Travelling to Elista May 25th
We (Magnus, his second Kjetil A.Lie and I) left Lommedalen, Norway 04:25 and arrived in Chess City, Elista 12 hours later. Not bad taking into account some hick-ups on our way and a solid combination of poor planning, helpfulness and risky car driving.
About a month ago we were told that the organiser would charter a plane to bring candidates and others from Moscow to Elista, leaving at 17 hours on the 25th. Having guessed that this might leave from the airfield for domestic flights (Vnukovo), some 70 kms from the international hub Sheremetsyvo (or whatever), we booked an early morning flight via Helsinki to arrive in Moscow at 12:05, and were happy about this choice when Vnukovo was confirmed as the airport for the chartered flight.
That is, until.... yesterday (Thursday 24th) when we were informed that the departure time for the charter plane had been brought forward to 13:40.(Lol).
The plan would be to still try to reach this plane and the backup would be a flight to Volgograd and a 4 hours (hazardous) drive to Elista today or tomorrow.
The plane from Helsinki landed on time and after running to the passport control and luggage pickup we were met and led to the waiting car. 12 minutes later a FIDE-Vice President arriving from Frankfurt joined us and the driver took off (like a bat out of h....)
Unfortunately the traffic was heavy and by 13:30 we were still far from Vnukovo.
We were passed by a police car with a blinking blue light, acting as an involuntary "escort" until traffic got lighter about 15 kilometer from Vnokovo. The remaining distance was covered in about 170 km/hour sic-sac-ing along the highway. A team of about 6 persons helped us through 2 security checks, a passport control, with the receipt of tickets, and a bus drive out to the plane where we arrived about 10 minutes after leaving the car and, we had made it. Puh!
In Elista we were greeted in the most friendly way, beautiful sunshine and about 35 degrees C. After a while the busses headed for Elista and Chess City with police escort.
In the middle of Elista the police had to make an emergency break ahead of a careless pedestrian, the first bus stopped but the second (our) didn't in time and crashed in the bus in front, severely damaging our front and diesel started leaking from the bus in front. Some bruises were treated and some possibly hurt necks investigated by medical personnel and a new bus arrived to take us to Chess City.
Well, after an eventful (and dangerous) jouney, it is finally time to concentrate on the task at hand; beating Aronian !
- Internett is down again and this will hopefully be posted tomorrow morning.
Henrik Carlsen
Elista, May 25nd 2007
About a month ago we were told that the organiser would charter a plane to bring candidates and others from Moscow to Elista, leaving at 17 hours on the 25th. Having guessed that this might leave from the airfield for domestic flights (Vnukovo), some 70 kms from the international hub Sheremetsyvo (or whatever), we booked an early morning flight via Helsinki to arrive in Moscow at 12:05, and were happy about this choice when Vnukovo was confirmed as the airport for the chartered flight.
That is, until.... yesterday (Thursday 24th) when we were informed that the departure time for the charter plane had been brought forward to 13:40.(Lol).
The plan would be to still try to reach this plane and the backup would be a flight to Volgograd and a 4 hours (hazardous) drive to Elista today or tomorrow.
The plane from Helsinki landed on time and after running to the passport control and luggage pickup we were met and led to the waiting car. 12 minutes later a FIDE-Vice President arriving from Frankfurt joined us and the driver took off (like a bat out of h....)
Unfortunately the traffic was heavy and by 13:30 we were still far from Vnukovo.
We were passed by a police car with a blinking blue light, acting as an involuntary "escort" until traffic got lighter about 15 kilometer from Vnokovo. The remaining distance was covered in about 170 km/hour sic-sac-ing along the highway. A team of about 6 persons helped us through 2 security checks, a passport control, with the receipt of tickets, and a bus drive out to the plane where we arrived about 10 minutes after leaving the car and, we had made it. Puh!
In Elista we were greeted in the most friendly way, beautiful sunshine and about 35 degrees C. After a while the busses headed for Elista and Chess City with police escort.
In the middle of Elista the police had to make an emergency break ahead of a careless pedestrian, the first bus stopped but the second (our) didn't in time and crashed in the bus in front, severely damaging our front and diesel started leaking from the bus in front. Some bruises were treated and some possibly hurt necks investigated by medical personnel and a new bus arrived to take us to Chess City.
Well, after an eventful (and dangerous) jouney, it is finally time to concentrate on the task at hand; beating Aronian !
- Internett is down again and this will hopefully be posted tomorrow morning.
Henrik Carlsen
Elista, May 25nd 2007
Comments:
Posted by: Kafka
Good luck to Magnus! COME ON!
Posted by: Ole Morten Persen
You survived the dangers of russian traffic, hopefully you'll survive the dangers of Aronians chess too! Good luck in Elista, look forward to a highly interesting match which is a lot closer than some people think. Aronians 4-2 over Kramnik looks very impressive when you just look at the numbers, but he was lucky not to lose the final 2 games, and rapids are rapids. I think Magnus has a fair chance. The important thing will be to take advantage of the mistakes that are inevitably going to be made. And make less mistakes than Aronian of course.
Posted by: ?
kort nett møte hos nettavisen må jeg si
Posted by: Jan
Good luck to magnus in the candidate matches!!
In Tripolis you come very close to a win over aronian, this time you will make it!!
GO FOR GOLD!
In Tripolis you come very close to a win over aronian, this time you will make it!!
GO FOR GOLD!
Posted by: Martin
And you even ended in front of him in Morelia-Linares. =) You definitely have no smaller chances than Aronian - but even if you should lose, it would be nothing at all which you had to feel ashamed of. You can play without any pressure, while at the same time having many reasons to play with great confidence not to have smaller chances than Aronian to reach the next round (and finish Adams or Shirov off, you know how it feels to win against both of them, already, don't you? ;))
Very kind regards from Germany
Very kind regards from Germany
Posted by: Samuel Heine
Hei Magnus og Henrik
Held og lykke med kampene, jeg krydser fingre og håber sådan at du vinder!!
Kærlig hilsen Samuel
Held og lykke med kampene, jeg krydser fingre og håber sådan at du vinder!!
Kærlig hilsen Samuel
Posted by: Rob Vlaardingerbroek
Hi Henrik
I just saw the following text on: http://globalchess.eu/main.php?id=25
During the transportation of the players and journalists of the Candidates Matches from the airport, a local child unexpectedly runs to the road. In order to avoid a serious accident the drivers of the buses had to apply a forced breaking which however pushed some of the passengers forward and they got some injuries. After careful medical examinations they were released from the medical control as their injuries were not serious and did not require further treatment.
This news was published by:
Dr. Peter Rajcsanyi
Press Officer
Candidates Matches for the 2007 World Chess Championship tournament
I hope all is wel with everyone on that bus, and the kid that crossed over. I also hope this will not influence any of the players abilities. But to me it looks like it would at least get my mind busy for some time.
Wishing you and Magnus all the best!
Rob.
I just saw the following text on: http://globalchess.eu/main.php?id=25
During the transportation of the players and journalists of the Candidates Matches from the airport, a local child unexpectedly runs to the road. In order to avoid a serious accident the drivers of the buses had to apply a forced breaking which however pushed some of the passengers forward and they got some injuries. After careful medical examinations they were released from the medical control as their injuries were not serious and did not require further treatment.
This news was published by:
Dr. Peter Rajcsanyi
Press Officer
Candidates Matches for the 2007 World Chess Championship tournament
I hope all is wel with everyone on that bus, and the kid that crossed over. I also hope this will not influence any of the players abilities. But to me it looks like it would at least get my mind busy for some time.
Wishing you and Magnus all the best!
Rob.
Posted by: Henrik C.
Thank you Rob.
The incident with the bus was unfortunate but everything seems to have worked out OK.
One thing that troubled me was that the bus seemed to continue at an unexpected high speed in spite of the driver pulling the breaks. We seemed to float like on a wet road.
When inspecting the break marks on the road, I found a 10 meter break mark behind the right hand front wheel, but only a 5 meter mark behind the front left wheel and none behind the back wheels (which I thought normally takes most of the break power).
The tires also seemed quite outworn.
Old tires combined with uneven or missing break power obviously did not contribute positively in a dangerous situation.
Regarding the net-meeting at Nettavisen today; It was a short one due to an unstable internet connection, and Magnus also had to reconnect to the net-meeting for every response he made.
Henrik
The incident with the bus was unfortunate but everything seems to have worked out OK.
One thing that troubled me was that the bus seemed to continue at an unexpected high speed in spite of the driver pulling the breaks. We seemed to float like on a wet road.
When inspecting the break marks on the road, I found a 10 meter break mark behind the right hand front wheel, but only a 5 meter mark behind the front left wheel and none behind the back wheels (which I thought normally takes most of the break power).
The tires also seemed quite outworn.
Old tires combined with uneven or missing break power obviously did not contribute positively in a dangerous situation.
Regarding the net-meeting at Nettavisen today; It was a short one due to an unstable internet connection, and Magnus also had to reconnect to the net-meeting for every response he made.
Henrik
Posted by: Rob Vlaardingerbroek
Hi Henrik,
Oke. Not what one could expect from a proper bus or van.
But I am a former police officer. What made you look at the break tracks? Just curious. Sounds like scary moments you and everyone else in the bus went through. I am happy all ended well.
Best,
Rob.
Oke. Not what one could expect from a proper bus or van.
But I am a former police officer. What made you look at the break tracks? Just curious. Sounds like scary moments you and everyone else in the bus went through. I am happy all ended well.
Best,
Rob.
Posted by: Henrik
Rob,
I was a bit curious about the feeling of floating the last 10 meters before the crash. Hence I looked at the break marks.
Henrik
I was a bit curious about the feeling of floating the last 10 meters before the crash. Hence I looked at the break marks.
Henrik
Posted by: The Closet Grandmaster
Well, that wasn't exactly the best of beginnings. It is understandable really since Aronian has with him a most diabolical but beautiful secret!
http://closetgrandmaster.blogspot.com/
GL for the rest of the tournament Magnus!
- TCG
http://closetgrandmaster.blogspot.com/
GL for the rest of the tournament Magnus!
- TCG
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