Monday, October 09, 2006

An OTB Topalov Blunder

What a glorious day to wake up to? The chess world's newest hero, Russian Vladimir Kramnik struck back last night with a win in game 10. It's quite nice to see something like 24...f6? being played. In that moment, even patzers like us can afford a laugh at these top players and most especially at this Bulgarian. May Veselin Topalov make many more such blunders in this match. We can only hope.

One of the fun things about watching live top level game broadcasts is observing the commentary from others particularly the top players. Last night, British grandmaster Nigel Short was at his best.

Kibitzing on playchess, GM Short: "Religion is like when someone says 1. a4 is the best move. You say, "What is the proof?" The clerics say, "It's not a matter of proof. You have to believe."

Meanwhile, I suppose this war between Kramnik and Topalov must be whetting the appetite of world number 2 Vishy Anand for another fight. He told an Indian paper, "Yes, I very much want to be the world champion again".

7 comments:

DeNovoMeme said...

I don't know about you, AR, but I am sure Kramnic did/does *not* want to win by blunder(s). In fact, winning the World Championship by:

Blunders makes a mockery of the title.

As would winning because your opponent was such a big girl's blouse that he forfeited a game.

As would winning by a blitz shootout.

Furthermore, any player who's composure was destroyed for 8 out of 12 games because some bastard called him a cheat, is not World Champion material.



Regardless of the eventual (un)deserving winner, Topalov is a much more apealling OTB player. Go Topa.

Anonymous said...

if after having his composure "destroyed" he comes back to win the match then kramnik would indeed be world championship material.

it's quite apt that you're rooting for topalov given that his support base matches that of your bulletin board and the toilet gambit tarnished his reputation similar to how your toilet decorum did to yours on chEsschat.

:)

Anonymous said...

if after having his composure "destroyed" he comes back to win the match then kramnik would indeed be world championship material.

it's quite apt that you're rooting for topalov given that his support base matches that of your bulletin board and the toilet gambit tarnished his reputation similar to how your toilet decorum did to yours on chEsschat.

:)

Anonymous said...

I don't see any evidence that Kramnik's composure has been destroyed by Topalov calling him a cheat. Topalov had been hinting Kramnik was a cheat before move 4 but there was no effect on Kramnik's play until the original Appeals Committee upheld a protest they shouldn't have and incorrectly changed agreed arrangements. Even then game 5 would probably not have ended up as a forfeit but for Kramnik's team's legal oversight in failing to lodge a protest immediately.

In games 6 and 7 which Kramnik drew with the black pieces he showed no sign of being rattled. In game 8 there was no reason to believe Kramnik's loss was due to a lack of composure - more likely poor preparation and Topalov's superior skill in the kind of position that arose. While Kramnik's miserable loss in game 9 does suggest something got to him in that game, it's not clear whether it was the forfeit situation or losing the previous game. Finally in game 10 Kramnik showed no sign of any lack of composure, although he got lucky when Topalov blundered just as Black was about to equalise.

The match has been of very uneven quality and whoever wins it will indeed have done so primarily off the back of the other's over (or off) the board blunders.

Anonymous said...

Matthew Sweeney never had a reputation to tarnish....lol

Anonymous said...

Anonymous said:

Matthew Sweeney never had a reputation to tarnish....lol

...

maybe i should have used the word "varnish" as in ...

you can't polish a turd of the posts on you know wherE

:whistle:

Anonymous said...

Why so grumpy "raised E"?

How has Matt "damaged" your enjoyment of chess in Australia?