I just wanted to shame you all that this thread has not yet been created.

Le informacion - http://grandchesstour.org/2017-grand...inquefield_cup

Is Magnus going to finish in the top-3 in the classic?

What to expect from Kaspy in the rapid/blitz?

Discuss!

sorry I was going to start it but I was busy

I will be attending the blitz days of the Rapid+Blitz.

Aronian-Caruana was quite an interesting endgame marathon.

Who else thinks Kasparov gets crushed?

What kind of result would be crushed? Any minus score?

not me

Have fun out there. I was thinking of making a trip to St. Louis for one of the tournaments, but I've decided instead to go to the London Classic this December, where I 'll also play in the Weekday FIDE tournament.

Man, rapid is much more fun than classical. They should do twice as many of these next year. I guess it also helps that Kasparov is playing but even without him it's just so much more entertaining.

Rapid is ok, I guess, but Garry is ****ing awesome!

Seriously I'm pumped! about Kasparov being back to playing. How do you not appreciate the true GOAT (I'm the biggest Magnus fanboy there is, but Magnus will have to return to form and dominate for another 5-8 years I'm afraid) coming back to, if not crush, then at least hold his own, against the new elite ~25 years younger.

This end of the day interview just inspires me. Very much looking forward to seeing him back in action tomorrow, even if he's (of course) not at his full old playing strength. Wish we could see an event like this every year.

It's entertaining.. in a different way. Fast action, the games are entertaining, get to see a lot more great tactics, but without the feeling you're really watching something meaningful. (granted, Kasparov playing does bring a lot of weight to this one)

Three draws against the super elite today! Kasparov is ridiculous.

It would be meaningful if the games counted towards the wc cycle. But yeah, I do understand what you're saying.

Kaspy is very fun to watch and I can't wait for Thursday!

I think Kasparov could hold his own against me

I was impressed he drew his games today.

-5 or -6

JFC, Kasparov is the Rapid Grischuk. Wtf is going on, is he getting coaching from Andrew Tang, wanting to just play on delay with no extra time?

Yeah, gets great positions and then burns it on the clock. But I kinda get it, it's a weird time control if you don't play it much.

Man, those are some sweet sets they're using:

http://www.houseofstaunton.com/the-2...ieces-dgt.html

Game-used sets available for only $2995.00, and you get the added bonus of some super-GM DNA soaked into the pieces.

I play on boards soaked with Wesley so dna when I play at our club for no additional cost. Well, a few of them anyway.

I rarely watch live chess, but the rapid event has been epic so far. Almost every game is a war and it's fun to see crushers blundering in time trouble. It is hard not to notice that the player with a significant time advantage usually wins or ends up in a freeroll endgame. Nepo and Naka seem especially eager to force their opponents into time trouble even if it means going into slightly worse middlegames. The guys playing "good enough" moves quickly seem to have an edge over the guys who tend to play for the "best" move more slowly.

Kasparov looks great other than his clock management. I do wish they would stop interviewing players on the broadcast while the final games are hitting their climax though. The other games don't end just because Kasparov's is over! Surely the interviewee wouldn't mind chilling on the couch for 5-10 minutes while the games finish up.

Q. Move 40 here - Le makes a huge blunder on move 40.

https://www.chessbomb.com/arena/2017...-Le_Quang_Liem

You see it happen about 2:45:00 into this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wmsfvkmq09s

After it happens it seems to me Kasparov talks to Le, saying something like "Erm, I can just take your rook mate" - is that what happened and is he allowed to talk during a game?

Wow I just wrote a really long post about my experience here at the event and it didn't post. Looks like I channeled my inner Garry and took way too long to post it.

Summary:
- $10 event price is insane value. Free food, great access to watching, commentary, players, half off restaurant.
- You catch so many little details. Some of my favorites:

The players pointing their knights to the queenside except Hikaru (pointing forward) and I think Levon (pointing forward). Le Quang Liem was the only one who did it like I do (knights facing each other).

Chatting briefly with Eric Rosen, Sabina Foiser, and Isaac Steincamp (https://chesssummit.com).

Watching David Navara go over the ending with I believe a random fan after the last round. I think the guy simply asked Navara if it really was a draw or something and David sits down and for a few minutes proceeds to go over things with him. The guy took the Black side and kept losing, lol.

Watching the games finish up from the room next to the playing room and turning around only to find Anand watching them finish up too, peering over my shoulder about two inches away.

Having John Urschel and Robert Hess walk right behind and in front of me on the way back to my hotel (they were going to a restaurant on the way it turned out). I didn't realize they were boys, might be why Urschel seems to be poppin up at chess stuff so much recently.

Feeling Garry's presence at the board and in the room. Also Levon. Both clearly have more presence. Most of the players have absolutely zero.

It's a very unique experience and I have a hard time imagining other top events are quite as nice.

If anyone has any questions or wants more semi-mundane stories (like Akshat Chandra ringing the bell for a round prematurely a few times practicing and Hikaru laughing his ass off while everyone else looked confused), let me know.

Oh, also, am I going to regret not trying to get the signatures of the players? I don't really have a special board or anything else I want signed but it does seem they will sign stuff (especially for kids). Meh, I'll just try to enjoy the experience and not worry about it.