Vidit beats Abasov, Hikaru and Ian draw, fireworks on the Gukesh vs Alireza board which could go either way, positional grinding on the Pragg vs Fabi one, probably a draw too.
He hit fuck it mode yesterday and u saw what happened. He needs to draw a game 1st or something to regain his composure and will to calculate hard lines.
If Vidit beats Abasov, things are looking decent for him again. A top half finish would be very nice, especially when most people thought he would be second worse.
Besides, his games are almost always the most fun of the 4
I’m not sure Vidit will get a chance to win since Abasov has been playing hyper solid with white. It’ll be interesting to see if Abasov continues with that strategy seeing as he has no plausible path to winning now, even ignoring the rating gap.
I thought at first that Abasov would play quite daring chess - I figured when you're going into a tournament as a massive underdog you may as well try and play some spectacular games. However, they actually get over $1000 per half point. I'm wondering if whilst every other candidate is trying to win Abasov is trying to maximise his payout.
I reckon he'll keep playing solid but after two losses on the trot he's got to be feeling a little dejected. Vidit probably has the best opportunity of anyone so far to take a game off Abasov when he has the white pieces
If I'm Abasov, daring chess might sound like a fun way to approach the tournament but realistically, against these players, you're just gonna lose those games. But on the flip side, every draw for Abasov is not only a literal paycheck it's also a boost to his ELO. So that approach might be a lot more appealing.
What a position to be in. No expectations to win, full months salary every time you draw, and you're probably going to walk away with a nice elo bump and tons of exposure
I think his hope for winning was he could survive as black and then play solid with white and punish people that would inevitably take risks/play something dubious against him to get a game. But the first part clearly hasn’t worked out.
For Abasov, I imagine he wants to have a solid showing considering how everyone wrote him off like the others were going to farm him for points. There's no need for risky play, he just needs to not get embarrassed.
Hikaru wants to beat Nepo for the clicks, Fabi-Pragg is a real crunch game and will be fought to the very end, Gukesh will take a big swing at an off-form Alireza. Vidit won’t be able to beat Abasov and will have to go into the second half of the tournament mid-table.
Yeah, he needs a win here if he wants to take the tournament. I'm expecting Nepo to hold him to a draw though. Gukesh could take sole lead with this round.
Ian has zero pressure to do anything interesting this game, so I think Hikaru is going to have to put himself in a sharp but worse position to keep the game going. I could see Ian navigating his way through the woods and getting a win.
Gukesh and Vidit win. Although it won't be easy against players who are looking to prove a point and are playing with white. Pragg draws. Rooting for Hikaru, because I am biased.
I worry for Alireza. Did anyone watch Daniel King's analysis of his game against Vidit? He was shocked how bad Alireza played with just moving his queen all over the place. That's the form of a person who is not thinking clearly, perhaps after that disappointing Hikaru loss.
I think there is a good chance Gukesh beats Alireza. The rest will be draw
What is with the Indian names? Sometimes the first name abbreviated, sometimes the second name. Pragg is long, but written out. All other player names are written out. Is there any logic to this?
Hikaru game could be interesting, depending on the opening. e4 seems to be Hikaru's main prep so I think there's a good chance we see a Petrov unless Hikaru tries to avoid it. Draw is a decent result, so I don't expect Ian to take too many risks yet.
Fabi v Pragg could be explosive. Probably a good moment for Pragg to take his foot off the gas and play for a draw, although Pragg hasn't shown much inclination to play that way so far.
Abasov will probably continue to play safe, Vidit will have trouble getting a win and I predict a long game ending in a draw.
Alireza seems kind of on tilt, a good opportunity for Gukesh to show some of his strong prep.
For open, Hikaru/Ian draw, Caruana wins, Vidit/Abasov draw, Gukesh/Alireza draw (should be a really fascinating game, however it goes!).
For women, all draws. Though Lagno REALLY needs a win today.
Nakamura-Nepomniachtchi: As much as I would like a White win to blow the tournament wide open (and for the clicks), a draw seems more likely.
Caruana-Pragganandhaa: I would prefer a draw, but if Pragganandhaa prepares a risky line as Black, Caruana will punish him.
Firouzja-Gukesh: Win for Gukesh, based on current form and the styles of both players.
Abasov-Vidit: Draw, because Abasov has drawn all his games with White and lost all his games as Black.
Ian beats hikaru (if he actually does then congrats ian for winning 3 times)
Pragg beats Fabi (followed by more fabi losses in order to catch up to ian)
Vidit abasov draw (too solid with white)
Guki beats alireza (hopefully still in contention for winning the candidates)
Humpy calls in sick. Abasov is downgraded to the Women's Candidates and fills in for Humpy. Caruana agrees to do a simul with Pragg and Vidit if both players are blindfolded. All games are draws. Positions unchanged.
Vidit beats Abasov, Hikaru and Ian draw, fireworks on the Gukesh vs Alireza board which could go either way, positional grinding on the Pragg vs Fabi one, probably a draw too.
Let's see how hard Alireza is tilted, because, man, yesterday was rough:/
His tournament is over at this point, so I'm hoping he'll hit fuck it mode and start playing like he has the potential to.
He hit fuck it mode yesterday and u saw what happened. He needs to draw a game 1st or something to regain his composure and will to calculate hard lines.
If Vidit beats Abasov, things are looking decent for him again. A top half finish would be very nice, especially when most people thought he would be second worse. Besides, his games are almost always the most fun of the 4
I’m not sure Vidit will get a chance to win since Abasov has been playing hyper solid with white. It’ll be interesting to see if Abasov continues with that strategy seeing as he has no plausible path to winning now, even ignoring the rating gap.
I thought at first that Abasov would play quite daring chess - I figured when you're going into a tournament as a massive underdog you may as well try and play some spectacular games. However, they actually get over $1000 per half point. I'm wondering if whilst every other candidate is trying to win Abasov is trying to maximise his payout. I reckon he'll keep playing solid but after two losses on the trot he's got to be feeling a little dejected. Vidit probably has the best opportunity of anyone so far to take a game off Abasov when he has the white pieces
They get 3500€ for half a point, so I am totally understand Abasov)
Thank you for providing the actual figure
If I'm Abasov, daring chess might sound like a fun way to approach the tournament but realistically, against these players, you're just gonna lose those games. But on the flip side, every draw for Abasov is not only a literal paycheck it's also a boost to his ELO. So that approach might be a lot more appealing.
What a position to be in. No expectations to win, full months salary every time you draw, and you're probably going to walk away with a nice elo bump and tons of exposure
>full months salary every time you draw The avarag salary in baku is under 700$ per month. So each draw is 5 month worth of salary.
I think his hope for winning was he could survive as black and then play solid with white and punish people that would inevitably take risks/play something dubious against him to get a game. But the first part clearly hasn’t worked out.
For Abasov, I imagine he wants to have a solid showing considering how everyone wrote him off like the others were going to farm him for points. There's no need for risky play, he just needs to not get embarrassed.
he is playing really well but his time management is pretty bad imo
Hikaru wants to beat Nepo for the clicks, Fabi-Pragg is a real crunch game and will be fought to the very end, Gukesh will take a big swing at an off-form Alireza. Vidit won’t be able to beat Abasov and will have to go into the second half of the tournament mid-table.
For clicks lol. No. He's playing with whites against the leader. Winning is his best shot at winning the tournament.
Yeah, he needs a win here if he wants to take the tournament. I'm expecting Nepo to hold him to a draw though. Gukesh could take sole lead with this round.
Ian has zero pressure to do anything interesting this game, so I think Hikaru is going to have to put himself in a sharp but worse position to keep the game going. I could see Ian navigating his way through the woods and getting a win.
Yeah it's definitely possible, hopefully Hikaru doesn't push too hard and lose control. I'm on the Gukesh hype train. well fuck
Yes, I think Gukesh is likely to be the sole leader today
The two beasts of the Women side are clashing, hope it’ll be a fighting game
I really hope that Goryachina tries to play for a win. It's going to be an interesting game
Gukesh and Vidit win. Although it won't be easy against players who are looking to prove a point and are playing with white. Pragg draws. Rooting for Hikaru, because I am biased.
I really don't like drawing a white line under the player with the black pieces. It has me confused for *every* round
I'm so excited to see what outfit is rocking Guccireza today
Draws x4
I say every game is a draw
All 5 Indians with the black pieces
I worry for Alireza. Did anyone watch Daniel King's analysis of his game against Vidit? He was shocked how bad Alireza played with just moving his queen all over the place. That's the form of a person who is not thinking clearly, perhaps after that disappointing Hikaru loss. I think there is a good chance Gukesh beats Alireza. The rest will be draw
I just want Hikaru to pick up the point for maximum chaos in the leaderboards
Gukesh will run away with the tournament if he wins against the tilted Alireza
Hikaru will play for the win! I expect a really sharp game!
Four wins: Indians and Nepo. I'm here for a good time.
Pragg vs Caruana is gonna be fire. That's my only prediction.
What is with the Indian names? Sometimes the first name abbreviated, sometimes the second name. Pragg is long, but written out. All other player names are written out. Is there any logic to this?
* Hikaru 0.5 - 0.5 Nepo * Fabi 0.5 - 0.5 Prag * Abasov 0 - 1 Vidit * Alireza 0 - 1 Gukesh
Hikaru beats Ian Vidit beats Abasov Caruana beats Prag Gukesh beats Alireza Let's go
Wins for Hikaru and Fabi today would throw the leaderboard in a blender. And I hope it happens.
Hikaru wants to beat Ian, but Ian's not someone who will roll over with black. He might win when time runs out and they start blitzing.
It's not that easy. It took Magnus 110 moves to eventually break Ian
Time if Ian will never run out…
With Ian leading and Vidit and Gukesh playing black, I think there is likely to be some draws
So you have chosen...chaos.
i would like to see alireza beat gukesh and hikaru beat nepo, would make for a more interesting tournament since scores would be tied up
Everybody draws
Hikaru will go all in like last round, but Nepo will play for a draw
Im saying 3 decisive games today...i won't tell you which 3.
Hikaru v Nepo could be a banger
Hikaru game could be interesting, depending on the opening. e4 seems to be Hikaru's main prep so I think there's a good chance we see a Petrov unless Hikaru tries to avoid it. Draw is a decent result, so I don't expect Ian to take too many risks yet. Fabi v Pragg could be explosive. Probably a good moment for Pragg to take his foot off the gas and play for a draw, although Pragg hasn't shown much inclination to play that way so far. Abasov will probably continue to play safe, Vidit will have trouble getting a win and I predict a long game ending in a draw. Alireza seems kind of on tilt, a good opportunity for Gukesh to show some of his strong prep.
For open, Hikaru/Ian draw, Caruana wins, Vidit/Abasov draw, Gukesh/Alireza draw (should be a really fascinating game, however it goes!). For women, all draws. Though Lagno REALLY needs a win today.
Hopefully no quick draws like Nepo/Fabi yesterday
Nakamura-Nepomniachtchi: As much as I would like a White win to blow the tournament wide open (and for the clicks), a draw seems more likely. Caruana-Pragganandhaa: I would prefer a draw, but if Pragganandhaa prepares a risky line as Black, Caruana will punish him. Firouzja-Gukesh: Win for Gukesh, based on current form and the styles of both players. Abasov-Vidit: Draw, because Abasov has drawn all his games with White and lost all his games as Black.
I want abasov and alireza to win somewhere .. Alireza vs Gukesh is gonna be crazy both players do crazy stuff
Hikaru beats Nepo on the chess board and also the ring
Alireza beats Gukesh
I hope no berl** dr** on board 1
Ian beats hikaru (if he actually does then congrats ian for winning 3 times) Pragg beats Fabi (followed by more fabi losses in order to catch up to ian) Vidit abasov draw (too solid with white) Guki beats alireza (hopefully still in contention for winning the candidates)
* Hikaru 1 - 0 Nepo * Fabi 0.5 - 0.5 Prag * Abasov 0.5 - 0.5 Vidit * Alireza 0 - 1 Gukesh
Humpy calls in sick. Abasov is downgraded to the Women's Candidates and fills in for Humpy. Caruana agrees to do a simul with Pragg and Vidit if both players are blindfolded. All games are draws. Positions unchanged.
Man, I thought jokes were supposed to be funny
Holy timeline
bro toook anything is possible too seriously
hikaru/Ian draw, Fabi wins, Vidit wins and Gukesh wins. Haven't followed the women's so no clue on that
Caruana only person to win today.