Will there be some sort of press conference now, any if yes, on the same stream or in a different place?
E: Conference just started so nvm this question

Was a neat game to watch I think.

Well, the first game is still in progress and it might be drawn, but seeing this game I'm going to suggest that this will be one of the easiest new title defenses in history for Magnus.

The overall score may end up +2 as most people predict, with some coasting draws for the World Champion, but I don't think Anand will have any chance to win this match.

Pale Horse, Pale Rider wrote on 11/08/14 at 16:44:34:


Anand defending like a tiger now. Finding 42.Rd4 then 43.Rb4 seemed critical. Carlsen looks a bit annoyed now on the cam, hopefully Anand will survive this and keep the match alive.

If Anand finds a way to lose this endgame it's match over as well imo. No way he'll be able to recover psychologically from it.

Speaking about commentators I think the best hosts/anchor men in modern times are Lawrence Trent and Dirk Jan Geuzendam. I think they're a cut above the rest. I also like: Ian Rogers, Susan Polgar, Simon Williams and Daniel King.

For the co-commentator whom is usually a very strong player: Peter Leko, Peter Svidler and Nigel Short would be my first choices of the SGMs whom have done commentating regularly. Peter Leko is my favourite of the three, if anyone has listened to his commentary before you will know what I'm talking about. Most recently I thought he was amazing at breaking down the thought processes of SGM's at Zurich earlier this year. He was also very good in the couple rnds he did in the Anand-Gelfand WCh match.

In terms of the best pairings I think Trent goes well with either Svidler or Short. Dirk Jan would go well with all 3.

In the future I'm hoping Vladimir Kramnik will have a go at serious commentary as well, he would be my dream pick for the strong co-commentator. Him + Dirk Jan would be like Gary Neville & Martin Tyler for football i.e. it was meant to be.

IMJohnCox wrote on 11/07/14 at 17:49:35:

Gimme entertaining drama.

I would prefer to have two commentators each acting as an "advocate commentator" for one of the two players - much like two lawyers paint the most positive interpretation for their side as prosecutor and defender.

Yeah, I'm really not sure that the recent trend for having the most photogenic female player available act as co-commentator is a step forward for society. Still, nothing new, of course.

Link to the official broadcast is up now: http://new.livestream.com/accounts/7928738/events/3553668

There seems to be something happening at 18:00 Moscow time today as the countdown reaches zero at that time. I'm assuming it will either be for the opening ceremony or first press conference with the players, hopefully both.