Jun-08-08
 | | suenteus po 147: Good start here for Shirov, though someone posted earlier that Van Wely blundered somewhere. |
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Jun-08-08
 | | Peligroso Patzer: The endgame is certainly difficult for white, but resignation after 41. ... a5 seems premature. |
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| Jun-08-08 | | crwynn: It's a time-control resignation; White's position is more than "difficult". Black will be 3 pawns up in fairly short order, since the a pawn is perfectly safe on a4 - if White trades his knight for the bishop and pawn, the rook ending is trivial. |
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| Jun-08-08 | | dumbgai: Why does Van Wely keep getting invites to strong tournaments? When was the last time he actually won a tournament? I can understand Corus, since that's in his home country, but personally I'd rather see one of the many young GMs get a chance. Van Wely is going to be down in the 2645 range in the next rating list, well below that of many more deserving players. |
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Jun-08-08
 | | egilarne: Chessbase says that 23-Rxc1? was wrong, and that 23-Nxc1 was necessary. Chessbase also thinks that after 25.Qxc6 instead of 25-Qxc6? the move 25-Qxd3 wins directly, among other because of the threat 26-Rc8. |
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| Jun-08-08 | | messachess: Well, this looks like the Shirov of old: sharp play in the sharpest of openings. But, it's against Van Wely. Shirov still has the talent. We'll see. Nice start. |
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Jun-08-08
 | | whiteshark: <40.g5+> is hoping for <40...Kg7 41.Ne6+ Kh8 42.Rc8+ Be8 42.Rxe8#> |
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| Jun-08-08 | | popski: I really wish to see Shirov on the top of this tournament. He is the most entertainment player in the world beside Morozevich. |
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| Jun-08-08 | | shintaro go: Any alternatives for 20. c6? |
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Jun-09-08
 | | Eyal: <shintaro go: Any alternatives for 20. c6?> Position after 19...Red8:
click for larger view Black seems to be threatening here Nc6-Nd4, which would be very awkward for White in view of the placement of his pieces. For example, if White doesn't do anything immediate to counter this maneuver, Bc4 wouldn't help after Nc6 because of an exchange of bishops followed by Rd2. 20.Rd1 Nc6 21.Bc4 loses to 21...Bxc4 22.Rxc4 Qa5 23.Bc1 Nb4! (or 23.Rc3 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Nd4!); 20.Qd1 can be countered by 20...Nc4 or Bxa2. So 20.c6 was possibly aimed against an immediate Nc6, but as it turned out didn't really help in the longer run; a better alternative might have been 20.Bc1, e.g. 20...Bxc1 21.Nxc1 Nc6 22.Qe2 Nd4 23.Qe3. |
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Jun-09-08
 | | Marmot PFL: Some Dutch company must be putting up lots of money to get Van Wely into all these top level events. |
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| Jun-11-08 | | Mateo: <egilarne: Chessbase says that 23-Rxc1? was wrong, and that 23-Nxc1 was necessary. Chessbase also thinks that after 25.Qxc6 instead of 25-Qxc6? the move 25-Qxd3 wins directly, among other because of the threat 26-Rc8.> That's right. 25...Qxd3 26.Ng3 (26.Nc3? Rc8, Black wins the Knight. 26.Rc1? Qxe2.) Rc8, Black wins. |
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| Jun-12-08 | | aazqua: Trading down to a r+b versus r+n engame with pawns on both wings was suicidal for white. |
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