OT: Chess

[Brief Candle]

Chess right now reminds me a lot of Formula 1. There just so many talented, likeable players! It's almost hard to pick favorites. One of my favorites will always be Aronian. He is actually REALLY funny. The amount of shit he talks in the St Louis Rapid tournaments is hilarious.

I do think Nakamura has lost a step. However while I might not care for him, I respect the fact that he's really found his niche with streaming and bringing chess to a MUCH larger audience, and for that I give him nothing but credit.

 

[Ben Grimm]

Ding and MVL are my two favourites. Keymer, Shirov, and Nakamura, are probably the guys I'm most interested to see. Don't expect much from Shirov, but it would be a great story if he can manage to put a run together. Keymer has been under Leko's wing for years now, but it only just feels like he's starting to get to the level that was expected of him. And Nakamura feels like a huge wild card.

I forgot to say I'm rooting for Nakamura and Shirov. I still love it when Hikaru said "Starting to realize that I am the only person who is going to be able to stop Sauron (Carlsen) in the context of chess history". At his peak Peter Leko was rated 2763. @Harbour Dog

My Candidates tourney would be:

1. Firouzja - The Iran-born 18-year-old, who now represents France, is the third youngest Candidate after Magnus Carlsen and Bobby Fischer.
8. Giri

4. Shak
5. Nepo

3. Caruana
6. Aronian

2. Ding Liren
7. So

 

[Ben Grimm]

Judit Polgar vs Etienne Bacrot (1999) View from the Bacrot
"View from the Bacrot" (game of the day Mar-23-2006)
Rapid Match (1999) (rapid), Bastia FRA, rd 2, Nov-04
Spanish Game: Morphy Defense (C78) · 0-1

Even in rapid, Polgar didn't lose much in 1999.​

@Harbour Dog Bacrot became the youngest grandmaster in history at the time—only 14 years and two months old, was the youngest French champ ever, won a record 8 French titles, was a top 10 player rated 2749, and he's still won an impressive 61.3% of his games. He's only 8 days past his 39th birthday, rated 2642, and is out of the top 100. These days he works mostly as a second, for instance with MVL. I realize he's playing in the Grand Prix. Did his career simply decline with age? What happened?

 

[ORRFForever]

I do think Nakamura has lost a step... I respect the fact that he's really found his niche with streaming and bringing chess to a MUCH larger audience, and for that I give him nothing but credit.

Well said and I agree.

 

[ORRFForever]

I forgot to say I'm rooting for Nakamura and Shirov. I still love it when Hikaru said "Starting to realize that I am the only person who is going to be able to stop Sauron (Carlsen) in the context of chess history". @Harbour Dog​

Good one.

He is very respectful of Magnus - altho, I'm not sure Carlsen returned the favour earlier in their careers.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Judit Polgar vs Etienne Bacrot (1999) View from the Bacrot
"View from the Bacrot" (game of the day Mar-23-2006)
Rapid Match (1999) (rapid), Bastia FRA, rd 2, Nov-04
Spanish Game: Morphy Defense (C78) · 0-1

Even in rapid, Polgar didn't lose much in 1999.​

@Harbour Dog Bacrot became the youngest grandmaster in history at the time—only 14 years and two months old, was the youngest French champ ever, won a record 8 French titles, was a top 10 player rated 2749, and he's still won an impressive 61.3% of his games. He's only 8 days past his 39th birthday, rated 2642, and is out of the top 100. These days he works mostly as a second, for instance with MVL. I realize he's playing in the Grand Prix. Did his career simply decline with age? What happened?

I'm not sure exactly what happened with Bacrot. He may have just hit his wall much earlier than was expected.

Wei Yi is kind of the same, albeit at a higher tier. Skyrocketed up the rankings, got into the 2700-2750 range at a young age, and then just never took that next step (yet).

To liken it to hockey prospects, I guess it's kind of like a guy who's built to play the pro game exceptionally well, and has early success because of it, but lacks that extra gear to avoid being passed off by his contemporaries as they gain more experience.

 

[Ben Grimm]

@Harbour Dog , thanks. The rest of my post is not to you.

Yeah, Naka is #1 in blitz and #2 in Rapid. Stick a fork in him he's done.

Jobava is the #4 online player in the world.

 

[ORRFForever]

Yeah, Naka is #1 in blitz and #2 in Rapid. Stick a fork in him he's done.

That is true. Good point. TBH, I was thinking classical.

 

[Ben Grimm]

A selection of brilliancies: Spassky faces the Sicilian

"When Boris Spassky, World Champion from 1969 to 1972, had to play the Sicilian with the white pieces, he seemed to get particularly inspired. Today, the living legend from Leningrad turns 85, and to celebrate him we share a selection of brilliant games he played with 1.e4 c5 during his illustrious career".​

 

[X66]

I do think Nakamura has lost a step. However while I might not care for him, I respect the fact that he's really found his niche with streaming and bringing chess to a MUCH larger audience, and for that I give him nothing but credit.

100%

I think he acknowledges it on stream as well, that him streaming and not playing high level chess as much as he used to is a determent to his game.

BUT, he's become one of the most influential chess players of all time now thanks to his streaming, a lot of my buddies that got into chess during the pandemic mostly did it through his channel. Nakamura and Levy both have found lightning in a bottle it seems, people might not love their personalities, but they've helped the game grow for sure.

 

[ORRFForever]

Magnus Carlsen vs Parham Maghsoodloo (2021)
World Blitz Championship (2021) (blitz), Warsaw POL, rd 13, Dec-30
French Defense: Advance. Wade Variation (C02) · 1-0

I imagine you playing the first six White moves that Carlsen did. Do you? @ORRFForever

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bd3 Bb5​

I HATE playing the stupid French. If I'm White, I see Black trying to exchange his lousy white B for my wonderful white B. That aint right.

You don't see the French being played at a HIGH level very often.

 

[Ben Grimm]

A strong duo: An interview with Pia and Anna Cramling

"Chess is an integral part of the lives of Pia Cramling and her daughter Anna. But mother and daughter are successful in very different ways. While Pia Cramling has been one of the world's best women player for decades, Anna Cramling Bellón has now become a successful chess streamer. But both pursue a common goal. As they explain in an interview with Tatiana Flores, they both want to promote chess and bring more women into the community".​

 

[CLW]

A strong duo: An interview with Pia and Anna Cramling

"Chess is an integral part of the lives of Pia Cramling and her daughter Anna. But mother and daughter are successful in very different ways. While Pia Cramling has been one of the world's best women player for decades, Anna Cramling Bellón has now become a successful chess streamer. But both pursue a common goal. As they explain in an interview with Tatiana Flores, they both want to promote chess and bring more women into the community".​

Anna started showing up in my YT recommendations a while ago. Delightful and funny. I remembered Pia from my active playing days when I was a kid/teenager so from the name I figured Anna was Pia's daughter but then I got confused about the Spanish part until I saw a video with Anna and her father.

 

[Ben Grimm]

^ Thanks for posting. IMHO if Polina Shuvalova wants to become a GM she will. She's the 13th best woman in the world.

 

[Ben Grimm]

.

Composed yet ruthless: Arjun Erigaisi

"Last Saturday, Arjun Erigaisi won the Tata Steel Challengers tournament with a round to spare. Despite having secured tournament victory, the Indian collected one more win on Sunday, thus finishing the event with a remarkable 10½/13 score. We take a look at some of Arjun’s most successful performances, and reflect on the change of attitude that has worked so well for him".
​

80

↑54

Erigaisi Arjun

2659.9

+27.9

2450.0

2745.0

18

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

He just moved up 54 ranking places and 28 rating points ahead of Hou Yifan. Is he the next Esipenko? @Harbour Dog

 

[Harbour Dog]

.

Composed yet ruthless: Arjun Erigaisi

"Last Saturday, Arjun Erigaisi won the Tata Steel Challengers tournament with a round to spare. Despite having secured tournament victory, the Indian collected one more win on Sunday, thus finishing the event with a remarkable 10½/13 score. We take a look at some of Arjun’s most successful performances, and reflect on the change of attitude that has worked so well for him".
​

80

↑54

Erigaisi Arjun

2659.9

+27.9

2450.0

2745.0

18

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

He just moved up 54 ranking places and 28 rating points ahead of Hou Yifan. Is he the next Episenko? @Harbour Dog

Honestly, I think he's already at Esipenko's level. He's another of one of those kids who has had their rating progress stunted by the pandemic.

There are a lot of people that have his potential as being greater than Sarin and Pragg's, if we compare him to other young Indian GMs. Doubtful that people would put him ahead of Gukesh, for potential, but he's right there with those four future forces.

 

[ORRFForever]

Anna started showing up in my YT recommendations a while ago. Delightful and funny. I remembered Pia from my active playing days when I was a kid/teenager so from the name I figured Anna was Pia's daughter but then I got confused about the Spanish part until I saw a video with Anna and her father.

It is so nice to see women playing chess.

I remember playing in a tournament in Montreal many years ago. On a Saturday night, I walked into the auditorium and it was 500 ugly guys. Not a woman in sight - okay, there were a few but you know what I mean. It was so depressing.

Even if the ratio is 10 to 1, it's nice to see a pretty face in the crowd.

 

[ORRFForever]

^ Thanks for posting. IMHO if Polina Shuvalova wants to become a GM she will. She's the 13th best woman in the world.

I've only played one woman in a tournament. She was on the Canadian Olympiad team. IIRC, she won.

 

[CLW]

It is so nice to see women playing chess.

I remember playing in a tournament in Montreal many years ago - on a Saturday night. I walked into the auditorium and it was 500 ugly guys. Not a woman in sight - okay, there were a few but you know what I mean. It was so depressing.

Even if the ratio is 10 to 1, it would be nice to see a pretty face.

So true, it got a bit stuffy to play against only "ugly guys" lol. Hope it's much better nowadays, sure looks like more girls are involved now at least on the internet.

 

[ORRFForever]

You get older and you feel like your mind is turning to mush. Then you find a Mate In 5 (happened this morning) and you remember why you fell in love with Chess in the first place.

 

[ORRFForever]

So true, it got a bit stuffy to play against only "ugly guys" lol. Hope it's much better nowadays, sure looks like more girls are involved now at least on the internet.

I just remember thinking, "I sure wish I had a date instead of being here playing chess."

 

[aufheben]

Alright, so, Auf’s 0-GM Round 2:

WHITE

Vienna Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3
Smith-Morra Gambit
1. e4 c5 2. d4​

BLACK

Sicilian Defense
1. e4 c5
Grunfeld Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5​

 

[ORRFForever]

Alright, so, Auf’s 0-GM Round 2:

WHITE

Vienna Game
1. e4 e5 2. Nc3
Smith-Morra Gambit
1. e4 c5 2. d4​

BLACK

Sicilian Defense
1. e4 c5
Grunfeld Defense
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5​

Did Adam Fox take up chess since his injury?

 

[ORRFForever]

​

^^ Speaking of a likable player / nice man. ^^

 

[Kent Nilsson]

They are now doing two Titled Tuesday events on the same day. Hikaru won both inaugural ones. Unreal.