Anand vs. Gelfand WCC 2012 started

[Strelkaman]

Correction to my previous post.Strelka also finds(depth 26) 23. Bd7 Qc5 24. Kg2 g6 25. Rfd1 Kg7 26. Bg4 Rfe8 27. h5 Rf8 28. Rh1 Rfd8 29. Rhf1 Rf8 30. Bh3 Qc7 31. Rh1 Qc5 32. Rhd1 gxh5 33. Bf5 h4 34. Rh1 Rxa1 35. Rxa1 Rg8 36. Kf1
Processing time: 466.906 sec. | Moves processed: 563 218 092

[JuLieN]

Edit:

I will say it does kind of make me miss Topalov!

I thought the same thing yesterday The thing is, those two players are too friendly with each others. Think about the K-K matches, or the Karpov-Korchnoi, or Karmanik-Topalov: the players were fiends and it added a lot of drama (and motivation). Now it looks like two old ladies sharing a cup of tea and cookies.

[tomgdrums]

1/2-1/2

Thanks for the posts, Ted.

Shall we even bother commenting this result? The players just don't care for the spectators.

Let's see if we have any nice translators today

Yes we do

Am I the only one under the impression that the players looks very uncomfortable today?

BTw, I have an idea to motivate them. Right now, whatever they do, they'll get a lot of money. If one of them was to forfeit all his games he would still get 40% of the total prize. ($1.53 millions for the winner, $1.02 millions for the loser, which is not a motivating difference enough....) The idea would be: right, the total price is worth $2.55 millions and 12 games are planned: let's make a won game give $212,500, and a draw or a loss would give $0. 12 draws = $0 for both. And if they complain to the rule, there's an easy answer: "why do you even bother to come compete if you think you have no chance?"

EDIT: alternative idea: giving the winner of each game s/x of the money (s= total left sum, and x = number of remaining games).

I agree that the difference in prize money does not seem to be enough incentive! Heck, I would be more than happy to go get crushed 12 games in a row for a million dollars. But I do think they are players with some pride so their strategy is to win the match (which would mean cut down on any mistakes, which then leads to our draw fest)

Has anyone thought of THIS idea:

Since it is hypothetically an advantage to have White, what if:

instead of half point each for a draw...

White received .40 of a point and Black received .60 of a point!??

Thus reward Black for drawing with the disadvantage?!?

Of course this scoring system should only be considered at THIS level of play. At the lower levels it would be silly.

Just a though. I don't know how viable it is.

[Strelkaman]

The most interesting point of the WCC 2012 is the woman that cleans the match area at the end

Nice idea Tom!!

[JuLieN]

White received .40 of a point and Black received .60 of a point!??

I like this idea! This and a more motivating money distribution should force both of them to take risks.

EDIT: Kramnik and Aronian had a shorter match (6 games) and managed to pull two decisive games. With style.

[tomgdrums]

Edit:

I will say it does kind of make me miss Topalov!

I thought the same thing yesterday The thing is, those two players are too friendly with each others. Think about the K-K matches, or the Karpov-Korchnoi, or Karmanik-Topalov: the players were fiends and it added a lot of drama (and motivation). Now it looks like two old ladies sharing a cup of tea and cookies.

Cup of tea and cookies! Now that is funny.

The match does need some animosity!

Chess (or any competition) needs either a villain (even IF it is only a matter of perspective) or a really compelling competitor to root for!

Now, I like Anand A LOT! But this match doesn't compel me to root for him as much for some reason!

NOW, if Anand was playing Carlesn! That would be fun.

I would feel compelled to root for Anand under the guise of holding of the young gun for awhile! (NOT against Carlsen per se, who I believe would be a classy champ..and will be someday if he chooses to be)

But that compelling storyline of age vs. youth would make this match have more tension and a rooting interest would emerge. (even if no REAL villian!)

[tomgdrums]

The most interesting point of the WCC 2012 is the woman that cleans the match area at the end

Nice idea Tom!!

Thanks!

Hockey did something (American Hockey anyway) to cut down on 1/2 point ties that rewarded both teams for the tie but also rewarded one more than the other (I can't remember the exact process right now)

[JuLieN]

White received .40 of a point and Black received .60 of a point!??

I like this idea! This and a more motivating money distribution should force both of them to take risks.

EDIT: Kramnik and Aronian had a shorter match (6 games) and managed to pull two decisive games. With style.

Actually, the .6/.4 would be only half motivating, because they would just wait for their turn to draw the game after and even the score. So an improvement could be:
game 1: draw = .5 for both
game 2: draw = .51 for black, .49 for white
game 3: draw = .52 for black, .48 for white
and so on...

So you just can't seat and wait for your turn to draw.

[tomgdrums]

White received .40 of a point and Black received .60 of a point!??

I like this idea! This and a more motivating money distribution should force both of them to take risks.

EDIT: Kramnik and Aronian had a shorter match (6 games) and managed to pull two decisive games. With style.

Thanks!

And I totally agree about the money. Completely agree. Whoever wins should get quite a bit more.

Say %75 vs. %25 for the loser.

[tomgdrums]

White received .40 of a point and Black received .60 of a point!??

I like this idea! This and a more motivating money distribution should force both of them to take risks.

EDIT: Kramnik and Aronian had a shorter match (6 games) and managed to pull two decisive games. With style.

Actually, the .6/.4 would be only half motivating, because they would just wait for their turn to draw the game after and even the score. So an improvement could be:
game 1: draw = .5 for both
game 2: draw = .51 for black, .49 for white
game 3: draw = .52 for black, .48 for white
and so on...

So you just can't seat and wait for your turn to draw.

NICE Improvement!!

That makes the idea even more viable. Good work.

Now if only FIDE would pay attention to us.