Chess Scotland Noticeboard

Paul Denham · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:13 pm Post subject: Chess Life Begins at 40!!

Gelfand has just won game 6 and by my reckoning will face Anand in the World Championship Match in 2012.

A great result for Gelfand and ammunition for Stuart Blyth and Co who argue chess is not a sport Smile

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It is said that life is too short for chess but that is the fault of life, not chess

Paul Denham · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:27 pm Post subject:

30 slow games - 27 draws - 3 decisive games
90% draw ratio
Embarassed

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It is said that life is too short for chess but that is the fault of life, not chess

Paul Denham · Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 3:31 pm Post subject:

Should explain - it will be Anand (now age 41) vs Gelfand (now age 42)
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It is said that life is too short for chess but that is the fault of life, not chess

sigrun · King Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 307 Location: Europa

I'm awfully pleased that Gelfand won & in a proper game not just the blitz which would have followed (even though he officially lives in Israel).

Draws are the bread&butter of GMs & anyone who argues differently either doesn't know a lot about chess or is a chess commentator who's trying to please the crowds. Rolling Eyes

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''All murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.'' Voltaire

Paul Denham · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 7:51 am Post subject:

" I will play 40 good moves and if you do the same then it will be a draw" V. Smyslov.

Yes Sigrun, draws may be bread and butter of GM Chess and I accept in the absence of mistakes or two players too fearful to take chances (at any level) drawish or drawn positions can naturally result, but with a 90% draw ratio, the GMs may find their bread and butter being rationed. Anyone who argues differently doesn't know a lot about attracting sponsorship.

Also competitive chess which is entertaining and decisive is about players making mistakes .... Sofia rules created more opportunities for this and was I believe more entertaining for those watching the matches.

A number of years ago Austria played Germany in the world cup and manufactured a draw as it allowed both teams to progress. It was awful for the spectators to watch.

The trick for top level organisers/FIDE is to find ways in which there are a reasonable number of entertaining games within an event with classical time controls without it being like the knock out FIDE world championship format. Perhaps the San Louis world championship in 2005 was the right format - a tournament all play all.
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It is said that life is too short for chess but that is the fault of life, not chess

Mike Scott · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Edinburgh

SteveHilton · King Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 443 Location: Greenock

Paul,
It was the the 1982 World Cup in Spain between West Germany and Austrian which the Germans won 1-0 this result allowed both teams to qualify at the expense of Algeria who had beaten the Germans 2-1 earlier in the group but lost to the Ausrians by 2-0

SteveHilton · King Joined: 24 Jul 2007 Posts: 443 Location: Greenock

Viktor Korchnoi first Full World Championship match was at the age of 46 which I think is the record No doubt I will be corrected on this Very Happy

Vassily Smyslov Played a candidates final at the age of 61

I played my first World Braille Championship at the age of 44 and my first braille olympiad at the age of 46

Chess life does begin at over 40!!

Paul Denham · Posted: Thu May 26, 2011 10:53 am Post subject:

Steve,

Good correction on the footy. Cool

My memories start with watching Preben Elkjaar score for Denmark vs Scotland in Mexico 86 and watching it on a black and white TV in the wee small hours with my dad..

Great points on Korchnoi and Smyslov too!
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It is said that life is too short for chess but that is the fault of life, not chess

sigrun · King Joined: 25 Jan 2007 Posts: 307 Location: Europa

I won my first comp aged 40 with 5/5

Let me see: We don't need to worry too much about how we play as long as we can please the sponsors & anyone watching? Did I get that right? I'm glad I'm not at the top so I can play the way I want to since nobody is going to watch me games. Surprised

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''All murderers are punished unless they kill in large numbers and to the sound of trumpets.'' Voltaire

Mike Scott · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Edinburgh

Mike Scott · King Joined: 01 Feb 2007 Posts: 676 Location: Edinburgh

I guess not.

I asked because it does seem to suggest that normally you would not be pleased to see a player that lives in Isreal do well.

Stuart Blyth · King Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 209

Mike
Why do you say that?
What possible reason could anyone have for such an attitude?

Ian McLachlan · Rook Joined: 31 Jan 2007 Posts: 63 Location: Lanark

Stuart Blyth · King Joined: 11 Sep 2008 Posts: 209

I have a very vague memory of Scotland playing Germany (West Germany, I suppose) sometime in the late '60s.

The first clear memory is the 1970 final of the World Cup, when i'd have been eight. When I remember it, I always visualise it in colour, which is not possible since we didn't have a colour telly until much later! I guess some of you must have memories of watching football that come from younger than eight - maybe depends on the extent to which your dad (or mum) was into football. Mine wasn't, even though he did the pools every week - he just picked every fifth match, if I recall correctly, and stuck to this 'system' come what may (and it was never money that came!).