Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

.... and Tyson Fury was at the next table to me a while back at Smith's of Wapping (fish restaurant) ...so that's something 😜

Sorry, I need some sleep:-)

This was a super-exciting week in chess, with the World Rapid (3 days, 13 rounds) and Blitz (2 days, 21 rounds) Championships taking place Monday-Friday in Kazakhstan.

Both won by Carlsen.

Coverage of a remarkable Carlsen-Rapport blitz game by MC's longtime trainer GM Jan Gustafsson: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApzXZOlK5uw

I also recommend spectacular games Giri-Dubov and Dubov-Sarin, both won by Dubov. Videos widely available.

Thanks Geeker, it looks a good game but I'll have to find another video of it, this one was way too chaotic for me. Maybe I'm just tired but I couldn't keep track of what moves were actually played as opposed to possible moves and theoretical lines of play.

Agadmator also covered it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xQ3kkums-Ww

It's a tough game to follow in any event. I've been watching Jan G. for a long time and like his discussions.

I know he's very popular and I saw all the positive comments that people left but it's just not how I like to view matches - a bit over my head perhaps, but thanks for the Agadmator link, I will watch that.

That was crazy, Rapport looked a nailed-on certainty after Magnus gave up his Knight - even after MC Queened on g8 it looked like some perpetual checks might still rescue RR. I love how in blitz games you can see both blunders and brilliancies in equal measure.

Hi Geeker,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AcD0T_KNI0k

Do you have any thoughts on the logic of Rapport playing for a draw here? He had the white pieces so I don't get it!

Paul, please feel free to chime in any time:-)

Brendan: The infamous "Berlin draw"...it's been plaguing chess tournaments the past few years, and Nakamura (along with Wesley So) is one of the most frequent practitioners.

Nakamura said in his daily recap

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-blkH58zFBk&t=525s

that he was surprised Rapport went for this, and that he expected Rapport to try to win. OTOH, by playing the Berlin Naka made it possible for the insta-draw to appear.

That game was the first of the second day. I looked up the results after day 1, see
https://chess24.com/en/read/news/world-blitz-day-1-magnus-cuts-it-close-hikaru-hunts-1st-title

Nakamura was in the lead on 10 points, Rapport was one of a group of 5 tied for second on 9.

The Berlin is notoriously difficult to beat with White (ask Garry Kimovich for instance 🤣; it may have cost him his crown). My best guess is that Rapport wanted to allow the Berlin; when it appeared on the board he figured he wouldn't be able to win, and decided to draw quickly and save energy for future rounds, maintaining his 1-point deficit to the leader. Meanwhile, Nakamura could maintain his lead, and drawing with Black vs. the formidable Rapport was an OK result for him.

On balance, I can understand the decision from both sides, but consider that Rapport chickened out to some extent. It looks like he's mostly a 1. d4 / 1. Nf3 player, see

https://www.chessgames.com/perl/explorer?pid=123427&side=white ,

and was perhaps hoping for the "Berlin draw".

Thanks you so much Geeker, that is truly a great analysis of the situation.

Perhaps you should be making the videos, I've no doubt they'd need popular - just a thought 🤔😀