Grand Slam Chess Final Masters Bilbao 2008
Arriving in Madrid from Moscow Sunday morning we rented a car and drove the 4 hours to Bilbao with Magnus resting in the back of the car.
Bilbao is situated straight north of Madrid a few kilometers inland from the Biskaya Bay, and so far we have enjoyed beautiful summer weather.
All players are staying at the excellent Sheraton hotel situated by the channel and surounded by exquisite parks. The finished areas has expanded significantly only since October last year while the area to the south is still partly under construction.
The playing venue, Plaza Nueva, is situated 2 kilometers along (and across) the channel past the Guggenheimer museum of fine arts.
Destiny has played along with the organisers in that Aronians and Radjabovs success (and rating gain) in Socchi has brought the "live rating" average of the 6 participants up to 2776 and an unprecedented category XXII.
The Grand Slam Final stands out also for the high prize fund (400 000 Euros), the playing venue in a sound proof glass-walled cubicle under a tent in the town center and the adoption of the football scoring 3 - 1 - 0 (instead of the classical 1 - 0,5 - 0).
The six participants; Anand, Ivanchuk, Topalov, Carlsen, Radjabov and Aronian will play a 10-round double round robin from today until the 13th. The 7th and the 11th are rest days.
The rounds starts at 5 PM (expect the last round starting at 4 PM) and the time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves and 60 minutes for the rest of the game. (No increments.)
The tournament was initiated yesterday with the presentation of the players and the drawing of lots. Magnus drew no. 4 and will play black against Aronian today (and black against Ivanchuk tomorrow).
Great choice of the medium for drawing of lots, attaching the number to a Athletic Bilbao football!
The organisers and spectators expect a hard fought tournament both due to the football scoring system as well as the modified Sofia rules. (The chief arbiter has to accept any draws, although the players may in theory offer draw at any time, not only in obvious dead draw positions).
The scoring system, paying a premium for victories, is expected to favour the fighters. However, we cannot really expect significant changes to the final standing relative to a for instance a classical scoring where number of wins are the first tie-break.
The only realistic situation in which two players would firmly swop places is if player A has 2 more gains and 5 less draws than player B. (Player A is ahead in Bilbao while behind with a classical score.)
In the case that player A has 1 more gain and 3 less draws (or 2 more wins, 6 less draws), player A will have the same number of total points as B, but lower quality ( while simply less points with classical score).
Similarly, if player A has 1 more gain and 2 less draws (or 2 more wins and 4 less draws), player A is behind B in Bilbao while on equal points but worse tie-break with classical score.
Maybe one should not underestimate the psychological effect of giving an extra point for a victory. I do expect to see an unusual urge to win games from all players.
Magnus was feeling better yesterday night and is hopefully 100% ready to do his best today.
Let the games begin!
Henrik Carlsen,
Bilbao, September 2, 2008
Bilbao is situated straight north of Madrid a few kilometers inland from the Biskaya Bay, and so far we have enjoyed beautiful summer weather.
All players are staying at the excellent Sheraton hotel situated by the channel and surounded by exquisite parks. The finished areas has expanded significantly only since October last year while the area to the south is still partly under construction.
The playing venue, Plaza Nueva, is situated 2 kilometers along (and across) the channel past the Guggenheimer museum of fine arts.
Destiny has played along with the organisers in that Aronians and Radjabovs success (and rating gain) in Socchi has brought the "live rating" average of the 6 participants up to 2776 and an unprecedented category XXII.
The Grand Slam Final stands out also for the high prize fund (400 000 Euros), the playing venue in a sound proof glass-walled cubicle under a tent in the town center and the adoption of the football scoring 3 - 1 - 0 (instead of the classical 1 - 0,5 - 0).
The six participants; Anand, Ivanchuk, Topalov, Carlsen, Radjabov and Aronian will play a 10-round double round robin from today until the 13th. The 7th and the 11th are rest days.
The rounds starts at 5 PM (expect the last round starting at 4 PM) and the time control is 90 minutes for 40 moves and 60 minutes for the rest of the game. (No increments.)
The tournament was initiated yesterday with the presentation of the players and the drawing of lots. Magnus drew no. 4 and will play black against Aronian today (and black against Ivanchuk tomorrow).
Great choice of the medium for drawing of lots, attaching the number to a Athletic Bilbao football!
The organisers and spectators expect a hard fought tournament both due to the football scoring system as well as the modified Sofia rules. (The chief arbiter has to accept any draws, although the players may in theory offer draw at any time, not only in obvious dead draw positions).
The scoring system, paying a premium for victories, is expected to favour the fighters. However, we cannot really expect significant changes to the final standing relative to a for instance a classical scoring where number of wins are the first tie-break.
The only realistic situation in which two players would firmly swop places is if player A has 2 more gains and 5 less draws than player B. (Player A is ahead in Bilbao while behind with a classical score.)
In the case that player A has 1 more gain and 3 less draws (or 2 more wins, 6 less draws), player A will have the same number of total points as B, but lower quality ( while simply less points with classical score).
Similarly, if player A has 1 more gain and 2 less draws (or 2 more wins and 4 less draws), player A is behind B in Bilbao while on equal points but worse tie-break with classical score.
Maybe one should not underestimate the psychological effect of giving an extra point for a victory. I do expect to see an unusual urge to win games from all players.
Magnus was feeling better yesterday night and is hopefully 100% ready to do his best today.
Let the games begin!
Henrik Carlsen,
Bilbao, September 2, 2008
Comments:
Posted by: Klemens
Hopefully you recovered, Magnus, so that your chess skills won't be lowered by a bad physical condition. Good luck and success for the tournament!
Posted by: Lennart Bonnevier
Re the scoring system: we know from soccer experience that three points for a win seldom affects the final standing as such. What it does, however, is that it increases the opportunities for everybod to improve on their position even late in the tournament. Two late wins give you six points, that's a lot more than two for two draws. So I believe that we will see harder play, especially near the end of the tournament.
Posted by: FGGGGGGGGGGGF
Fun to see Magnus get a couple of shots at the world's #1. Good luck!!
Frank
Frank
Posted by: Gegga
Henrik: On a scale from 1-10, how nervous are you when Magnus is playing?
Great win today! Congrats!
How can you ask us to lower our expectations when Magnus plays like this, Henrik??
Great win today! Congrats!
How can you ask us to lower our expectations when Magnus plays like this, Henrik??
Posted by: Tassilo
very impressive.
Posted by: Raymond Armagnac
If Magnus play like today he will be the winer, and that is for sure.
I expect from him more than 15 points, let see if I am right about that.
R. Armagnac
I expect from him more than 15 points, let see if I am right about that.
R. Armagnac
Posted by: Henrik Carlsen
All,
many thanks, I'm happy to see you are as enthusiastic as ever!
Gegga,
between 4 and 9 depending on the tournament situation, position on the board and my general level of excitement during the game.
It's better than most other extended family members who cannot stand watching him play at all :-)
Henrik C.
many thanks, I'm happy to see you are as enthusiastic as ever!
Gegga,
between 4 and 9 depending on the tournament situation, position on the board and my general level of excitement during the game.
It's better than most other extended family members who cannot stand watching him play at all :-)
Henrik C.
Posted by: loestik
Bonjour Mr Henrik Carlsen, - Kasparov
disait du Français Bacrot, qu'il était plus fort que lui à son âge... or il a stagné pendant 2-3 ans, avant de réemerger en 2008, entre autres en gagnant son 6° titre de champion de France ! et bien joué dans de nombreux tournois.
- Que dirait Kasparov aujourd'hui sur Magnus... Il doit être stupéfait de la facilité de maîtrise de votre fils. Personnellement je pense que la barre des 3000 Elo est maintenant le but à atteindre... car Magnus en a les moyens, n'ayant pas encore 18 ans et surtout beaucoup de sang-froid.
Cher Monsieur ( ainsi que votre épouse ), vous avez un adolescent bien dans sa peau et beaucoup de potentiel, vue la progression dont il a été capable depuis le début de sa carrière sérieuse de joueur d'échecs.
Bonne continuation pour Magnus et pour vous.
Hello Mr Henrik Carlsen, - Kasparov said French Bacrot, that it was stronger than him to his age... now it stagnated for 2-3 years, before of reemerged in 2008, among others in win his 6° title of champion of France! and well played in many tournaments.
- That said Kasparov today on Magnus...
It must be stupéfait of the ease of mastery of your son.
Personally I think that the bar of the 3000 Elo is now the goal to attain... for Magnus has the means, not having again 18 years and especially a lot of self-control.
Dear Mister (as well as your spouse), you have an adolescent one well in his skin and a lot of potential, seen the progression of which it was capable since the beginning of his serious career of player of chess. Good continuation for Magnus and for you.
[ vouille.alain@neuf.fr ] FR-93240 Stains France/Frankrike
disait du Français Bacrot, qu'il était plus fort que lui à son âge... or il a stagné pendant 2-3 ans, avant de réemerger en 2008, entre autres en gagnant son 6° titre de champion de France ! et bien joué dans de nombreux tournois.
- Que dirait Kasparov aujourd'hui sur Magnus... Il doit être stupéfait de la facilité de maîtrise de votre fils. Personnellement je pense que la barre des 3000 Elo est maintenant le but à atteindre... car Magnus en a les moyens, n'ayant pas encore 18 ans et surtout beaucoup de sang-froid.
Cher Monsieur ( ainsi que votre épouse ), vous avez un adolescent bien dans sa peau et beaucoup de potentiel, vue la progression dont il a été capable depuis le début de sa carrière sérieuse de joueur d'échecs.
Bonne continuation pour Magnus et pour vous.
Hello Mr Henrik Carlsen, - Kasparov said French Bacrot, that it was stronger than him to his age... now it stagnated for 2-3 years, before of reemerged in 2008, among others in win his 6° title of champion of France! and well played in many tournaments.
- That said Kasparov today on Magnus...
It must be stupéfait of the ease of mastery of your son.
Personally I think that the bar of the 3000 Elo is now the goal to attain... for Magnus has the means, not having again 18 years and especially a lot of self-control.
Dear Mister (as well as your spouse), you have an adolescent one well in his skin and a lot of potential, seen the progression of which it was capable since the beginning of his serious career of player of chess. Good continuation for Magnus and for you.
[ vouille.alain@neuf.fr ] FR-93240 Stains France/Frankrike
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