Anand-Aronian=Anand has had the white pieces against Aronian eleven times in the past three years that they have faced off. Six of those games were at standard time controls and Anand is (+0 -2 =4) so far. Betting on an Anand win, despite today's results, is going against the odds.

Carlsen-Dominguez=Carlsen has had the white pieces three times against Dominguez at standard time controls and he is (+2 -0 =1) with the most recent win being a couple weeks ago at Corus 2009.

Grischuk-Wang Yue=All three of their encounters have been with Grischuk as white and Wang Yue as black, and all of them at Grand Prix tourneys. Grischuk won the most recent game in Elista but only managed to draw the previous two.

Topalov has had white against Kamsky five times previous to this game (the most recent time being game 1). For betting purposes, Topalov opened with 1.e4 only once of the five times, at Corus during Kamsky's international comeback (it was a Scandanavian game). The remaining four times he has opened with 1.d4. However! they have played a different opening each of the four times, including a Bogo-Indian Defense (Las Palmas 1994), a Slav (Mtel 2006), a Queen's Indian (Mtel 2007), and a Grunfeld (three days ago). Topalov owned Kamsky in 2006 with the white pieces, but that was during a Topalov high point and Kamsky's uneven comeback. Otherwise, the best he can do is draw Kamsky.

The average number of moves with Topalov as white and Kamsky as black is 35 moves (rounded down). Their shortest game was the 25 move Scandanavian win at Corus 2006 for Topalov, and their longest game was the 43 move Queen's Indian draw at Mtel 2007. 3 games went under 40, 2 games went over.

Radjabov-Grischuk=While these two have faced each other 19 times in 7 years, only five of their encounters were at standard time controls. The one of those instance where Radjabov had the white pieces (in Sochi 2008) it was drawn. Grischuk does have the edge with (+2 -0 =3) against Radjabov (though those two wins were when he had the white pieces).

Carlsen-Ivanchuk=With the white pieces, Carlsen is (+2 -1 =1) against Ivanchuk at standard time controls. Their most recent game at these positions was at the Bilbao GS Final, where Ivanchuk scored his first win. With Ivanchuk, you're better off betting against the opposite of reverse wisdom here. Or vice versa.

Anand-Wang Yue=This is their first time playing against each other!

<suenteus po 147: ... Wish Ivanchuck, you're better off betting against the opposite of reverse wisdom here. Or vice versa.>

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Dominguez-Radjabov=They have only faced each other four times at standard time controls. Dominguez only had the white pieces once in those four chances, but when he did he won, which makes his current lifetime score against Radjabov as (+1 -1 =2).

Wang Yue-Aronian=Wang Yue has had the white pieces against Aronian twice before, both last year (Sochi & Dresden), and both drawn. His lifetime score against Aronian is (+0 -0 =3).

Ivanchuk-Anand=These two have faced each other 109 times. Ivanchuk has had the white pieces 50 of those times. Many of these, of course, have been at faster time controls. Ivanchuk's most recent win with white at standard time controls was back at Linares 1994. Anand's most recent win with black was at Corus 2006. Their most recent face-off with these colors was Bilbao a few months ago, which was drawn. So that gives you some idea.

Good call - thanks <ChessBookie> :))

One thing I learned long ago -- there is nothing left to be surprised about in whatever happens in a FIDE final match or FIDE qualifying match when it comes to the ever present ~SNAFU~ of World Chess Championship contenders! ~lol~ :P 'nuff said... - Mal

PS: <technical draw: Too late!>

The 'fun' just never ends! ~lol~ Nice shot <rogge> ;)

<technical draw: New game! Bet on who is the best GM dancer. It's called the ChessBoogie game! [...] Korchnoi is at 1000 to 1...!! Get your bets in today...>

<TD> - shouldn't that read 10,000 to 1? Unless, of course, Viktor has chosen to dance a subdued Viennese game waltz with his wife. :) Perhaps the 'Guioco Piano' slow shuffle would be more to their liking... ;)

BTW: <ChessBookie> - do you plan to include any further bets from the - Aeroflot Open (2009) - ? The last two important rounds (#8 & #9) are in play right now. I've always admired that a well run game plan is to be fully <consistent> with one's very own rules of engagement. It <is> and always will <be> the hallmark of excellence! :)

Aeroflot: Rd 8: Pashikian vs Kurnosov

and...

Aeroflot: Rd 8: Predojevic vs Moiseenko

Thanks <ChessBookie> :))

Besides, I'm hoping the tourney leader GM Igor Kurnosov (5½/7) has another brilliancy left yet to play! :^) - Mal

Yue-Radjabov=Wang Yue has had the white pieces against Radjabov three times and they are (+1 -1 =1) as a result. The first game was a draw at the Baku Grand Prix, the second was a win for Wang Yue at the Sochi Grand Prix, and the third was a Radjabov win at Corus a few weeks ago. Whatever the result, chances are excellent of another (4th!) King's Indian.

Ivanchuk-Dominguez=Ivanchuk is (+2 -0 =5) with the white pieces against Dominguez at standard time controls. The two wins, however, were way back at the 2004 Olympiad in Turin and the 2005 Capablanca Memorial. Since then Ivanchuk hasn't managed better than a draw, though it's not from a lack of trying if their game from Aerosvit 2007 is any indication.

Grischuk-Aronian=Only one previous game with these players at these colors using standard time controls: Grischuk vs Aronian, 2007 When Aronian has the white pieces, however, he pretty much owns Grischuk. But that's for another round...

Radjabov-Carlsen=With the white pieces at standard time controls Radjabov has a respectable (+2 -1 =4) against Carlsen. Carlsen's sole win with the black pieces came through a Dragon played in this game Radjabov vs Carlsen, 2008 at Baku.

Anand-Grischuk=Anand has only had the white pieces against Grischuk in two games at standard time control: this short draw at Corus 2003, Anand vs Grischuk, 2003 and this long win at WC Tourney in 2007, Anand vs Grischuk, 2003 It's also good to note that Grischuk has never won a game against the world champion (black or white) at standard time controls.

Aronian-Ivanchuk=With the white pieces against Ivanchuk, Aronian is (+4 -3 =5) in games at standard time controls. Pretty much any result is likely, though it's worth knowing that 3 of the 5 draws listed are from the last three Linares where they faced each other with these colors. However, the two most recent decisive results came from Aronian wins, <after> Ivanchuk's streak at Mtel (his only win last year with the black pieces against Aronian).