Carlsen-Caruana Chess World Championship

[mark evans]

I likewise have been following the match. I think the dull play is attributable to the significant advance in computer programs in recent years. I think both players are extremely well prepared as a result of computer analysis and realize that risky play will almost certainly be met with defeat. I hope Fabiano finds a way to win game 12 but I'm not optimistic.

[Peter_Spaeth]

If game 12 is a draw, I think organized chess has a real problem on its hands. If you're Magnus, and you figure you probably have a big advantage in a tiebreaker, and you're playing black, do you just play for the draw unless Fabiano makes a major blunder? On the other hand, will anyone really respect a champion who couldn't win even ONE conventional game? So maybe he plays aggressively after all.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Perhaps somewhere, Robert James Fischer is looking up (I assume) with contempt.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

Perhaps somewhere, Robert James Fischer is looking up (I assume) with contempt.

No doubt Fischer is looking up. He earned his place in hell with his anti-semitic rants

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by barrysloate

No doubt Fischer is looking up. He earned his place in hell with his anti-semitic rants

He was already mentally unwell, it seems, at his peak. Amazing piece by the way, must reading.

http://www.thestacksreader.com/the-day-bobby-blew-it/

A priceless line: He wears a business suit about as naturally as a python wears a necktie.

[mark evans]

Thanks, Peter. Good story.

[Peter_Spaeth]

I know very little about chess, but I followed the game for a while just now and was disappointed to see Carlsen agree to a draw after just 31 moves when it seemed he was starting to press the attack and perhaps had an advantage. In the hour or more I followed it, I did not see a single piece captured. I assume that's unusual. Caruana just seemed to be making nothing moves hoping to survive, although I don't know enough to judge. I imagine by chess standards this was extremely boring and even pathetic. Certainly the posters commenting on the site I was watching were disgusted.

[barrysloate]

The 12th and final game just ended in a draw.

With all due respect, the game started out sharply with both players fighting for a win. Fabiano had an early advantage, but let it slip as Magnus developed a very strong attack. He wavered a little, and then without warning offered Fabiano a draw. Apparently he actually said he would have a big advantage in the tiebreaker and expected to beat Caruana. Very strange ending for sure.

Wednesday they play four games, 25 minutes each per player, and if that ends 2-2 they will play a long series of 5 minute blitz games until someone wins.

In Carlsen's long career, he has never lost a tiebreaker. Wednesday should be interesting.

[barrysloate]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

He was already mentally unwell, it seems, at his peak. Amazing piece by the way, must reading.

http://www.thestacksreader.com/the-day-bobby-blew-it/

A priceless line: He wears a business suit about as naturally as a python wears a necktie.

I finally read the article Peter, thanks for the link. I always knew how hard it was to get Bobby to go to Iceland, but never read that much detail about it. I always thought he was afraid of losing.

His mental problems continued when the match started. He lost game one on a silly blunder, and forfeited game two when he refused to play. He claimed his chair was bugged with microphones, and there were cameras hidden in the florescent lights. His entourage thought he was having a breakdown and were ready to give up on the match.

After a few days he calmed down, and when he sat down for game three he proceeded to play some of the best chess ever seen. Over the final nineteen games he won seven times and only lost once. That is an enormous margin for players of that caliber.

It was also the last competitive chess he ever played. He never played another serious game for the rest of his life.

[Peter_Spaeth]

He was supposed to play Karpov in 1975 but his conditions were rejected.

He played Spassky in 1992. It was not for a title, but I think most people would consider it a serious match.

[mark evans]

I agree that chess at the highest levels may well be in trouble, especially insofar as public interest. It appears that championship matches henceforth may unfortunately always or nearly always be resolved by rapid or blitz games.

I'm disappointed that this match is not receiving more publicity given first American player since Fischer in '72.