Linares Results and Standings
Round 11 – March 3rd
Teimour Radjabov 1/2 Vishy Anand
Veselin Topalov 1-0 Alexei Shirov
Peter Leko 1-0 Magnus Carlsen
Levon Aronian 1/2 Vassily Ivanchuk
Standings after 11 rounds:
1. Anand 7.0
2-4. Carlsen, Aronian, Topalov 6.0
5-6. Ivanchuk, Radjabov 5.0
7-8 Shirov, Leko 4.5
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
well done Leko!
Wow, Shirov has sure fallen since Morelia.
Good experience for Carlsen
“Anand extends lead”
It’s a real pity… of course Anand is a good (not great) player, but he plays too much quick draws, and his wins are often not that convincing (against Leko in Morealia for example – pure luck as Peter tumbled in a won position) and though gets acclaimed by everyone…
Today again a very sad show by him, that he extended his lead is not his achievement at all….
Sorry to say that but I can’t understand anyone who cheers up Anand saying he is the outstanding player here….
Like someone else said in another thread:
Anand is the most boring world champ ever.
That’s quite true and I hope someone of the 6-pointers is going to catch him here…. and he is going to lose his title to Kramnik this year.
Disappointing chess… fortunately he is not the only player there.
Congratulations to Peter and Veselin for there fighting spirits and there wins.
Go on…..
Best regards
Jochen
ive heard that song befoee, when kramnik was the wc, you complained saying he was the most boring player of the world, poeple arent just fair or happy.
so whaterver, when topa lvo was at the top people complained he had dainalov, if it was boobby that he was a racist, so whoever is at the top there will always be someone unsatisfaid; so until kasparov coms out of retirement, bobby resurrects (opps, was he christina?) or until magnus grows lets just congr4atualate ANANDDDDDDDDDDD for being the WC.
and its all i have to sy,
goodbye and bye, jb.
Just for a change, exactly my preditions of them 4.
Jochen, drawing is part of the winning strategy. Obviously Anand is not as dynamic as Kasparov, but he’s still a great player. Even Anand had several winning/drawing positions against Kasparov and other players which he lost, and you are only judged by the moves you actually make over the board, not the ones you could have and should have, so Leko blundering a won position does not make Anand’s win any less important. Chess games are after all won because one side blunders. If both sides played perfectly the game would be drawn and you would still blame the players for being boring.
Anand is doing what is in his best interests to maintain the lead and win the tournament. He’s not here to display bravado by making unnecessary and foolish moves just so that the crowd can see some blood at his expense.
“If both sides played perfectly the game would be drawn and you would still blame the players for being boring.”
Nope, that’s wrong. There are several good drawn games if fought draws.
By the way, not only Anand but also Radjabov, Aronian and Ivanchuk are to blame for a much too quick draw today.
“Anand is doing what is in his best interests to maintain the lead and win the tournament.”
That is nonsense in my humble opinion.
If you’re one point in front (or 1/2 a point and any second valuation) in the last round that’s a real reason for drawing as quick as possible to accomplish the tournament victory. If the half point ASSURES the victory or at least make it more probable as if you fought it out, than it’s okay, too.
A quick draw to recover your power after some hard games may be okay, too. (*)
But liing in front only 1/2 a point with three rounds is not such a situation where the half point assures anything.
What if Carlsen would have won today? He would have maintained as much points as Anand and share the lead… and the time Anand drew nothing was decided in that game.
Today it was a little different because Anand’s position was slightly worse than Radjabov’s, so probably Radjabov is too blame more (and I really do not understand him – with this draw he almost threw away all his chances he would have maintained after a win).
But that won’t change my opinion about Anand as he quickdraws a bit too often (last three rounds in a row! (so (*) can not be a reason)).
Just my opinion.
“ive heard that song befoee, when kramnik was the wc, you complained saying he was the most boring player of the world”
Did I say “the most boring”? Isn’t this Leko? 😉
Yes, and I still find Kramnik a boring player because he thinks like Anand (and ano 5:01) and draws too much too quick for no obvious reason.
But I have to predict that in comparison to Anand I start liking him more…. both are (cowardly?) drawers but the few winning games Kramnik wins by good preparation or good endgame technique (even if I do not want to I have to admit that he is great in that), Anand does by… hmm… by blunder of his counterpart?
I still do not like Kramnik, but I am contemptuous of Anand’s style even more….
Regards
Jochen
PS: where is Morozevich? 😉
Even Anand can get it wrong
Zapata vs. Anand, Biel 1988
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Nxe5 d6
4. Nf3 Nxe4
5. Nc3 Bf5
6. Qe2 1-0
on 6…Qe7 7. Nd5 wins btw
Ban all draws before move 40. If drawing after 16 moves is OK, why not agree to a draw before showing up.
Anand is great player, but when the world champion, with white, offers a draw after 20+ moves to Carlsen, the ‘pretender to the throne’, then he loses some bragging points.
How I miss Bobby Fischer.
I challenge you all to play over every single game he played from 1970 to 1972 and you will see a modern day Topalov, Kamsky who play to win except Bobby’s technique and chess knowledge was at a higher level than his peers, something poor Topalov or Kamsky do not have. Fischer was a more rounded player too able to win just about any position. Imagine Kasparov/Kramnik rolled into one and you have Fischer.
This is unbelievable! People just ignore Anand’s 3 wins with black. At this level I would like to any of these guys even try to win with black. Anand draws a game with the black pcs (when the opponent offered with him in comfortable lead aginst an opponent who has been traditionally been togh for him) and everyone cries. BTW, Anand has 4 wins and nobody has more. Wht do you expect? Anand to lose more just to get decisive results?
Jochen – you r an idiot – a bufoon
Better being an idiot than anonymously (!) insulting people over the internet.
Cheers!
Jochen
PS: anonymous insulting is even more cowardly than quick draws isn’t it? 😉