Linares 2009.
Magnus (and I) arrived in Linares early in the morning on the 18th and had a full day to relax before the opening ceremony last night.
Despite participating in Linares both in 2007 and 2008, this is the first time we experience the opening ceremony in Linares. It was a very impressive performance staged in the playing venue, the Theatro Cervantes, in the centre of Linares.
The piano and guitar duo has toured most of the world and showed us why they are so popular. A great performance!
The drawing of lots came off to a humorous start as Anand, as the first to chose among 8 olive tree placates, picked number 1, and next Aronian picked number 2. Magnus came next and picked number.... 7. (He probably wanted black against Aronian in round 1 as in Bilbao in September 2008 :-)
My understanding of Spanish is still hopelessly inadequate, but I think major Fernandez mentioned the possibility staging the 2010 version of Linares in two venues, possibly in the Emirates this time.
Despite Topalov withdrawing due to the match against Kamsky, the rating average in Linares 2009 is a record 2757 (category 21), featuring V.Anand (2791), Ivanchuk (2779), Magnus (2776), Radjabov (2761), Aronian (2750), Wang Yue (2739), A. Grischuk (2733) and L.Dominguez Perez (2717).
The tournament is played between February 19th and March 7th, with free days on February 23rd, 27th and March 4th. All rounds starts at 4 PM.
It'll be a very challenging tournament. Compared to the already strong and long Corus tournament this year, the rating average is significantly higher, there is one more round with the same number of free days, and draw offers are not allowed until move 30.
Magnus faced Aronian in round 1 and drew without too much problems when moves were repeated just before the time control.
Anand won against Radjabov to take the sole lead as Dominguez-Grischuk and Yue-Ivanchuk ended in draws as well.
Tomorrow Magnus has the white pieces against Dominguez.
Henrik Carlsen,
Linares, February 19th, 2009
Despite participating in Linares both in 2007 and 2008, this is the first time we experience the opening ceremony in Linares. It was a very impressive performance staged in the playing venue, the Theatro Cervantes, in the centre of Linares.
The piano and guitar duo has toured most of the world and showed us why they are so popular. A great performance!
The drawing of lots came off to a humorous start as Anand, as the first to chose among 8 olive tree placates, picked number 1, and next Aronian picked number 2. Magnus came next and picked number.... 7. (He probably wanted black against Aronian in round 1 as in Bilbao in September 2008 :-)
My understanding of Spanish is still hopelessly inadequate, but I think major Fernandez mentioned the possibility staging the 2010 version of Linares in two venues, possibly in the Emirates this time.
Despite Topalov withdrawing due to the match against Kamsky, the rating average in Linares 2009 is a record 2757 (category 21), featuring V.Anand (2791), Ivanchuk (2779), Magnus (2776), Radjabov (2761), Aronian (2750), Wang Yue (2739), A. Grischuk (2733) and L.Dominguez Perez (2717).
The tournament is played between February 19th and March 7th, with free days on February 23rd, 27th and March 4th. All rounds starts at 4 PM.
It'll be a very challenging tournament. Compared to the already strong and long Corus tournament this year, the rating average is significantly higher, there is one more round with the same number of free days, and draw offers are not allowed until move 30.
Magnus faced Aronian in round 1 and drew without too much problems when moves were repeated just before the time control.
Anand won against Radjabov to take the sole lead as Dominguez-Grischuk and Yue-Ivanchuk ended in draws as well.
Tomorrow Magnus has the white pieces against Dominguez.
Henrik Carlsen,
Linares, February 19th, 2009
Comments:
Posted by: Bobby F.
Nice to see your blog is back on track again, Henrik. I hope you can twist some more comments out of Magnus after each round. We want the show, you know. ;-)
BTW: The rumours says Magnus has a new secondant. Is that true?
All the best!
BTW: The rumours says Magnus has a new secondant. Is that true?
All the best!
Posted by: Evig Optimist
Hei
Alle lurer på om/hvem Magnus har med en/som sekundant.
Lykke til! Å starte med 10 remiser for så å avslutte med 4 seire på rad burde sikre turneringsseieren! (Men ikke press for hardt mot Anand med sort i siste runde)
Alle lurer på om/hvem Magnus har med en/som sekundant.
Lykke til! Å starte med 10 remiser for så å avslutte med 4 seire på rad burde sikre turneringsseieren! (Men ikke press for hardt mot Anand med sort i siste runde)
Posted by: Anil Raje
It is interesting to see how Anand-Carlson games go. Magnus had assisted Anand in preparations during Vishy's match against Kramnik for the world title late last year. Are the sessions spent by bth these together will have a real effect on the openings they are chose for their individual encounter?
Posted by: Søren W
Hope Magnus enjoys the tournament! There are some pretty tough players to face this time, I wouldn't be surprised if Magnus turned out to be the toughest of them all! Hope to see some vexing novelities and sharp angles, in the decisive manner Magnus has demonstranted on previous occations.
Posted by: Tony
Make your own luck Magnus. Play hard!
Posted by: Nina
Lykke til Magnus!
Takk for oppdateringene Henrik!
Takk for oppdateringene Henrik!
Posted by: pepito
Henrik
What is your opinion about Dominguez's game?
Do you think he is a fluke (waiting to wake up) or that he will consolidate himself in the elite?
Congrats to Magnus for his game and practical style
What is your opinion about Dominguez's game?
Do you think he is a fluke (waiting to wake up) or that he will consolidate himself in the elite?
Congrats to Magnus for his game and practical style
Posted by: Gegga
Anil Raje:
Carlsen, not Carlson. Did Magnus assist Anand before the match against Kramnik? I don't think he did. Pls correct me if I'm wrong...
Carlsen, not Carlson. Did Magnus assist Anand before the match against Kramnik? I don't think he did. Pls correct me if I'm wrong...
Posted by: vishy
No, Carlson did not work on Anand's team to help him defend the world championship.
Posted by: M Jagadish
The reason for attending the opening ceremony probably is that he is much more relaxed and can take in some entertainment while still maintaining World class Chess levels!
Good luck to Magnus. Already, he is showing unshakeable solidity.
Regards
Jagadish
Good luck to Magnus. Already, he is showing unshakeable solidity.
Regards
Jagadish
Posted by: Martin Matthiesen
He wasn't a second during the match, but he had a training session in Spain with Anand (they played blitz!).
Posted by: Søren W
Shabalov Attack! Beautifully executed by Magnus, and very timely. What an outstanding performance against Anand!
Posted by: GM1
Ouch! Tough game today against Wang! You fight like a winner!
Posted by: miguel
i live in andalusia near gibraltar.That's more southerly than
Linares obviously
i would like to contact personally with Magnus carlsen
and play sometime against him. I am not a professional
chess player but i like playing chess a lot. My favourite
opening in chess is the Napoleon opening: e4..., Qf3
greetings from spain and andalusia.this year the weather
is too rainy rgggggg!!!!!
Linares obviously
i would like to contact personally with Magnus carlsen
and play sometime against him. I am not a professional
chess player but i like playing chess a lot. My favourite
opening in chess is the Napoleon opening: e4..., Qf3
greetings from spain and andalusia.this year the weather
is too rainy rgggggg!!!!!
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