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.
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.
Gata Kamsky: I can’t play like Grischuk and Kramnik
As the press conference after the semifinals was only attended by the winners we didn’t get to hear from Gata Kamsky, but he later talked to a local newspaper. As well as discussing the games he described his approach to chess, the previous match he played against Topalov, and when he intends to retire.
Gelfand and Grischuk’s press conference
After yesterday’s dramatic tie-breaks the two winners talked to the press. Although they both made short statements in English, the most interesting comments were in Russian. Grischuk, in particular, tried to explain his time trouble and match strategy, and defended the format of the event.
Shipov’s live commentary on the Candidates SF, Game 2
Grandmaster Sergey Shipov was perhaps a bit harsh on himself (“a known gravedigger for won positions”) when he took the blame for Boris Gelfand’s failure to beat Gata Kamsky in the second game of their semifinal! A fantastic struggle saw the American GM again demonstrate nerves of steel to hold the draw.
Kramnik: I thought of banning castling before the 10th move
The short draw between Grischuk and Kramnik has already sparked debate and criticism, but the most interesting contributions actually came from the players themselves in the post-match press conference which, as Mark Crowther notes, was almost longer than the game itself.
Shipov’s live commentary on the Candidates SF, Game 1
In today’s game Alexander Grischuk offered Vladimir Kramnik an early draw in an apparently promising position. Sergey Shipov’s, “that’s not how you become a champion,” no doubt voiced the feelings of many chess fans, though the players blamed computer preparation.
Shipov’s live commentary on the Candidates SF, Game 4
By mishanp on May 15, 2011
The final classical game between Vladimir Kramnik and Alexander Grischuk was a fantastic advert for chess. Spectators around the world watched in high resolution video as both players missed winning chances in time trouble. Sergey Shipov compared Grischuk to “his great predecessor, Harry Houdini”.
Posted in Live commentary, Russian | Tagged Candidates Matches, Crestbook, Gelfand, Geller, Grischuk, Kamsky, Kramnik, Reshevsky, Shipov | 4 Responses