12 seed (Bacrot – Kamsky)
Who will win the first round and second round matches to advance to Mexico City? Only 4 will join Kramnik, Anand, Morozevich and Svidler.
Source: FIDE.com
Aronian will beat Carlsen even though I wish it was the other way around.
Shirov will beat Adams.
Leko will beat Gurevich.
Judit will beat Bareev.
Ponomariov – Rublevsky this one I have a feeling Rublevsky will prevail.
Grischuk – Malakhov again I think Malakhov will win.
Gelfand will win against Kasimjanov.
GATA Kamsky will crush Bacrot.
Aronian, Leko, Grischuk and Bacrot will go to Mexic 🙂
I hope and expect Kamsky to win.
I hope Carlsen wins but Aronian definitely has the advantage.
I hope Judit wins.
Here are my predictions :
Aronian-Carlsen : 1-0
Shirov-Adams : 1-0
Leko-Gurevich : 1-0
Polgar-Bareev : 1-0
Ponomariov-Rublevsky : 1-0
Grischuk-Malakhov : 1-0
Guelfand-Kasimjanov: 1-0
Bacrot-Kamsky : 1-0
My prediction:
Aronian beats Shirov
Leko beats Polgar
Ponomariov beats Grischuk
Gelfand beats Kamsky
SUPERMA(G)N(US)!!!
Magnus,Judit,Ponomariov and Kamsky
Even as a Carlsen fan, I hope Aronian wins – Aronian definitely should be in Mexico, and Carlsen’s day will come sooen enough. Also, it will be doubly bitter for Aronian to lose, knowing that if the matches had been held as planned last year, Carlsen would not have had the top-level experience he has now. Still, Aronian is the favourite over Carlsen, and again the favourite over Adams/Shirov who I believe is quite 50%/50%.
Leko is a big fav against Gurevich. Polgar is probably a small favourite over Bareev, but it should be almost a tossup – and in either case Leko is more solid than both and should proceed eventually.
The Ponomariov/Rublevsky/Grischuk/Malakhov bracket is quite open – my guess is on Rublevsky but I’m not laying down a month’s salary.
Gelfand is very strong, but so is Kasimjanov, and K. has shown that he can rise to the occasion. I hold Kasimjanov as a small favourite over Gelfand, and whoever wins their matchup as a considerable favourite over Kamsky/Bacrot.
Only one Hungarian
A Leko vs Polgar match to advance to Mexico would be very dramatic
Final match predictions:
Aronian over Adams
Leko over Ms. Polgar
Grischuk over Rublevsky
Gelfand over Kamsky
Aronian
Leko
Ponomariov
Kasimjanov
Carlsen-Aronian will be close. I hope Magnus pulls it off.
In the other first games my guess is Shirov, Polgar, Ponomariov, Grischuk, Kasimjanov, and Kamsky will win.
Go Gata, Magnus, and Judit!
Over on ChessBase, Danailov is quoted as saying in an interview that the winner in Mexico “could be Topalov.” Or at least, that’s the only explanation I can put on this comment:
Why are you so sure that Kramnik will lose his title in Mexico?
Such a tournament can be won only by players who are used to playing in strong tournaments. That could be Anand or Aronian, if the latter succeeds in qualifying. It could be Topalov, who is used to playing in strong tournaments, and who won many of them.
Which leaves me wondering — does anyone know which planet Danailov is on …?