World Cup - 2023

[Hans Jung]

Still congratulations on a great performance! Irina is known as a great fighter over the board. Maili will learn a lot from this.

[Hans Jung]

Aris thank you! Envy you being there and rubbing shoulders with the greats! A respected Canadian presence!

[Aris Marghetis]

Aris thank you! Envy you being there and rubbing shoulders with the greats! A respected Canadian presence!

Thanks Hans, it has indeed been mind-blowing! The cream-of-the-crop selection of players is stunning (like there's >2600s "everywhere"!), the FIDE organizational staff are like a premier F1 team - everyone is so sharp and quick and gets things DONE, and the Azerbaijan chess hospitality has been just SUPERB! Round 3.2 is in a few hours, there were MANY Round 3 matches that drew 3.1

Feel free Hans to ask me stuff, even though with our time offset, I might only reply by the next day.

[Hans Jung]

Well I'll start with: what was your most noteworthy encounter or conversation this time round?

and is there an interesting incident you want to share.

[Hans Jung]

I notice that several of the super stars have not had it easy this time around. I recall in an early round that Wesley So had an almost impossible position to defend in an ending and I marvelled how he did it and by doing so he saved his tournament. Have you been present for any incredible "saves"?

[Aris Marghetis]

Well I'll start with: what was your most noteworthy encounter or conversation this time round?

and is there an interesting incident you want to share.

Hey Hans, as it's kinda late here (it's a late night every night lol), I'll just share a more fun incident:

This builds on top of my note in an earlier post that there's >2600s "everywhere" ---> so the other night, one of the other Arbiters receives a special delivery by taxi from his country's embassy, and it's huge packages of impossibly honey-drenched desserts! Well, first he brings them to the Arbiters' table after dinner, and we indulge, but there's just too much honey lol - so what do we do now?!

I suggest that we just put the open package on a big platter, and walk around the restaurant (buffet style hotel resto) offering it to whoever we meet. We get up, turn the FIRST pillar, and there's a couple of guys chatting. We offer, they take the whole thing, and jump right in. It's Carlsen and Howell. And that's how it is here, SUPER players everywhere, resto, gym, halls, walking outside, EVERYWHERE!

[Hans Jung]

Thanks Aris - thats the kind of "colour" we like to read.

[John Brown]

It has been very exciting so far.

[Hans Jung]

Yes very exciting. Its been exhausting trying to get through all the good games. I just cant do it anymore. I'll have to pick and choose.

[Aris Marghetis]

Yes very exciting. Its been exhausting trying to get through all the good games. I just cant do it anymore. I'll have to pick and choose.

Well, on the optimistic side, there will be less games each round?!

After a thoroughly enjoyable excursion day today, one couldn't help but notice how empty the dining room felt tonight.
In addition to less players still in it, they are also preparing furiously.

The WC veterans are warning me about this round-by-round erosion.

[Hans Jung]

Exceptional games from round 4. Sarana over So and Vidit wins against Bacrot. Wesley So's string of remarkable escapes may be coming to an end as he lost an amazing game to Sarana. Also noteworthy is Keymer's winning position against Magnus, but will he actually win it?

[Hans Jung]

Well Vincent Keymer has pulled it off beating Magnus in his own backyard - the endgame - and smoothly too. Huge congratulations! Now on to game two. Magnus will be white and almost always rebounds big time after a loss. Cant wait to see that game.

[Hans Jung]

Rd 4 Berkes tortures with the two B's. Grandelius eats all the shredded pawns - shreddies for lunch!

[Hans Jung]

Rd 4 Game 2 Caruana responded after Robson snagged a pawn with 20.Bxh6! playing for checkmate. Robson probably thought he had a successful defence by blocking with the knight on f4 but then came the rook transfer Rxa5 and Rxe5 removing the defender. A crushing knockout!
So - Sarana ended with a whimper on Wesley So's part - just a quiet draw.

[Hans Jung]

Magnus predictably responded with his A-game but Vincent Keymer is playing inspired defence. He had what looked like crippling pawn weaknesses on the queenside but handled the counterplay brilliantly. Magnus is pressing in the endgame (of course) but were interested in seeing if his continuation works out.