Final Results:

Grischuk, Ivanchuk              8/14
Carlsen                                7.5
Anand                                    7
Wang Yue, Radjabov, Aronian 6.5
Dominguez                             6

All of the last round games ended in draws - not a big surprise given that the three top placegetters all had the Black pieces in the last round.

Carlsen's weaknesses three years ago seem rather irrelevant.

Recently it seems he is testing his opponents' stamina and is eager to play long endgames. His knowledge may be slightly inferior but he  more than compensates by staying power and calculating skills.

I am a bit confused by the posts here stating Carlsen's endgame technique is his weak point. Actually it is his strongest point in my opinion.
He is just having a slightly bad tournament right now.
Though he showed what he is capable of in the endgame against Anand.

Viking wrote on 03/03/09 at 20:11:38:


I should clarify: It didn't even occur to me that Carlsen may be invited to fewer tournaments because he has  a hole in his game.  He remains one of the biggest draws in all of chess right now.   

I was thinking that his top-class opponents will test him relentlessly in positions they would normally give up as drawn.  This will tire Carlsen out more than anyone else because only he would not be given the (relatively) quick draw that is normally rewarded for reaching an even position at a high class event.

Carlsen won't necessarily learn the endgame just by being beaten in them.  He will need to study them seriously.  I hadn't thought about Carlsen not being invited to tnmts, but he may have to miss a few to study his endgames! 

BTW, the game against Wang Hue was a very complicated, messy affair.  However, it was also a (complex) endgame.  This may be the new anti-Carlsen strategy unless he can show he really does have top class endgame technique.

I hope that clarifies what I meant.

Smyslov_Fan wrote on 03/03/09 at 01:55:08:


A strange statement... 

Why should he be careful? Because he will not be invited to super tournaments any more? Due to lack of endgame skills??
I really dont think so.

Carlsen needs to be very careful now.  He may get a reputation for not being able to play any endgame after his loss today (2 Rs and pawns vs Q and pawns).

I know I could never have held that game, but Carlsen seemed to make it easier.

I was stunned by Carlsen's lack of technique - for anyone interested there's a good section on this type of ending in Speelman's endgame books.

Wang showed that the Petroff is presenting immense theoretical problems as Chukky (who knew the endgame theory that Carlsen didn't !) held the draw very comfortably

I don't know why Radjabov chose a line known to be bad v Vishy. I am surprised he didn't give 9 ne5 a go given Grischuk's demolition of Aronian.

Seth_Xoma wrote on 03/01/09 at 02:48:42:


Hello:

Seems like something someone raised in the Soviet chess culture would have mastered early in their career? I think I read that this is a strike against some American GMs too.

Gerry