Chess thread

[Tal]

Was it wise of Carlsen to turn down a draw offer earlier in the final game?

I didn't realise he did. It seems a little inappropriate to decline the offer tbh, knowing that made him the champ. Carlsen commented today he was playing for no complications (read "playing for the draw") but then decided he might be able to win, until it started getting too complicated and he swapped everything off.

MBN to have that kind of control.

[Tal]

Karpov was world champ 75-85 for starters.

And born in 51 meaning he wouldn't be the youngest world champ of all time. We might be quicker listing the parts of the article that are factually correct.

some block called gary was the youngest , credit to Carlsen think he may bring players back to chess , alot of us started playing poker because there is no money in chess , only top GM can make it ,

All the money is in coaching, yeah. I was never committed enough to get to the big grades and I was never good enough to be a GM.

[Tal]

Chessbase has done the Twitter round:

Click to see full-size image.

[McGlashan]

Spot the mistakes in this article http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-25057654 it will not be too testing.

Unbelievable stuff here, the article has been amended several times today and somehow has gotten worse every time.

'A view echoed by analysts who say he is likely to change the perception of the game'  'Harry Potter of chess' says the article. Not content to leave it there they put out feelers for a British Harry Potter of chess and interviewed this British Chess Champion:

Click to see full-size image.

Don't recognise him? Me neither. It's Jeff Thomas, FIDE rating 2043. He gave a good interview, the 'British Chess Champion' is a bit misleading but who lets facts get in the way of a good story.

[McGlashan]

What's the first thing he's going to buy with the prize money?

[Tal]

Well, it has already been said, but Game ten ended the match, as Magnus Carlsen and Vishwanathan Anand drew in a Sicilian that the Norwegian threatened to win.

A brief review of the day's action:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/chennai-g10-magnus-carlsen-is-the-new-world-champion

And videos:

http://en.chessbase.com/post/chennai-final-magnus-victorious

Much will be made in the next few days about the runner up. It is unquestionable that he has not been at his best and perhaps he won't be the same Anand that won the world title in the first place, but I really think a lot of what happened was as a result of the guy at the other end of the board.

Anand started by showing us all he could kill games, meaning the pressure was on Magnus to find either an opening he could prepare better than his opponent or to get to an endgame with a bit or life in it. In reality, only the latter was achievable. Anand had his chance to win, but he then survived one in reverse. After that, all the momentum was with the challenger and Magnus simply never looked back.

Carlsen was just so precise in his ability to keep the pressure in a position that it hurt Anand time after time. Anand has made slips over the last year or so and the more pressure you are under, the more likely it is that one of those slips materialised. Partly deliberate and partly just Magnus's style but it meant the gap between the players was more pronounced than it really is.

Anand is a great player and so is Carlsen. This young man has the potential to be something very special.

[Tal]

What's the first thing he's going to buy with the prize money?

There will be a market on who his girlfriend is, after he refused to answer a question about her today.

[The Baron]

Short says Fide ratings benefit modern players. How so?

I'm sure someone will have a better answer for this, but the rating you have is based on your performance against other people. In theory, as people are getting better, the ratings around you improve, so there is a natural increase in ratings.

Make no bones about it: Magnus Carlsen is the best player who ever lived.

I must admit. This match hasn't convinced me of that yet.

[Tal]

Short says Fide ratings benefit modern players. How so?

I'm sure someone will have a better answer for this, but the rating you have is based on your performance against other people. In theory, as people are getting better, the ratings around you improve, so there is a natural increase in ratings.

Make no bones about it: Magnus Carlsen is the best player who ever lived.

I must admit. This match hasn't convinced me of that yet.

I suppose I'm being cheeky.

He is the highest rated player of all time, is better than everyone else in the world currently by a few lengths and the modern player knows a lot more than any predecessor.

As a style of player, he isn't sexy. Mikhail Tal was world champion for just one year. He won it from Botvinnik in 1960 and lost it a year later. Yet he is still regarded as a favourite across the world.

Stephen Hendry won seven world titles and during that period, everyone loved Jimmy White.

[McGlashan]

What's the first thing he's going to buy with the prize money?

There will be a market on who his girlfriend is, after he refused to answer a question about her today.

Whoever she might be, he shall not be texting her tonight.

[Tal]

One for McGlashan:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-25059274

Please find me someone who has described Magnus as "The Justin Bieber of Chess"

[McGlashan]

Short says Fide ratings benefit modern players. How so?

Make no bones about it: Magnus Carlsen is the best player who ever lived.

I must admit. This match hasn't convinced me of that yet.

We're discussing whether or not a 22yo is the greatest chess player who ever lived. If the answer is not yes it will almost certainly will be in 5 years time.

[The Baron]

Short says Fide ratings benefit modern players. How so?

I'm sure someone will have a better answer for this, but the rating you have is based on your performance against other people. In theory, as people are getting better, the ratings around you improve, so there is a natural increase in ratings.

Make no bones about it: Magnus Carlsen is the best player who ever lived.

I must admit. This match hasn't convinced me of that yet.

I suppose I'm being cheeky.

He is the highest rated player of all time, is better than everyone else in the world currently by a few lengths and the modern player knows a lot more than any predecessor.

As a style of player, he isn't sexy. Mikhail Tal was world champion for just one year. He won it from Botvinnik in 1960 and lost it a year later. Yet he is still regarded as a favourite across the world.

Stephen Hendry won seven world titles and during that period, everyone loved Jimmy White.

Yeah, fair enough.

[The Baron]

Short says Fide ratings benefit modern players. How so?

Make no bones about it: Magnus Carlsen is the best player who ever lived.

I must admit. This match hasn't convinced me of that yet.

We're discussing whether or not a 22yo is the greatest chess player who ever lived. If the answer is not yes it will almost certainly will be in 5 years time.

I'll admit I'm not one who compares eras easily. Ultimately someone will be better in the future due to their time, technology, learning facilities. It's fun to compare but pretty useless IMO. Would a peak Kasparov have been as sun optimal as Anand in this match? How good are any of the past greats with a computer? I'm not really bothered what a computer position or rating says tbh. Achievements will define Carlsen. I'm not sure 5 years will do it for me.

I guess my biggest hope is he out thinks people. Not wears them down or out lasts them. Fair play to him for playing to his strengths I'd do exactly the same. It just reminds me of PBF beating de la Hoya a bit. You're older & on the down slope and if I keep up this pace you'll be screwed buddy!

Sorry, I hope this isn't pissing on his bonfire too much. He's obviously ridic good. Tal's comparison to Hendry (Davis is better IMO!) was bang on. In time I won't be able to argue with his achievements hopefully.

[McGlashan]

Baron, here's an article that compares era's and helps put Magnus in perspective. It also includes some play through Queen sac games from Morphy and Fischer. http://www.businessinsider.com/magnus-carlsen-our-first-post-modern-chess-champion-2013-11