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The first round of the strongest tournament in history began with a bang. Actually, many bangs. Two hours into the 2014 Sinquefield Cup, a thunderstorm roared through, and a lightning bolt struck close enough to knock out seven of the televisions inside the Chess Club and Scholastic Center of Saint Louis.
"It was definitely quite loud," said GM Hikaru Nakamura. He was able to keep his concentration thanks to his hometown experience -- in his 2011 match with GM Ruslan Ponomariov, also in St. Louis, a tornado came through town, sending the players to the basement.
Quite an interesting game between Carlsen and MVL! I was trying to watch the live coverage with Shahade and Yasser S. but the internet streaming got mangled and never seemed to recover (at least I lost interest in Rogers-style pixellation...) The short commentary segments I did see were very good (including some remarks from Maurice Ashley) so that was rather disappointing. Many live commentators on the message board were ripping them for not asking Norway to organize the live feed...
Although there are still 6 rounds to go, essentially the only battle now is for 2nd place. Caruana's perfect 4/4 leaves him 2 full points ahead of Vachier-Lagrave, and 2.5 points ahead of the rest of the field (all at minus one).
Caruana's magnificent win today against Aronian knocked Levon below 2800. And Caruana's current live rating of 2820.8 is the 4th highest ever, behind only Carlsen (2889.2), Kasparov (2856.7), and Aronian (2835.5).
Last edited by Jack Maguire; Sunday, 31st August, 2014, 08:58 AM.
As reported by ChessVibes, Maurice Ashley amusingly referred to Carlsen as Magnus Caruana (:
The buzz in St. Louis is all about Caruana -- so much so that GM Maurice Ashley slipped while ending his post-game interview with GM Magnus Carlsen. Ashley's accidental portmanteau was nonetheless telling: "We were here with World Champion Magnus Caruana."
Carlsen's reponse? "That's high praise."
To which Anish Giri tweeted:
Anish Giri @anishgiri
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Going to sleep now. Afraid tomorrow I will wake up in a world where Magnus Carlsen will be called Fabiano Caruana. #FabiForThePresident
6:32 PM - 30 Aug 2014
Nakamura likely has the best chance of derailing the Caruana Express today. Surprisingly, in 15 career 'classical games', Caruana has never beaten Nakamura, losing 3 times and drawing the other 12. Given I'm a great believer in empirical evidence, if someone wants to give me even money on today's match (a draw being a wash), I'll certainly back Naka (:
Nakamura likely has the best chance of derailing the Caruana Express today. Surprisingly, in 15 career 'classical games', Caruana has never beaten Nakamura, losing 3 times and drawing the other 12. Given I'm a great believer in empirical evidence, if someone wants to give me even money on today's match (a draw being a wash), I'll certainly back Naka (:
If Nakamura can't beat Caruana today Mr. Sinquefield should pass out binoculars to the runners up. Caruana is running away and hiding.
Regarding your wager offer, while I have my favourites in events where I'm not involved, I don't actually gamble money on the outcome of chess games. I don't know if the ICCF would like their IA's gambling on chess games.
Given you're on record in the Carlsen - Caruana thread, Gary,as "rooting for Nakamura", I wouldn't think we would have made natural betting partners at any rate (:
Bet?
I will lay $300 to your $100 that he doesn't.
That is, if MVL wins, I will pay you $300. Any other result, you pay me $100 - deal?
I am not interested in gambling. This is a public forum. I am interested in discussing about the games of the Sinquefield Cup and having friendly debates about chess. Not here to gamble. My day job already has a "gambling" component to it.
How sure were you that the piece sacrifice (against Aronian) was going to work out in the end?
FC: I felt it was very promising for me. It looked practically speaking that I would have good chances to win and so I went for it.
Did I detect the hint of a smile when you had the rook and three passers right before you played 45. Rf6. Did you enjoy your position?
FC: Well, at that point I was clearly winning, so..
Before the tournament you were playing blitz with the club members, you are going over and doing live commentary every day and you are 4 and 0. Do you think you are acquiring some fans this week?
FC: I’m not sure but if I am, then I am very happy about it.
Your first time playing in St. Louis, what are you doing between the rounds?
FC: To be quite honest there is not time to do anything, I am really just focusing on all my games but during the free day I may relax a bit but during the rounds there is no time to do anything but prepare.
What’s been your system? Are you preparing right when you are done or waiting until the morning..?
FC: Usually I prepare during the day and try to relax at night.
Would you say that your opponents have been playing into your preparation?
FC: So far yeah, it’s been a bit lucky for me.
What is the role of your second? (i.e. GM Vladimir Chuchelov) Has he been helping you a lot?
FC: Of course, he always helps a lot and most of the ideas that I have played I have to credit to him.
I’m assuming that this is not the last time we will see you playing in the States?
FC: I hope not.
_____________
Jan Gustafsson punned on Caruana’s first name to title his report as Fab Fourth with a photo of the Beatles with Caruana replacing Ringo Starr:
The strongest tournament ever. 4/4. What can we say about Fabiano Caruana that has not already been said about Brock Lesnar? They even look quite similar...
Maurice Ashley's Freudian slip, thanking "World Champion Magnus Caruana" at the end of his interview with Carlsen on the live show sums it up quite well. But let's not get ahead of ourselves.
_________
Various Comments from the Web:
- It's funny how just because of a bad tournament people denigrate Carlsen's title of WC and suddenly Caruana is the "true" WC in chess fans' eyes. Don't get me wrong. I wish it were true. Caruana would be such a better face of chess than the arrogant kid Carlsen is but you've got to remember that MC has won almost every tournament at the top for the last years. Last year he won the Candidates, the WC, the Sinquefield cup and this year he became triple WC, won Shamkir and Zurich. Don't disregard him because he's not playing like a machine this period.
- I remember Fabiano as a 10- or 11-year-old kid hanging out at the Marshall Chess Club in NYC. If I recall correctly, he was around 2100-2150 for a while. He was clearly talented, and he (and his dad!) were obviously serious and motivated about his chess, but NO ONE at that time could have predicted this. Good for him!
- caruana is scary good!!!
he exhibits two (2) qualities I greatly admire
• hard work (strong work ethic) particularly openings prep; and
• a tremendous "will to win" - bobby fischer's greatest and strongest asset
- According to chessbase, Caruana's currently perfomance is 3605. Incredible !!!
(Fabiano took the ice bucket challenge, which is for the ALS charity, last week, hence the remark from Nigel Short below):
Hi, I’m Fabiano Caruana - I am here in St. Louis about to play the Sinquefield Cup, the strongest tournament ever - this is my ALS ice bucket challenge - I was challenged by Anish Giri and I would like now to challenge Maurice Ashley, Yasser Seirawan and Levon Aronian (ice water dumped on his head). Lady photographer: I didn’t get that, can we do it again?
- (Nigel Short) Will I start playing like a 3000+ player if I take the ice-bucket challenge? ;)
There was a chance at a perpetual with Kf1 (48. Kf1 Rxf2+ 49. Kxf2 Rc3 50. f5 exf5 51. Qg8+ Ke7 52. Qxd5 Rd3 53. Kg2 Rd2+ 54. Kg3) but Nakamura played 48. f5 instead.
Fabiano wins!
Topalov, Veselin – Vachier-Lagrave, Maxime
B90 Sicilian, Najdorf
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