It’s the end of classical chess as we know it (and I feel fine)
Alexander Grischuk was the focus of controversy over the recent Candidates Matches. His route to the final, winning no classical games and sometimes agreeing to short draws with White, seemed to highlight the format’s problems. Grischuk himself, however, welcomed the difficult times for classical chess.
“Who plays better, Ivanchuk in good form or Carlsen?”
Boris Gelfand’s view, in an interview with Chess-News after winning the Candidates Matches in Kazan, was that an in-form Ivanchuk is still the best player in the world. As well as the topic of age in chess, he also talked about preparation, computers, Sofia Rules and the World Championship format.
GM Levon Aronian answers your questions: Part I
From his answer to the very first question on why people play chess, it was clear that Levon Aronian’s Q&A at Crestbook was going to be an entertaining read: “For pleasure, peace of mind and the moral torture of their neighbour”. Sharp and funny, the Armenian GM lifts the lid on life at the top of the chess pyramid.
Boris Gelfand: A completely happy man
After Boris Gelfand won the Candidates Matches in Kazan he gave numerous interviews that shed light on a player who, despite having been at the top of world chess for 20 years, is perhaps still something of a mystery to chess fans. It’s time for that to change, as an Anand-Gelfand World Championship match awaits!
Grischuk: I was worried I’d forgotten how to play chess
Just before the closing ceremony of the Candidates Matches in Kazan, Alexander Grischuk gave a fascinating interview to Yury Vasiliev of ChessPro, where he talked about tactics, his fear he’d forgotten how to play chess, Gelfand’s play in the final, and the “burial of classical chess” due to draws.
Gelfand and Grischuk’s final press conference
Much of the final press conference of the Candidates Matches in Kazan needed no interpretation. Grischuk’s sportsmanship in defeat was there for all to see, and the rough course of the game was conveyed in the players’ English comments. There was again, however, much more in Russian…
Shipov’s live commentary on the Candidates Final, Game 5
Sergey Shipov began today’s commentary by comparing the players to Greco-Roman Wrestlers who couldn’t throw their opponents, and ended comparing them to immortal Highlanders. Yes, the penultimate game was another draw, with Gelfand taking full advantage of Grischuk’s slip in a promising position.
Shipov’s live commentary on the Candidates Final, Game 4
Another day, another draw, but if you look beyond the headlines it was still an intriguing battle. The only problem was most of us don’t understand chess at anywhere near the level required to follow what was happening – which was where GM Sergey Shipov stepped in with a free masterclass.
God created man, but the Queen’s Gambit made them equal
That was Alexander Grischuk’s view after the third game of the Candidates Final ended in a 14-move draw. In a press conference that mirrored the game – it was short but packed with memorable incident – Gelfand also explained how his first encounter with grandmasters ended in failure.
Shipov’s live commentary on the Candidates Final, Game 6
By mishanp on May 25, 2011
After commentating on a perfect 13 draws, it seemed almost a shame for the sequence to come to an end in Grandmaster Sergey Shipov’s final live commentary from Kazan – but the magnificent win by Boris Gelfand was a fitting way to qualify for a World Championship match against Vishy Anand. VIDEO ADDED!
Posted in Live commentary, Russian | Tagged Candidates Matches, Crestbook, Gelfand, Grischuk, Shipov | 4 Responses