Tips for Tikay

[Tal]

Red Shouty Man hasn't seen the news that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is injured and out of the Monday night game at Arizona.

He was the lead in a two tight end system, so the plan will presumably be to switch to a one tight end system or to bring in a blocker to support Martellus Bennett.

Bennett has been brought in from Chicago in the summer. He's a top level TE but will spend much of the season playing second fiddle, while Gronk is about.

Bennett now is 10/11 with Hills and Paddy to score anytime. He's 7/4 with the red bookie. 12/1 first touchdown.

[Tal]

For our chess bet, things have gone from Baku to worse (sorry), as China lost a match they probably should have won against England.

On top board, Wang Yue had a drawn endgame position against Mickey Adams but made a couple of inaccuracies and ended up losing. I don't know whether he'd decided to push for a win that wasn't there because of the match situation or whether he just flat missed a few good moves. Either way, a key loss.

McShane and Howell drew on the middle boards, so it was down to board 4: Li Chao against Nigel Short. It was a wild game but Li had a kingside attack that should have been enough to win. He missed a move that probably would have led to a resignation either immediately or shortly afterwards. Easy to say from the sofa, but it seems like a natural move to consider at least and the tactics would not have been beyond him by any means. Whether short of time or succumbing to pressure, Li missed it and, in a double-edged game where both sides were attacking, that was enough for him to end up losing.

There is more, though, as chessbase reports:

During the game between Nigel Short and Li Chao there was a highly unfortunate incident, related to the slew of security measures and anti-cheating rules set in motion. If on the one hand, many players have been very positive about the event as a whole, with a lovely playing area, and more, for journalists and spectators this has been far more challenging to say the least.

The first sign that things were a bit extreme were the draconian security measures that bar journalists and photographers from being in the area more than 15 minutes after the start. In past events, there have certainly been cordoned off areas to ensure the players their space, but now even that is unavailable. Spectators are also not allowed to bring cameras of any kind. In today's day and age, where cameras and social media is the norm, whether it be Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram, these sorts of rules and limits make no sense.

It gets worse though, since even after the games are over, players pass through an area where none of the journalists can access, even outside the playing area. This means that even a simple interview after the games become a challenge. Furthermore, security at all points make sure the players and journalists are prevented from interacting.

The anti-cheating measures have also led to controversies at many points. The first was the set of rules that dictate that players needed to ask permission of an arbiter before going to the bathroom. You can imagine this did not go down well, and the players and captains set up a petition for all to sign. This is open to all players period, as the rules could easily be applied to other events. These are rules designed by FIDE after all.

In the end, the arbiters advised they would not be enforcing this rule at all, though anyone displaying unusual behavior, would be noted, and possibly subject to a search.

This last point saw its effects during the game between Nigel Short and Li Chao. That a player is searched before or after a game is quite understandable, but unless there is a genuine belief a player is cheating, this should never happen during a game. To the Englishman’s disbelief, while playing a do-or-die position with the time control closing in, the arbiters decided this was the perfect time to ask him to step away from the board and subject himself to a full search. Short was appalled, and having none of it, and outright refused. The rules stated that this could lead to a forfeit if he did so, and in his case, it could mean the 3-1 victory by England, could become a 2-2 tie.

In the end, fortunately, nothing more than an official warning was issued to him, but one would have thought some common sense would have avoided this episode altogether.

Nigel Short, commenting for ChessBase, explained: “I got an official warning for refusing to be electronically checked in time-pressure. I was checked both before and (extremely thoroughly) immediately after the game. Arbiters' relentless arrogation of power has gone too far.”

Hopefully the organizers will reconsider some of these choices, and make the event a more welcome environment, not only for the players, but for those trying to share the event with the world, and bring the Olympiad a greater audience than they ever could alone

So, the match could have been drawn and probably should have been won. But it was neither. And now China are 3 points behind the leaders, USA (who mullered India), with 4 rounds left.



(The bloke watching who looks like a chess player is Jon Speelman, who was world number 4 in 1989)

On the plus side, China will have a couple of easier games next (they play Hungary today, who are decent but weaker on the bottom two boards in particular), so should get back into the mix. However, they'll need to win four in a row to win this Olympiad and even that might not be enough. The team simply isn't playing well enough on current evidence.

Mid position, under pressure after a couple of reminders, horses have come back to win. But I fear this one might not be troubling the handicapper.

[T_Mar]

With only 1mm of rain at Donny, and predominantly dry day expected would recommend backing Captain Colby in Portland

Strong form for one with only few races under belt and more to come, in form, unexposed, ground and trainer tick, draw ok, not much not to like

9/1 with BV 5 places, matches betfair win price

[tikay]

Not sure why, but in Tal's excellent chess report, this really made me laugh;


The bloke watching who looks like a chess player


And so true. Generally, we can spot a chess player - or internet poker player - from a long way off.

[tikay]

Red Shouty Man hasn't seen the news that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is injured and out of the Monday night game at Arizona.

He was the lead in a two tight end system, so the plan will presumably be to switch to a one tight end system or to bring in a blocker to support Martellus Bennett.

Bennett has been brought in from Chicago in the summer. He's a top level TE but will spend much of the season playing second fiddle, while Gronk is about.

Bennett now is 10/11 with Hills and Paddy to score anytime. He's 7/4 with the red bookie. 12/1 first touchdown.

Thanks Simon.

I'm not sure Tighty is around today. I suspect he has gone up to Liverpool, armed with notebook & camera for the big football event of today - the opening of the new Main Stand at Anfield. Tighty likes football stands. A lot.

I'm happy to perambulate up to Ladbrokes when it opens & get this on though. I know nothing of NFL (though I once set foot - one foot, literally - in Arizona) but the price does look way ool.

What is the worst price I should accept, if they have rumbled the coup?

 

[tikay]

With only 1mm of rain at Donny, and predominantly dry day expected would recommend backing Captain Colby in Portland

Strong form for one with only few races under belt and more to come, in form, unexposed, ground and trainer tick, draw ok, not much not to like

9/1 with BV 5 places, matches betfair win price

Thanks Mr Mar.

Tighty may be AWOL today, so any feedback on this to assist me would be most welcome.

PS - are you related to this chap?

[Tal]

Red Shouty Man hasn't seen the news that Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski is injured and out of the Monday night game at Arizona.

He was the lead in a two tight end system, so the plan will presumably be to switch to a one tight end system or to bring in a blocker to support Martellus Bennett.

Bennett has been brought in from Chicago in the summer. He's a top level TE but will spend much of the season playing second fiddle, while Gronk is about.

Bennett now is 10/11 with Hills and Paddy to score anytime. He's 7/4 with the red bookie. 12/1 first touchdown.

Thanks Simon.

I'm not sure Tighty is around today. I suspect he has gone up to Liverpool, armed with notebook & camera for the big football event of today - the opening of the new Main Stand at Anfield. Tighty likes football stands. A lot.

I'm happy to perambulate up to Ladbrokes when it opens & get this on though. I know nothing of NFL (though I once set foot - one foot, literally - in Arizona) but the price does look way ool.

What is the worst price I should accept, if they have rumbled the coup?

This one is solely because they haven't noticed. There are some good reasons why you wouldn't back him at the ordinary price:

- They are away (not good for first TD markets)
- Their QB, one Mr Thomas Brady, is serving a suspension, so they have a no-nonsense Bwoston cop called Jimmy Garoppolo under center
- The Cardinals were 7th in the league at defending against opposing Tight Ends last year.

But if a bookie is going to price him up as a back up, rather than as a number one, we should punish.

[T_Mar]

Twin brother 😂

Yeah see what people think,, can't go too far wrong with terms though

Good race to back a few if people have fancies - Horsey already put up Mukanyis

[Tonibell]

Lads just gone evens Idaho if you're off for your morning constitutional, Tikay.

[Edit: Only lasted 15 mins. Walk needs to be upgraded to a run.]

[Karabiner]

Twin brother 😂

Yeah see what people think,, can't go too far wrong with terms though

Good race to back a few if people have fancies - Horsey already put up Mukanyis

You sure about that weather forecast?

It's been chucking it down in Nottingham for a few hours and the front seems to be moving East in the direction of Donny.

[T_Mar]

Twin brother 😂

Yeah see what people think,, can't go too far wrong with terms though

Good race to back a few if people have fancies - Horsey already put up Mukanyis

You sure about that weather forecast?

It's been chucking it down in Nottingham for a few hours and the front seems to be moving East in the direction of Donny.

Accuweather this morning had minimal rain forecast throughout day... Plenty of comment on Twitter about lack of forecast rain overnight ... I'm no Michael Fish, but from what I've read if there is any it won't be significant

[NoCardDSC]

Not the greatest of starts whatsoever for Jimmy Walker - struggling massively to keep the ball on the fairway (4/14 fairways hit) which in turn, as you'd expect, made it hard for him to find the green in regulation.

Got some serious work to do to get into contention now and will more than likely require 3 rounds of 65 or better to be in with a shout. Leader is currently -7 with half of the field yet to complete their round due to thunder and lightening that hit early on.

If we can't get Jimmy there, it would be very nice to see Paul Casey close this one out and put him in mega contention for the FedEx cup!

GG

[T_Mar]

7/1 only now, reluctant pass at that price I think

[tikay]

Lads just gone evens Idaho if you're off for your morning constitutional, Tikay.

[Edit: Only lasted 15 mins. Walk needs to be upgraded to a run.]

Ha, very good.

As it happened, it was too early to walk - I've got some work to sort out Next Door & I'm a bit busy sorting that - so I took the motor & was banging on Ladbrokes door at 0900.

But thanks anyway - we'll get them next time. 

[tikay]

7/1 only now, reluctant pass at that price I think

Bugger, but thanks anyway, & I hope it trots up for you.