OT: Chess

[Elvis P]

The live Top 16

1		Carlsen	2855.4	+8.4		2842.2		2892.0			30
2	↑1	Ding Liren	2799.0	0.0		2836.0		2788.0			28
3	↓1	Caruana	2798.5	−7.5		2758.0		2734.0			29
4		Nepomniachtchi	2792.0	0.0		2798.0		2776.0			31
5		Aronian	2782.0	0.0		2761.0		2767.0			38
6	↑2	Giri	2776.6	+0.6		2712.4		2778.0			27
7		Grischuk	2774.6	−3.4		2762.6		2777.0			37
8	↓2	Mamedyarov	2772.2	−9.8		2740.4		2755.0			36
9		So	2772.0	0.0		2774.0		2861.0			27
10		Radjabov	2763.0	0.0		2747.0		2705.0			34
11		Rapport	2763.0	0.0		2724.0		2776.0			25
12	↑2	Karjakin	2758.2	+1.2		2757.0		2765.0			31
13	↑5	Duda	2756.2	+18.2		2801.4		2792.0			23
14	↓2	Firouzja	2753.8	−5.2		2655.6		2810.0			18
15		Anand	2753.0	0.0		2748.0		2825.0			51
16	↓3	Dominguez Perez	2752.4	−5.6		2753.6		2654.0			37

[TBODY] [/TBODY]

 

[lilphildub]

Thanks for the advice guys Will look into the videos and try to find someone I connect with personally. Its been fun getting back into and have been jumping back in with 10 minute games.

 

[Elvis P]

Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Day 1: Caruana And Dominguez Take Lead - Chess.com / This has a nice field of the top 6 Americans.

 

[Elvis P]

Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Day 2: Caruana Increases Lead, Shankland Surges - Chess.com

"GM Fabiano Caruana grabbed sole first place after a topsy-turvy day, after answering a round four loss with two consecutive wins. GM Hikaru Nakamura showed his defensive skills to stay within striking distance in second place, while GM Sam Shankland had an impressive 2.5/3 score on Thursday to move into third place. GMs Wesley So and GM Leinier Dominguez Perez fell back to an even score and are joined by GMs Shakhriyar Mamedyarov and Richard Rapport with six points. GM Peter Svidler bounced back after a difficult first day and scored a win and two draws. GMs Le Quang Liem and Jeffery Xiong are behind the pack."

 

[Elvis P]

Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Day 3: Nakamura Moves Into First, Rapport Rises - Chess.com

"GM Hikaru Nakamura won the rapid stage of the Saint Louis tournament on the strength of his two wins on the last day. Nakamura goes into the blitz portion of the event a point ahead of GMs Fabiano Caruana and Richard Rapport, as the latter matched him with 2.5 out of 3 on Friday. GM Jeffery Xiong also won two games to climb out of the cellar."

 

[Elvis P]

Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Day 4: Nakamura Extends Lead - Chess.com

"GM Hikaru Nakamura proves to be in a league of his own, as he has increased his lead after the first day of blitz to 2.5 points without suffering a single defeat. GM Fabiano Caruana is leading in the battle for second place, while GM Richard Rapport and GM Wesley So remain in contention. Comebacks by GM Le Quang Liem and GM Jeffery Xiong lifted them out of the cellar."

 

[VanIslander]

Love chess, loathe puzzles.

Chess, like war, is about strategies and infinite possible tactics.

Puzzles are about finding the ONE friggin' way to get it done. Gawd.

 

[Rangerboy030]

Any YouTube videos for beginners people would recommend? Just got back into chess after 15+ years and want to get better. Any advice is welcome

I've found GM Daniel Naroditsky's speed run videos to be quite instructional:



IM Levy Rozman (GothamChess) also has good beginner content, particularly for openings - pick out a couple for each colour that appeal to you and that are not too complicated:

 

[Elvis P]

Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz Day 5: Nakamura Clinches First Place Early - Chess.com

"Without suffering a single defeat in 27 games of rapid and blitz, GM Hikaru Nakamura won the Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz leg of the 2021 Grand Chess Tour. GM Fabiano Caruana played several stunning games and deservedly took second place, which keeps him in contention in the Tour. GM Richard Rapport finished third to establish his place among the elite."

 

[Elvis P]

Sinquefield Cup Day 1: Caruana, Dominguez, MVL Win In First Round - Chess.com

"GMs Fabiano Caruana, Maxime Vachier Lagrave, and Leinier Dominguez started off with victories, while GM Wesley So missed his chances to do the same against GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov. GMs Jeffery Xiong and Richard Rapport had a solid draw to start the tournament."

 

[Harbour Dog]

Love chess, loathe puzzles.

Chess, like war, is about strategies and infinite possible tactics.

Puzzles are about finding the ONE friggin' way to get it done. Gawd.

I'm kind of the same. If I'm in the mood to play chess, that means I'm ready for battle, and puzzles are of no interest to me at all.

Sometimes if I'm just relaxing and feel like fiddling around with some chess though, I'll do some Puzzle Rushes or something.

I always tell my gf that if I'm playing rapid games, don't distract me, but anything else is just a video game haha.

 

[Kent Nilsson]

Hikaru Nakamura Scores First Perfect 11/11 In Titled Tuesday - Chess.com

"GM Hikaru Nakamura set an unbreakable Titled Tuesday record on August 17, becoming the first player to score a perfect 11/11. Nakamura won first place by 1.5 points coming on the heels of a victory in the over-the-board Saint Louis Rapid & Blitz. GM Sergei Zhigalko came in second place with 9.5 points on the tiebreaker over GM David Paravyan. In fourth place was IM Christopher Yoo ahead of three other players scoring 9/11. The only previous 100% score in any Titled Tuesday came back in October 2016, when GM Oleksandr Bortnyk had a 9/9 performance. Since Titled Tuesday became an 11-round format in October 2020, only one player had even scored 10.5/11 (GM Anton Korobov on June 22, 2021). 572 titled players played this week, the third straight with an increase in the size of the field. The tournament was the typical 11-round Swiss with a 3+1 time control."

Number of games in database: 3,015
Years covered: 1995 to 2021
Last FIDE rating: 2736 (2829 rapid, 2900 blitz)
Highest rating achieved in database: 2814
Overall record: +524 -218 =627 (61.2%)*

He's an amazingly gifted, talented player. After Carlsen, he may be the best all around player (including speed chess} of the born after 1986 era.

Very interesting man too. His stream is a treat.

 

[Elvis P]

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Wins 2021 Sinquefield Cup; So Bags Tour - Chess.com

"GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won the Sinquefield Cup for the second time in his career, finishing half a point ahead of the American trio of GMs Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, and Leinier Dominguez Perez. GM Richard Rapport finished in fifth place with an even score. So emerged as the winner of the overall Grand Chess Tour."

MVL is great, but he's gone from a peak of 2819 and top 8 to 2751 and #16. Perhaps @Harbour Dog can tell us if it's just the normal ebb and flow of ratings or if there's a story there.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Maxime Vachier-Lagrave Wins 2021 Sinquefield Cup; So Bags Tour - Chess.com

"GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave won the Sinquefield Cup for the second time in his career, finishing half a point ahead of the American trio of GMs Fabiano Caruana, Wesley So, and Leinier Dominguez Perez. GM Richard Rapport finished in fifth place with an even score. So emerged as the winner of the overall Grand Chess Tour."

MVL is great, but he's gone from a peak of 2819 and top 8 to 2751 and #16. Perhaps @Harbour Dog can tell us if it's just the normal ebb and flow of ratings or if there's a story there.

He's been very out of form for over a year now, and hw recently had a couple very bad showings that tanked his rating even worse.

I think part of the reason why he gets exposed so badly when he isn't in form, is that he is hands down the most predictable of the elite players. He always plays the same lines, and guys are able to prepare incredibly deep ideas against him.

It's good to see him winning again though; hopefully he can round back into form and get back into the top 10.

 

[Elvis P]

Aimchess U.S. Rapid Days 1-2: Artemiev Leads As Carlsen Returns For Final Leg - Chess.com

"GM Vladislav Artemiev leads the preliminary stage of the Aimchess U.S. Rapid after two days. The 23-year-old Russian grandmaster scored 7.5/10, half a point more than GM Magnus Carlsen, who is back in the field for this final leg of the Champions Chess Tour, as well as GM Levon Aronian."

 

[Elvis P]

Aimchess U.S. Rapid: Artemiev Wins Prelims; Giri, MVL Out - Chess.com

"GM Vladislav Artemiev won the preliminary stage of the Aimchess U.S. Rapid and will play GM Leinier Dominguez in the quarterfinals. GM Anish Giri and GM Maxime Vachier-Lagrave were among the players who failed to qualify this time. The other matchups in the quarterfinals are GM Wesley So vs. GM Alireza Firouzja, GM Levon Aronian vs. Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda vs. GM Magnus Carlsen. Giri, who was edged out on tiebreak, had already qualified for the Finals in September but Vachier-Lagrave is in trouble now. The fact that he didn't make it to the knockout means that GM Hikaru Nakamura is now certain of participation next month while if Artemiev beats Dominguez in the quarterfinals, he qualifies instead of MVL."

 

[Elvis P]

Aimchess U.S. Rapid QF: Aronian, Carlsen, Firouzja Lead - Chess.com

"GM Alireza Firouzja defeated America's GM Wesley So 2.5-0.5 in their first quarterfinal match of the online Aimchess U.S. Rapid tournament. GM Magnus Carlsen and GM Levon Aronian also started with wins against GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda and GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, respectively. GM Vladislav Artemiev, the winner of the preliminary stage, was in trouble vs. GM Leinier Dominguez but managed to win the fourth game to level the score."

 

[Elvis P]

FIDE Likely To Make It Harder To Become A Grandmaster, But Will It Be Enough? - Chess.com

"Yan Nepomniachtchi
@lachesisq
Jun 30
I’m dazzled with the new record, so I’d like to suggest some changes to the order of conferring titles. For example, one of the norms must be fulfilled in an open tournament, and the participation of 2400 GM luminaries in stamping new titles should be finally limited.
@FIDE_chess"

Agreed. It's become ridiculous. You must have achieved a rating of 2648 and been ranked Top 100 in the world for me to consider you a GM.

 

[Harbour Dog]

FIDE Likely To Make It Harder To Become A Grandmaster, But Will It Be Enough? - Chess.com

"Yan Nepomniachtchi
@lachesisq
Jun 30
I’m dazzled with the new record, so I’d like to suggest some changes to the order of conferring titles. For example, one of the norms must be fulfilled in an open tournament, and the participation of 2400 GM luminaries in stamping new titles should be finally limited.
@FIDE_chess"

Agreed. It's become ridiculous. To me you must have achieved a rating of 2648 and been ranked Top 100 in the world for me to consider you a GM.

Just read this article too. I'm glad that they're going to look at making adjustments to it. I can't stand when the integrity of the game is violated.

It's nothing against Mishra, I hope he becomes a force; but it takes some of the prestige out of the title when it's possible to get it in these closed tourneys with over the hill 2400 GMs.

 

[Elvis P]

Aimchess U.S. Rapid Day QF: Firouzja Eliminates So In Thriller - Chess.com

"GM Wesley So managed to level the score but then lost the playoff to GM Alireza Firouzja in a thrilling quarterfinal of the online Aimchess U.S. Rapid tournament. The other semifinalists are GM Magnus Carlsen, GM Levon Aronian, and GM Vladislav Artemiev, who beat GM Jan-Krzysztof Duda, GM Shakhriyar Mamedyarov, and GM Leinier Dominguez respectively."

 

[Elvis P]

Aimchess U.S. Rapid: Semifinals Tied - Chess.com

"Both first matches of the online Aimchess U.S. Rapid tournament's semifinals started with a 2-2 tie. Whereas GM Magnus Carlsen and GM Levon Aronian drew four games, GM Vladislav Artemiev and GM Alireza Firouzja scored one win each."

 

[Elvis P]

Aimchess U.S. Rapid: Artemiev, Carlsen Reach Final - Chess.com

"GM Magnus Carlsen will be facing GM Vladislav Artemiev in the final of the online Aimchess U.S. Rapid tournament. On the second day of the semifinals, Carlsen was too strong for GM Levon Aronian, and then Artemiev won the armageddon game of the playoff vs. GM Alireza Firouzja, who will now play Aronian for third place."

 

[Elvis P]

Aimchess U.S. Rapid Final: Carlsen Leads Despite Mouse Slip - Chess.com

"GM Magnus Carlsen won the first of two matches vs. GM Vladislav Artemiev in the final of the online Aimchess U.S. Rapid tournament. The world champion scored 2.5-1.5 on Saturday and needs just two game points tomorrow to win his third tournament in this Tour. The match for third place between GM Levon Aronian and GM Alireza Firouzja was declared a win for Aronian as Firouzja pulled out of the tie due to ill health."

 

[Elvis P]

Carlsen Wins Aimchess U.S. Rapid: "A Fairly Smooth Ride" - Chess.com

"GM Magnus Carlsen won the online Aimchess U.S. Rapid tournament on Sunday, securing a $30,000 paycheck. The world champion called it "a fairly smooth ride" as he also won the final's second match against GM Vladislav Artemiev, scoring 2.5-0.5."

 

[Elvis P]

Norway Chess R1: Rapport Early Leader As Firouzja-Carlsen Goes To Armageddon - Chess.com

"GM Richard Rapport is the early leader at the Norway Chess tournament which took off on Tuesday. The Hungarian GM beat Norway's GM Aryan Tari in the classical game to score three points, whereas GM Magnus Carlsen got 1.5 points for his armageddon win against GM Alireza Firouzja after the two had drawn before. The third game, between GM Ian Nepomniachtchi and GM Sergey Karjakin, will be played on the rest day as Nepomniachtchi could only arrive in Stavanger in the morning of the first round after having visa issues."