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Poll closed Question: Who will win the Candidates' Tournament, 2014?
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Vishy Anand    
  9 (6.7%)
Dmitry Andreikin    
  0 (0.0%)
Levon Aronian    
  52 (38.5%)
Sergey Karjakin    
  5 (3.7%)
Vladimir Kramnik    
  51 (37.8%)
Shakhriyar Mamedyarov    
  2 (1.5%)
Peter Svidler    
  7 (5.2%)
Veselin Topalov    
  9 (6.7%)




Total votes: 135
« Created by: Smyslov_Fan on: 03/03/14 at 03:18:21 »
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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament! (Read 103522 times)
MartinC
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #219 - 03/30/14 at 13:00:33
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Definitely worth remembering Botvinnik. He was 50 when we won the rematch with Tal. Quite comfortably too really.

Tal did of course have a rather more one sided style than Carlsen Smiley 

Still, if nothing else, rematches shortly after the first match must be utterly horrible things to mentally deal with for the new champion. Maybe it'll be a bit easier now they're much shorter so a bit less effort invested.
  
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bragesjo
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #218 - 03/30/14 at 12:05:40
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Congratulations for Anands victory, I could actaully become an interesting rematch.
Maybee Anand does an Alekhine or a Botvinnik.

At tip for Anand, try 4 Nc3 vs Berlin or play 1 d4 Smiley
  
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Pale Horse, Pale Rider
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #217 - 03/30/14 at 11:05:15
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Congrats to Anand and his team for tournament win. Being unbeaten in this field is quite an achievement. Weather Anand stands a chance against Carlsen or not we'll see later this year. It is a fact though that no one in this candidates came even close to endanger Anand...
  
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battleangel
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #216 - 03/30/14 at 10:47:44
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Say what you want. Anand deserves his shot, he won the tournament. You also have to be able put up all you got when it really counts the most. Anand won his shot fair and square, end of story
  
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gewgaw
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #215 - 03/30/14 at 10:11:24
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TopNotch wrote on 03/29/14 at 18:47:11:
gewgaw wrote on 03/29/14 at 17:45:13:
Of course, biased indians will disagree, but for chess a match like Carlsen - Kramnik/Aronian would be more interesting.


Tired of these illogical sentiments. Anand completely demolished Kramnik in their WC match, not to mention Kramnik showed his vunerabilities here in the candidates as well against other players; i.e prone to inexplicable collapse.

Aronian, a very strong player indeed, not sure what the score is between him and Magnus, but his current Opening Repertoire to my mind will not trouble Magnus in the least. And without at least the threat of being able to apply pressure in the Opening with either White or Black, I am not optimistic about Aronian's chances. Also, and I have not checked this fully, so I am speaking under correction, but I don't think Aronian's match play has been very convincing to date.    

Strange as it may seem to you, but of all the players in this field, the one that will probaly give the most interesting match to Carlsen actually won the tournament. As for being better for chess, what is more intriguing than a well earned re-match. 

It's not about deserving a shot, it's about earning a shot. Nakamura deserves a shot, Carauana deserves a shot, Ding Liren will probably eventually deserve a shot, etc, but ultimately there can be only one challenger. Gracefully accept it, live with it and stop moaning about it, and no, I am not Indian.

Topper


A very arrogant and insulting statement, but I can "live with it" and "gracefully accept it."

Was Kramnik the official challenger against Kasparov in 2000? 
No, but everybody knew, probably except of @topnotch, who would insist, that Shirov, who never won a single long game against Kasparov,  deserved the match, that Kramnik is the only player, who can pose problems.
Today, the situation is similar, Kramnik isn't qualified for the match, but in the past, he was one of the very few players, who could put Carlsen with both colours under pressure, so Kramnik v Carlsen would be a real match with unclear result.

Aronian is the clear nr. 2 in the world, so a match Aronian - Carlsen would be desireable, but there is another thing: Aronian played against Carlsen since his youth and witnessed his development. They know each other very well, so a match would be close.

Anand is obviously the winner of this candidate. 
Was it expected? 
Well, actually no one bet on Anand, except of biased indians, @topnotch and all smart alecs, who always can be found on the winner side.
Has he a chance against Carlsen?
Last year, Anand's age was mentioned as a disadvantage in a match - are there any good news for Anand in this case? I guess, the rematch will be even more onesided than the first match. Carlsen got more experience, Anand is just one year older. At the beginning some draws, then Carlsen will win a couple of games and secure it with draws. A match, everyone will forget soon, due to its onesidedness.
  

The older, the better - over 2200 and still rising.
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ANDREW BRETT
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #214 - 03/30/14 at 08:37:10
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Didn't expect Vishy to be so competitive - only in Rd 13 was he in some kind of trouble and that is why he won !  That said, surprised Aronian/Topalov didn't play the Berlin as I doubt if Vishy had anything too good against it - see the Karjakin game.

Aronian - who I tipped to win seems to feel the pressure of these candidates tournaments- can't but help that he played too much before hand.

Kramnik- pretty good with white . Seemed unready for non mainstream 1d4/c4 ideas. Wasn't in form that Karajakin game was terrible !

Svidler- just isn't consistent enough - has the talent to win but just doesn't deliver all the time.

Mame/Andreikin - both have impressed me - Mame almost was in contention and Andreikin proved he deserved to be there and wasn't out of his depth.

Tops - well he wasn't at his best - v. good crush of Kram with white. 

Karjakin - nothing out of the ordinary- still kudos for his anti-Kramnik 3Bf4. Still can't believe what Kram played there given that Kamsky plays it and might be within his prep !

Anand will surely go 1d4 next match . I think his problems with Magnus are more to do with the fact that Carlsen's middlegame/endgame is stronger. Expect Carlsen will simply aim to get a game of chess rather than a theoretical clash. Still expect him (MC) to win comfortably but perhaps not by +3
  
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #213 - 03/30/14 at 03:08:59
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TopNotch wrote on 03/29/14 at 15:10:07:
And there you have it, Anand won, just as I anticipated. Please allow me to take this opportunity to remind all the naysayers, of my post just prior to the start of the Candidates final.

TopNotch wrote on 03/04/14 at 00:55:26:
It wouldn't surprise me at all if Anand wins, and I suspect Topalov will be a very dangerous dark horse. Honestly, I don't see any of these guys currently beating Carlsen in a match.

I predict in the not too distant future, that Nakamura will emerge as the man to seriously challenge Carlsen, it just seems inevitable to me, and what's more I think Carlsen can feel it too.

Tops Smiley



Well, saying that you wouldn't be surprised that he won is a bit different than anticipating his victory, but I'll grant you your moment in the sun.  I also agree with your later comments and hope that the return match is more competitive.  It's hard for me to shake the feeling that Carlsen just flat-out outclasses Anand though, and I don't expect the final result to be much different (perhaps an extra point for Anand at the end).   

We'll see!  Contrary to my previous comments, I'm kind of glad to see a rematch now.  When a champion from the younger generation eventually emerges, I hope that it's from a full field of competition where Nakamura, Caruana, etc are playing.
  
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #212 - 03/29/14 at 20:24:24
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Delighted Anand won, and well done to TopNotch for tipping him.

I agree the next match against Carlsen may be a much closer affair. 

Well done to Anand, absolutely brilliant!!!
  
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #211 - 03/29/14 at 18:47:11
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gewgaw wrote on 03/29/14 at 17:45:13:
Of course, biased indians will disagree, but for chess a match like Carlsen - Kramnik/Aronian would be more interesting.


Tired of these illogical sentiments. Anand completely demolished Kramnik in their WC match, not to mention Kramnik showed his vunerabilities here in the candidates as well against other players; i.e prone to inexplicable collapse.

Aronian, a very strong player indeed, not sure what the score is between him and Magnus, but his current Opening Repertoire to my mind will not trouble Magnus in the least. And without at least the threat of being able to apply pressure in the Opening with either White or Black, I am not optimistic about Aronian's chances. Also, and I have not checked this fully, so I am speaking under correction, but I don't think Aronian's match play has been very convincing to date.    

Strange as it may seem to you, but of all the players in this field, the one that will probaly give the most interesting match to Carlsen actually won the tournament. As for being better for chess, what is more intriguing than a well earned re-match. 

It's not about deserving a shot, it's about earning a shot. Nakamura deserves a shot, Carauana deserves a shot, Ding Liren will probably eventually deserve a shot, etc, but ultimately there can be only one challenger. Gracefully accept it, live with it and stop moaning about it, and no, I am not Indian.

Topper
  

The man who tries to do something and fails is infinitely better than he who tries to do nothing and succeeds - Lloyd Jones Smiley
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #210 - 03/29/14 at 18:28:39
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gewgaw wrote on 03/29/14 at 17:45:13:
Of course, biased indians will disagree, but for chess a match like Carlsen - Kramnik/Aronian would be more interesting.


I agree Aronian deserves a shot. Not sure Kramnik, nice guy that he is, should get another go?!
  
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #209 - 03/29/14 at 18:25:39
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TopNotch wrote on 03/29/14 at 18:07:38:
his long time second Peter Heine Neilsen now works for Magnus, and that could prove an added psychological burden for him to overcome.


This is a total non issue. Peter is a really nice guy. He still chats with me on Skype Smiley
  
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #208 - 03/29/14 at 18:07:38
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The reason why I think this rematch will be more competitive, is largely due to the interviews Anand gave after he lost the WC to Carlsen. He has finally fully appreciated that Carlsen is a completely different kind of player to those he had faced in the past, and thus his prematch strategy was completely off the mark, of course this realisation came too late to do anything much about it during the Match.

I am curious to see what adjustments Anand will make this time around. For sure he needs to press for the win when he has the initiative, and take his chances even in unclear positions, he is too ready to agree draws in positions with promising play. In this candidates final for example, he has shown the same tendencies that engineered his downfall against Magnus, i.e. a lack of killer instinct, and an always risk averse minimalist attitude. Take his second game with Andreikin where he agreed a draw in a winning position, mostly because it was expedient to do so, he cannot afford  such luxuries against Magnus.

Surely Anand has gained some valuable insights from his previous match with Magnus, but one thing that could spell further trouble for him, is that his long time second Peter Heine Neilsen now works for Magnus, and that could prove an added psychological burden for him to overcome. Nevertheless, I don't think it's completely hopeless for Anand, after all, no one gave Alekhine a chance against Capablanca in their World Championship Match and look what happened there.

Overall, Anand's performance in the Candidates suggests he's hungry again, has something to prove, and does not want his final legacy to be the way he lost the last World Championship Match.

Tops Smiley
  

The man who tries to do something and fails is infinitely better than he who tries to do nothing and succeeds - Lloyd Jones Smiley
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #207 - 03/29/14 at 17:45:13
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Of course, biased indians will disagree, but for chess a match like Carlsen - Kramnik/Aronian would be more interesting.
  

The older, the better - over 2200 and still rising.
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #206 - 03/29/14 at 16:07:21
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ErictheRed wrote on 03/29/14 at 15:39:55:
I for one am not very surprised at Anand's victory, as these were largely the players that Anand held his World Champion title over.  On the other hand, I will be surprised if the World Championship match is any more competitive this time around; we'll see.

I'm too weak to really judge, but it seems to me that Anand has a good skillset for beating the "old" style of players.  But when facing Carlsen he just looked outclassed and was only able to get "his" kind of game once or twice.  But maybe Anand's experience from last year and the fact that he probably won't feel any pressure to win this time around will make the match more competitive, we'll see.

Great chess by Anand this tournament!


19 years since he 1st got to the final he now attempts to be world champion for the 6th time. I am proud to have been part of his team since his defence v Topalov.  I spoke to Vishy a few minutes ago - he seems happy Smiley
  
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Re: Who will win this year's Candidates' Tournament!
Reply #205 - 03/29/14 at 15:39:55
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I for one am not very surprised at Anand's victory, as these were largely the players that Anand held his World Champion title over.  On the other hand, I will be surprised if the World Championship match is any more competitive this time around; we'll see.

I'm too weak to really judge, but it seems to me that Anand has a good skillset for beating the "old" style of players.  But when facing Carlsen he just looked outclassed and was only able to get "his" kind of game once or twice.  But maybe Anand's experience from last year and the fact that he probably won't feel any pressure to win this time around will make the match more competitive, we'll see.

Great chess by Anand this tournament!
  
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