Corus 2010: Carlsen Wins!

Close the books on Corus 2010. Carlsen simply outlasted everyone else, although Kramnik made a tournament of it. Nakamura experienced highs and lows, but the bottom line is that he's put himself clearly into the top 20 and he's undoubtedly on the rise. We should see his attendance increasing in the best tournaments. Today, he refused to take the easy out against Tiviakov, and pressed until his opponent blundered at move 56. Nakamura finished tied for fourth along with Anand, a good showing. Robson in the C Group started on fire, but then had all the look of a player who ran out of gas in the second half. The last 90 days have brought him a wealth of experience and we should set expectations high. As for Akobian in the B Group, there just isn't much good to say about this tournament. He'll have better days.

Anand Flexes A Little at Corus: Petroff's Defense

Kramnik has been in good form, so it's a bit of a surprise when he crashes behind the wheel of a Petroff. Tip of the hat to Anand, who got just the kind of game and result he needed here at the end of Corus and in preparation for Topalov (not that we'll see the opening again in the World Championship). Up to now, it's been a pretty lackluster performance by the World Champion, even if perhaps excusable. So, Carlsen is in command going into the final day--nothing new there. Tomorrow, though, will be young Caruana's biggest day as a chess player thus far. He has the black pieces in the last round of one of the world's finest chess tournaments, and the world number 1 will be playng to win on the other side. Play well--the world is watching!

Corus 2010: Gruenfeld--The Russian System

Shirov is now chasing Kramnik and Carlsen a half point back.  Carlsen notched a critical win today and has recovered on the crosstable after his loss to Kramnik.  Dominguez was sailing along with the black pieces until 30...Kh8, which was unnecessary and essentially game ending.  The game score follows the crosstable. 

Corus A Wijk aan Zee (NED), 16-31 i 2010														cat. XIX (2719)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2788	*	1	½	.	1	½	.	½	½	½	1	½		1	7½	2839
2.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2810	0	*	½	½	½	1	1	1	.	.	1	½	½	1	7½	2846
3.	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2723	½	½	*	0	0	½	.	.	1	1	1	½	1	1	7	2821
4.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2790	.	½	1	*	½	½	½	½	½	½	.	½	½	½	6	2749
5.	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2708	0	½	1	½	*	½	0	½	½	.	1	1	.	½	6	2765
6.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2749	½	0	½	½	½	*	½	.	.	½	1	½		1	6	2751
7.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2720	.	0	.	½	1	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	½	½	6	2748
8.	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	g	CUB	2712	½	0	.	½	½	.	½	*	½	½	½	½	1	½	5½	2716
9.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2739	½	.	0	½	½	.	½	½	*	1	0	½	½	1	5½	2706
10.	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2675	½	.	0	½	.	½	½	½	0	*	½	½	1	0	4½	2651
11.	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2641	0	0	0	.	0	0	½	½	1	½	*	1	1	.	4½	2660
12.	Short, Nigel D	g	ENG	2696	½	½	½	½	0	½	0	½	½	½	0	*	.	.	4	2630
13.	Tiviakov, Sergei	g	NED	2662	½	½	0	½	.	½	½	0	½	0	0	.	*	1	4	2625
14.	Smeets, Jan	g	NED	2657	0	0	0	½	½	0	½	½	0	1	.	.	0	*	3	2559

Chess Metaphors: Aritificial Intelligence and the Human Mind II

See the ChessBase article on this book by Diego Rasskin-Gutman.  The pictures on the ChessBase site, primarily of Kasparov's 1985 32-computer simul, alone make the trip worthwhile.

Chess Metaphors: Artificial Intelligence and the Human Mind

Diego Rasskin-Gutman has written a book by the title of this post. The work has been translated from the Spanish by Deborah Klosky. MIT Press, 205 pp., $24.95. I have included the book in the Amazon scroll of books in the right margin. I haven't read the book, but I intend to. Garry Kasparov, however, has reviewed the book for The New York Review of Books, and if the book is as interesting as the review, it should be good.  One point that comes through from Kasparov is that the best computer minds engaged with the game of chess have been driven by financial gain and they have accordingly taken the path of least resistance in creating better chess software.  Kasparov's point would seem to be that the focus has been upon the incrementalism of brute strength gains made by modern computers, with little concern for innovation or anything that might pass for real artificial intelligence, and which might translate to any human endeavor other than chess.

Corus 2010: Classical French

A relatively quiet and impressive performance by Carlsen. For 7...Qb6, see Wesley So's win against Kamsky in the World Cup (G10 below).

Three rounds to go.

Corus A Wijk aan Zee (NED), 16-31 i 2010														cat. XIX (2719)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2788	*	1	.	.	1	½	½	.	½	½	½	½		1	7	2853
2.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2810	0	*	½	½	½	.	1	1	.	.	½	½	1	1	6½	2823
3.	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2723	.	½	*	0	0	.	½	.	1	1	1	½	1	1	6½	2822
4.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2790	.	½	1	*	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	½	.	.	5½	2755
5.	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2708	0	½	1	½	*	½	½	0	.	.	.	1	1	½	5½	2764
6.	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	g	CUB	2712	½	.	.	½	½	*	.	½	½	½	1	½		½	5½	2743
7.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2749	½	0	½	½	½	.	*	.	.	½	½	½	1	1	5½	2751
8.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2720	.	0	.	½	1	½	.	*	½	½	½	1	½	½	5½	2745
9.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2739	½	.	0	½	.	½	.	½	*	1	½	½	0	1	5	2706
10.	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2675	½	.	0	½	.	½	½	½	0	*	1	.	½	0	4	2646
11.	Tiviakov, Sergei	g	NED	2662	½	½	0	½	.	0	½	½	½	0	*	.	.	1	4	2664
12.	Short, Nigel D	g	ENG	2696	½	½	½	½	0	½	½	0	½	.	.	*	0	.	3½	2628
13.	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2641	0	0	0	.	0	½	0	½	1	½	.	1	*	.	3½	2622
14.	Smeets, Jan	g	NED	2657	0	0	0	.	½	½	0	½	0	1	0	.	.	*	2½	2535

Corus 2010: Carlsen Ventures a Catalan Against Kramnik

Perhaps too much has been made of Kramnik's play in this game.  As I was checking in on commentary yesterday, I had the impression that the play had been one sided.  Maybe the mistake was mine.  This was actually a hard fought game, in which Carlsen had the audacity to roll out the Catalan against Kramnik.  If Kramnik is known for one opening, it's probably the Berlin for obvious reasons.  But if we were to choose the opening he should be known for, it's likely the Catalan.  So perhaps Carlsen's choice of openings in this game is about an attempt to score both a moral and a tournament victory.  In any event, Kramnik certainly displayed why he's an expert in the Catalan.  Note, though, that Carlsen's blunder at move 35 does not come in the face of imminent defeat.  After 35.Qd2, White just may be okay, although some of the defense has a computeresque feel to it.  (Who better than Carlsen for that?) 

Woeful Day at Wijk aan Zee

The Americans went down together today.  Nakamura slowly sunk on the white side of a Nimzo, Robson found himself mated in a position he may have been holding, and Akobian continued what for him must be a nightmare tournament. 

Hikaru and Magnus: Rivalry in the Making?

You should read Peter Nicholas' article in the LA Times. It raises some interesting thoughts about a developing rivalry between Hikaru and Magnus. Magnus's take on a "rivalry" was essentially that such talk is premature. (He regards his rivals as Anand, Kramnik, and Aronian--fair enough.) The difference between the two is 27 places on the official world rankings list, and that would be enough to ensure that they'll seldom face each other. One must simply be ranked in the top 10 or 15 places to get consistent invitations to super events. But note that while Nakamura is rated 28 on the official list, a quick check of the Top Live List will show him at number 18 and less than 15 Elos from the top 10. Moreover, I'll note that we should all afford Hikaru a period of acclimation. He has much less experience than Carslen on the world stage at this point. Anyone care to bet against him adapting and moving himself into the top 10?  Age wise, Nakamura is a much better-suited rival than those mentioned by Carlsen, including Aronian.  There are others on the rise besides Nakamura and Carlsen (if the World's No. 1 can be said to be rising) of course, but I find few potential rivalries out there to be more appealing.  That's all said, of course, with an American's bias, but I also think that part of the appeal is the prospect of an emerging American superstar, which would be good for chess in general.

Settlement of USCF Lawsuits

The following was posted on the USCF website this weekend:

By USCF Executive Board
January 23, 2010
The USCF announced it has agreed to a settlement with Susan Polgar and Paul Truong stemming from lawsuits filed by both parties. Polgar’s lawsuit, filed in August 2008, alleged libel, slander, defamation and other claims. USCF’s California lawsuit, adding claims against Susan Polgar in October 2008, alleged email hacking and wire fraud. The USCF also filed an Illinois lawsuit against Susan Polgar and Paul Truong to remove them as Executive Board members and end their relationship with the USCF for not acting in the best interests of the USCF.

Under the settlement agreement, all named parties except Gregory Alexander and Sam Sloan have agreed to dismiss all claims and counter-claims in the actions in Texas and California. The Illinois lawsuit will end with a judgment confirming that Susan Polgar and Paul Truong are no longer Executive Board members. The USCF’s civil case against Alexander for email hacking and wire fraud continues, and Alexander is also facing similar federal criminal charges in California.

As part of the settlement, Polgar and Truong have agreed to never contest the USCF Executive Board’s action in revoking their USCF memberships; acknowledge that they are no longer members of the USCF or members of the USCF Executive Board; agree to never seek, run for, or accept a leadership position in the USCF; and will never contest the Delegate’s actions that ratified the decisions of the USCF Executive Board at the August 2009 Annual Delegates Meeting.

Under the settlement, the USCF will allow Polgar and Truong to be playing, non-members of the USCF and will be listed as “Playing Non-Member Status.”

The USCF Insurer, Ansur America Insurance Company, a member of Frankenmuth Financial Group, has agreed to provide $131,000 to the USCF and $39,000 to Polgar’s attorneys.

The USCF is pleased that this matter is finally settled and that no USCF funds will go to Polgar and Truong. Additionally, the USCF receives $131,000 to agree to a settlement.



Unsurprisingly, some interested members are beside themselves because the legal actions weren't played out to the bitter end. Others are furious because the settlement wasn't achieved 6 months or a year ago. Some think that a portion of the actions should have never been undertaken, and yet still others think that some amendments to the by-laws might have averted the whole mess entirely. Mistakes were made. Money was wasted. Chess in the United States was not advanced.

At the core of this mess were some perverse and monumentally stupid postings, generally now known as the Fake Sam Sloan postings. The facts surrounding these postings are clear enough for me and can largely be found in the Mottershead Report. I am not surprised that it took hundreds of thousands of dollars to resolve the trouble these posts caused. But we cannot do this again.

The preventative solutions are likely complex, and some of these solutions will reveal themselves through comprehensive and thoughtful post mortems. The simplest answer, though, will reside in answering the question of how do we get good and talented people, who will put the game first, to serve.

One more thing. To our officers and staff, who were undoubtedly impacted plenty by all of this, and to those on the EB: Thanks for seeing this through.

Corus 2010: Kramnik-Carlsen Race Emerging

Will Carlsen and Kramnik battle over the final few rounds to determine the winner of Corus 2010? Obviously it's too early to say since there are five rounds remaining, Shirov still leads the tournament, and over half the field is sitting on a plus score. Nor should Nakamura be written off following one bad day. His games of the last two days follow the crosstable.

 
TD>.

Corus A Wijk aan Zee (NED), 16-31 i 2010														cat. XIX (2719)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2723	*	½	.	0	1	.	.	.	.	1	½	1	1	1	6	2891
2.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2810	½	*	.	½	.	.	.	1	½	.	½	½	1	1	5½	2844
3.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2788	.	.	*	1	½	½	.	.	.	½	½	½	1	1	5½	2827
4.	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2708	1	½	0	*	.	.	.	½	½	.	1	.	1	½	5	2826
5.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2739	0	.	½	.	*	½	½	.	½	1	.	½	.	1	4½	2758
6.	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	g	CUB	2712	.	.	½	.	½	*	½	.	½	½	.	1	½	½	4½	2752
7.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2720	.	.	.	.	½	½	*	.	½	½	1	½	½	½	4½	2739
8.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2749	.	0	.	½	.	.	.	*	½	½	½	½	1	1	4½	2747
9.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2790	.	½	.	½	½	½	½	½	*	½	½	.	.	.	4	2726
10.	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2675	0	.	½	.	0	½	½	½	½	*	.	1	.	.	3½	2692
11.	Short, Nigel D	g	ENG	2696	½	½	½	0	.	.	0	½	½	.	*	.	0	.	2½	2600
12.	Tiviakov, Sergei	g	NED	2662	0	½	½	.	½	0	½	½	.	0	.	*	.	.	2½	2598
13.	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2641	0	0	0	0	.	½	½	0	.	.	1	.	*	2	2545
14.	Smeets, Jan	g	NED	2657	0	0	0	½	0	½	½	0	.	.	.	.	.	*	1½	2492

Corus 2010: Robson With 5 1/2 of 6

Robson's opponent makes a mistake and is punished immediately.

Corus C Wijk aan Zee (NED), 16-31 i 2010														cat. IX (2455)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Robson, Ray	g	USA	2570	*	.	.	?	1	.	1	1	.	.	1	½	.	1	5½	2789
2.	Li Chao2	g	CHN	2604	.	*	.	½	.	½	.	.	1	?	1	.	1	1	5	2676
3.	Gupta, Abhijeet	g	IND	2577	.	.	*	1	½	.	½	1	.	.	½	½	?	.	4	2541
4.	Vocaturo, Daniele	g	ITA	2495	?	½	0	*	.	1	.	.	0	1	.	.	1	.	3½	2553
5.	Swinkels, Robin	m	NED	2495	0	.	½	.	*	.	½	½	.	.	?	1	.	1	3½	2500
6.	Van Kampen, Robin	m	NED	2456	.	½	.	0	.	*	½	.	?	.	½	.	1	1	3½	2461
7.	Peng Zhaoqin	g	NED	2402	0	.	½	.	½	½	*	.	1	½	.	?	.	.	3	2526
8.	Kuipers, Stefan	f	NED	2340	0	.	0	.	½	.	.	*	½	1	.	1	.	?	3	2525
9.	Lie, Kjetil A	g	NOR	2547	.	0	.	1	.	?	0	½	*	.	1	.	½	.	3	2407
10.	Grandelius, Nils	m	SWE	2515	.	?	.	0	.	.	½	0	.	*	0	1	1	.	2½	2323
11.	Bok, Benjamin	f	NED	2322	0	0	½	.	?	½	.	.	0	1	*	.	.	.	2	2419
12.	Muzychuk, Mariya	m	UKR	2447	½	.	½	.	0	.	?	0	.	0	.	*	.	1	2	2345
13.	Plukkel, Sjoerd		NED	2279	.	0	?	0	.	0	.	.	½	0	.	.	*	½	1	2217
14.	Soumya, Swaminathan	wg	IND	2323	0	0	.	.	0	0	.	?	.	.	.	0	½	*	½	2074

Corus 2010, Group C: Robson Scores With Blumenfeld

Ray Robson manages well in a complex battle, although he can't be said to have commanded the game from start to finish. 

Corus 2010: Nakamura 1/2 - Carlsen 1/2

This is an amazingly high quality game where neither player appears to have ever lost control of the game despite its complexity.

Corus 2010: Robson 1, Nakamura 1/2, Akobian 0

Robson is now leading Corus C solo after another win.  A promotion to Corus B next year would be a big deal.  Keep playing well. 

Nakamura seemed to me to take Carlsen to the edge today before drawing.  I was only able to occasionally glance at the game, but I will post both Nakamura's and Robson's games this evening. 

Almost unbelievably, Shirov won his fifth in a row.  Needless to say, the end is nigh for this streak as he's enjoyed a favorable early tournament draw, but the real question is: can he hang on to win Corus A?  I'm predicting not.  Kramnik won today. 

Corus 2010: Ray Robson--Sveshnikov Novosibirsk

Robson won today for the 3rd time in 4 games and co-leads Group C. Shirov continued his tear, winning his fourth game.  Carlsen was on the verge of beating Short, but let him escape, and Nakamura drew Anand. 

Corus C Wijk aan Zee (NED), 16-31 i 2010														cat. IX (2455)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Robson, Ray	g	USA	2570	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	1	.	.	½	.	1	3½	2737
2.	Li Chao2	g	CHN	2604	.	*	.	½	.	.	.	.	.	1	.	.	1	1	3½	2690
3.	Lie, Kjetil A	g	NOR	2547	.	.	*	1	0	.	.	.	½	1	.	.	.	.	2½	2484
4.	Vocaturo, Daniele	g	ITA	2495	.	½	0	*	.	.	1	.	.	.	.	.	1	.	2½	2566
5.	Peng Zhaoqin	g	NED	2402	.	.	1	.	*	?	½	.	.	.	½	.	.	.	2	2631
6.	Gupta, Abhijeet	g	IND	2577	.	.	.	.	?	*	.	½	1	.	.	½	.	.	2	2552
7.	Van Kampen, Robin	m	NED	2456	.	.	.	0	½	.	*	.	.	½	.	.	1	.	2	2374
8.	Swinkels, Robin	m	NED	2495	0	.	.	.	.	½	.	*	.	.	.	?	.	1	1½	2490
9.	Kuipers, Stefan	f	NED	2340	0	.	½	.	.	0	.	.	*	.	1	.	.	.	1½	2465
10.	Bok, Benjamin	f	NED	2322	.	0	0	.	.	.	½	.	.	*	1	.	.	.	1½	2443
11.	Grandelius, Nils	m	SWE	2515	.	.	.	.	½	.	.	.	0	0	*	1	.	.	1½	2290
12.	Muzychuk, Mariya	m	UKR	2447	½	.	.	.	.	½	.	?	.	.	0	*	.	.	1	2429
13.	Plukkel, Sjoerd		NED	2279	.	0	.	0	.	.	0	.	.	.	.	.	*	½	½	2147
14.	Soumya, Swaminathan	wg	IND	2323	0	0	.	.	.	.	.	0	.	.	.	.	½	*	½	2165

Corus 2010, Group A: Nakamura Looking Strong But All Chase Shirov

The field at Corus A has developed some separation after 3 rounds. Shirov has the hot hand at 3-0, but it's best that he score now, because the competition is going to stiffen quickly. Nakamura and Carlsen are a half point back and Ivanchuk is a full point back. Nakamura is picking up where he left off at the World Team Championship, playing along at a 2900+ performance clip.

Akobian has a loss and two draws in Group B and Robson is tied for the lead in Group C with 2 1/2 after giving up a draw today.

The crosstables and games can be found here at TWIC.

Corus A Wijk aan Zee														cat. XIX (2719)
					1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	0	1	2	3	4
1.	Shirov, Alexei	g	ESP	2723	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	1	1	.	.	.	3
2.	Carlsen, Magnus	g	NOR	2810	.	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	.	.	1	1	.	2½	2926
3.	Nakamura, Hikaru	g	USA	2708	.	.	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	1	½	1	2½	2937
4.	Ivanchuk, Vassily	g	UKR	2749	.	.	.	*	.	.	.	.	½	½	.	.	1	.	2	2789
5.	Dominguez Perez, Leinier	g	CUB	2712	.	.	.	.	*	½	½	½	.	.	.	.	.	.	1½	2766
6.	Karjakin, Sergey	g	UKR	2720	.	.	.	.	½	*	½	.	.	.	½	.	.	.	1½	2747
7.	Anand, Viswanathan	g	IND	2790	.	.	.	.	½	½	*	.	.	.	.	.	.	½	1½	2709
8.	Kramnik, Vladimir	g	RUS	2788	.	.	.	.	½	.	.	*	.	½	½	.	.	.	1½	2708
9.	Tiviakov, Sergei	g	NED	2662	0	½	.	½	.	.	.	.	*	.	.	.	.	.	1	2635
10.	Caruana, Fabiano	g	ITA	2675	0	.	.	½	.	.	.	½	.	*	.	.	.	.	1	2628
11.	Leko, Peter	g	HUN	2739	0	.	.	.	.	½	.	½	.	.	*	.	.	.	1	2618
12.	Van Wely, Loek	g	NED	2641	.	0	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	.	1	1	2613
13.	Smeets, Jan	g	NED	2657	.	0	½	0	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	.	*	.	½	2482
14.	Short, Nigel D	g	ENG	2696	.	.	0	.	.	.	½	.	.	.	.	0	.	*	½	2440

Polish Championship: Bartel Wins

Radoslaw Wojtaszek did what he had to do in beating Casper Thunderbird, but Mateusz Bartel controlled his own fate.  He won also to clinch the Polish Championship. 

Corus 2010, Group C: Robson Wins A Wild One

Robson has vaulted into first in the Corus C Group, opening with two wins. If you can only see one thing in this game, look at 50.Ng8.

Corus 2010: Carlsen Beats Smeets In Botvinnik Variation of Semi-Slav

Few openings are more imbalanced than the Botvinnik variation of the Semi-Slav. Smeets' willingness to go there with Carlsen bespeaks his fearlessness or foolishness. Whichever, it didn't pay off today.

Corus 2010, Group A: Nakamura Prevails in Najdorf

In the second round, three games are still underway in the A Group, but Nakamura and Carlsen have already come through with the full point. Carlsen played Smeets and won off the white side of the Botvinnik variation of the Semi-Slav, so as you might expect there's much to see there. But first, Nakamura beats van Wely in a Najdorf when the latter chooses 7... Nbd7 over 7...Be7 or 7... Qb6.

Polish Championship: Casper Thunderbird

As Corus is just kicking off, I thought I'd pay a little attention to the Polish Championship, which is winding up. I went to TWIC today to download the games, and then to the official site to check in on the crosstable. I discovered that Mateusz Bartel (2614) has played a great tournament and controls his fate tomorrow. He leads alone by a half point. Only one player can surpass him should he falter, and that's Radoslaw Wojtaszek (2639). Wojtaszek needs to beat...Casper Thunderbird. Yep, right, Casper Thunderbird. Now I'd just downloaded the games, and I think I'd have noticed if there was a Casper Thunderbird among the participants. There wasn't. So I looked for a missing name as between the game scores and the crosstable. There was someone missing: K. Piorun was listed in the games, but he didn't appear on the crosstable. Piorun? Thunderbird? "Piorun kulisty" is Polish and apparently refers to a meterological phenomenon that appears as a "fireball" in the atmosphere, or sometimes it's translated as a "thunderball." Thunderbird? That's as close as I could come to solving the discrepancy. Whatever the name, and Casper Thunderbird is a great one, he's played some good chess in the championship. Below he takes down R. Kempinski (2617) in a Kere's Attack despite being outplayed in the opening after a questionable novelty at move 15.