TopNotch wrote on 10/06/06 at 00:15:53:


I know that responding to this makes me sound self-important, but it's necessary anyway.

Your remark is nonsense, of course.  I have no personal dislike for John Cox.  How could I?  I barely know him.   I've said that in my view, some of his recent remarks go a bit too far, but I've done my best, I hope, to characterize his remarks and not him personally.

Starting Out: Alekhine's Defence was a useful and interesting book, why wouldn't this one be?  Even if I thought of him as some here do of Topalov, I would still buy his book.

I guess this means that neither woofwoof nor Markovich will be purchasing a copy of 'd pawn deviations' anytime soon, or maybe its already too late. 

Tops

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Here here !!

Topertz

RE: "May I suggest that the "toilet" thread is the appropriate place for such remarks as this?"

You certainly may suggest it, but since the post was about the Kramnik-Topalov match (and from the official match site as well)  I don't see why it would be out of place in a Kramnik-Topalov match thread.


RE: "I thought this thread was now supposed to be for game and match commentary"

This match involves quite a lot thanks to Danailov and its obviously affected both players.  The behavior of the players is very much a part of a match.  Why shouldn't we discuss this?   Its not like we're discussing flavors of ice cream; we are commenting on the match.  Why do you think that you alone get to decide what counts as 'match commentary'? 


RE: "Ah, to see some amateur's chess understanding denigrated by an IM on a public message board!  It just makes me want to come back here again and again."

Again...why do you think you get to decide how people write?  As you said, it is a public message board, not your personal space.
Woofwoof talks about 'Drawnik' and yet seems to criticizes Kramnik for losing when he was pressing for a win. This has irritated John (and myself) and so he responds.  I, personally, would have said that its apparently perfectly fine for Topalov to draw all his games in the second half of San Luis because he had an insurmountable lead, but its cowardice for Kramnik.  But if John wants to say that it makes him look foolish, then why can't he say so?  Why does John's commenting on another poster have anything to do with you?
   
Does that "management team" mean that he isn't entitled to his opinions anymore?  You suddenly get to control what he writes because of that?  Really?

As an aside: You started ranting about ChessPublishing putting an "Americans not wanted"  screen up or something like that. And while I agree with you that John is probably wrong in his assessment, its certainly open to discussion.  Maybe Americans are more prone to this stuff?  I really couldn't tell you because I don't have hard evidence either way. Who knows?  Who really cares?

But people call him arrogant and he calls some people fools. 
That sounds exactly like a public message board to me!

I don't think any of this is some bizarre "anti-American" policy at all (and yes, I am an American) and I cannot imagine you believe it is either.  Your response was way over-the-top.
Frankly, your over-sensitivity and need to control would only serve as fuel for anti-Americanism.  Just relax.
I really think you've gone a bit loopy lately; you're normally not like that.      

IMJohnCox has a lot of great comments and has been quite good about responding to questions about his books and what not.  But besides being an IM, he's also a person who has opinions.   If you think he has to live in a little box because you don't like him expressing himself, then you're delusional. It is a public forum.  If all this really bothers you so much that you don't want to read the boards...well, don't read them.   

I think you're getting a little too upset about this stuff.

woofwoof, with respect, you're a fool. Kramnik lost today's game by overpressing, and if he played solid openings with his three consecutive blacks and his 2-0 lead, so what? All this 'Drawnik' stuff on your part tells us is that you know nothing about the game.

OstapBender wrote on 10/05/06 at 15:54:18:


Laugh, we might as well erase half the previous world champions from the record books right now!  Fischer, Alekhine and Kasparov would have to be disqualified. Fischer for obvious reasons, kasparov for breaking the chess world in half and Alekhine for his flat refusal to play Capa and his (probably coerced) anti-semitic remarks. 

The chess world is chock full of outrageous behavior, addictions, etc. I loved today's game. I have been rooting for Kramnik, but I'm happy to see an interesting game with great ideas and excellent technique regardless of who wins. Let's just enjoy the chess, what do you say?

SL

RE: "I don't think Kramnik has been playing all that well"

That's odd...I remember Kramnik being +1 when you consider the games actually played and has a better elo performance thus far.  I also remember he just drew 3 black in a row with the #1 player in the world.  That seems like pretty good chess to me.


RE: "I was prepared to believe that Kramnik was the better match player, but now I have my doubts."

As I just mentioned Kramnik is still +1 over the board.  Also, Kramnik didn't use any ridiculous match tactics.   So, he has the better results OTB and hasn't acted like a child.  I fail to see why those two things wouldn't indicate Kramnik as both the better player (elo)  and the better man. 


RE: "Am I right that Topalov is White next?  That will be tough on Mr. K."

Yes, you are absolutely right .  Unlike Topalov, Kramnik will not have a string of 3 whites in a row.  And yes, it will be tough, of course, but considering Topalov has been unable to win as white thus far and Kramnik will not be pushing for the full point as black...I forsee a fairly safe, solid draw.


RE: "If Kramnik wins the next decisive game, I will be very impressed."

Well, then pay attention to game 12 and be prepared to be impressed. 

As someone mentioned eariler, Kramnik won the last game of his match against Leko when he needed a win against one of the best defensive players in the world (in fact, Kramnik said that he thought Leko was clearly the best defender in chess; although I suppose Kramnik cannot play Kramnik).

Topalov is a master of attack and maybe the best player in the world with a strong initiative...but he has never been considered a top defender (although he is certainly very good at all aspects of the game).  But considering how little he's gotten with his whites and with Kramnik playing for the win in the last game it should be very exciting.  At least no one can say this match hasn't been interesting!

Klick wrote on 10/05/06 at 16:11:32:

OstapBender wrote on 10/05/06 at 16:12:19:


I'm sorry, but it seems that I don't have to go to the toilet-thread to see offtopic remarks about Topalov and how terribly sad for world chess it is that he won a game, do I?  I thought this thread was now supposed to be for game and match commentary.  So it would seem fair to ask castlerock, OstapBender, IMJohnCox and others who want to wring their hands over what a nasty boy Topalov is to do it in the toilet thread, not here.   

Or perhaps there should be a "How Veselin Topalov ruined my life" thread.