Musings on chess, and lesser things
Posts on chess
A quick update: Magnus Carlsen will play Vishy Anand later this year for the title of World Chess Champion after the young Norwegian won the candidates tournament on tie-break from Vladimir Kramnik. This was certainly the most dramatic top-level chess tournament I’ve ever seen, and the drama didn’t stop until the final game. Perhaps most …
Phwoar! Things have really heated up in the World Candidates tournament in chilly London. Magnus Carlsen has taken sole lead with plus-four (7.5 out of 11), with Kramnik in clear second on plus-three and Aronian a further half-point back. I have to say, my suggestion of ‘risky chess’ as the optimal strategy for this sort …
I’m writing from London, where the biggest chess tournament of the year, the World Candidates Tournament, is well and truly underway. Eight of the world’s best have qualified (through various channels in FIDE’s convoluted system that I don’t pretend to understand) for the right to play against Vishwanathan Anand for the World Championship crown. I …
It’s been a while since I’ve written a chess post. Occasionally I feel a tiny bit guilty about this, as my articles are cross-posted to ChessVibes, where the poor chess readers have to put up with my maniacal prose on all manner of chess-free frivolities. But the guilt is fleeting, and after all, none of …
After a less than ordinary performance in the English chess league last season, my captain had subtly hinted that I was playing for my spot in the team in the first weekend of rounds for the new season. But, despite my slip from the 2500s, I felt that the recent Stonewall break-up and the end …
A lot of my friends often ask me what I do in my studies. Unfortunately, for the most part, it’s difficult to make what I study sound interesting to a non-economist. Economics as a field is fascinating and incredibly useful, but the core skills and courses required of a PhD in economics are themselves largely …
Dearest Stonewall, . It’s over. I’m sorry. It’s hard even to pen these words to you, though I’m sure that the pain will pass in time. But this has to be done; I’m breaking up with you, once and for all. Please don’t try to convince me otherwise – you know the effect you have on …
It’s tough to write an update right now – my captain even advised me to stay away from the blog for a while – but I should at least give a brief piece about the state of play after the final round. It’s been a very tough few days for me after the somewhat tragic …
Australia’s had a topsy turvy tournament to date, with a couple of matches going either for or against us with the dreaded 2.5-1.5 scoreline. We’ve also had some favourable pairings, and to be honest, with four rounds to go, our score is a little flattering considering the company we keep on the boards around us. Aleks …