World Cup - 2023

[Aris Marghetis]

Magnus endgame play - a joy to watch - forcing the defending rook away from the passed pawn and then combining threats of queening the pawn and Rxg7+.

I don't know where it's posted already: as Magnus won, there was a crowd in the hotel lobby chanting his name, it was quite cool, the man really is an incredibly popular player worldwide!

[Hans Jung]

Erigaisis play in the endgame was also entertaining - watching one of the hardest endgames to win - rook and pawns.

[Hans Jung]

Magnus endgame play - a joy to watch - forcing the defending rook away from the passed pawn and then combining threats of queening the pawn and Rxg7+.

[Hans Jung]

Humpy Koneru responded with a must win in the best fashion. She played the Scorpion! (championed by the great Russian speed player Chepukaitis many years before - a real pioneer and chess treasure! - who is getting more recognition for his brilliant ideas and play) and won in true Chepukaitis fashion, ending up with two knights and a queen and checkmating in style!

[Hans Jung]

Lots of draws in the other games so there will be plenty of tie breaking excitement in round 4.

[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.

[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]

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

[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]

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?

[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]

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.

[John Brown]

It has been very exciting so far.

[Hans Jung]

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

[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!