Chess at the highest level has been very drawish for a very long time. Even before computers. The sky isn't falling. If anything, today's draws are a lot more exciting on a whole than draws of old (which very often were so-called "Grandmaster Draws", many times even pre-arranged short draws by agreement). Today at the top level you barely see a draw that doesn't at least get played until the position is extremely dry, and I believe Carlsen's influence plays no small part in that development. He quite literally made a career out of winning drawn positions.

Lastly, to give some perspecitve, the first KvK in 1984 went:

| Karpov +5 | =40= | +3 Kasparov |

before being abandoned by FIDE.

That's 83% draws.

12 games doesn't seem long enough for a WC match. I get that there is not the desire for many reasons to have an unlimited match.
I feel like it should be 24 games though or at least 16 or something.

Yesterday's game was pretty exciting given the opening. Apparently there was a mate in 30 somewhere at the end!

Also someone commented earlier that fabio hasn't really outplayed Magnus from a equal position yet. Yesterday's match he seemed to do that for the first time though.

To add to my post above, if we should ever see a game like THIS ONE in a World Championship ever again, then the "Chess is too drawish" people have a bit more solid ground to stand on, I think.

I guess one could name Carlsen - Karjakin game 12, but at least we can understand why the players did it. KvK 1984 had quite a few of those <20 moves draws, I merely picked the shortest one at 13 moves.

The draws just ratchet up the drama, no room for error. Caruana has to make a dent soon because we all know who will win in tie breaks and that's how it should be as the challenger. Amazed how often these guys pick the correct line, the armchair analysis from everyone using an engine has become a bit annoying like in poker commentating with the cards face up. Game 6 Fabi had an edge but seeing 30 moves ahead for a win? Yeah good luck for a human being to be able to consistently achieve that lol.

is there a stream to this

https://m.twitch.tv/chess

There's a bunch out there but this is the one I've been watching

Starting to give up hope for any decisive games under classical time controls. These guys are absolute computers.

ya i've been watching this one as well. was wondering if there was a stream with a view of the players during the match. can't seem to find one on twitch or youtube so probably not.

AFAIK there is one official stream that shows the players but it's PPV.

Yeah worldchess.com has the official stream with Judit Polgar but it's like $20

might pay for it if it gets to tiebreakers

First game I couldn't watch live today, as I had my own OTB league game today.

My result:



Was it a good game? Worth watching a review?

Meh, I guess I'll watch the Yermo review anyway, because Yermo GOAT!

Can we just go 1. e4!! 1/2-1/2 five times and get to the fireworks factory?

I’m calling my shot.

Magnus is winning today.

BOOM .

With the exception of games 1 and 6, this is like watching Stockfish vs Stockfish. Amazing stuff coming from humans. I wouldn't mind watching another 50 draws if they're all like this!

Totally out of my depth, but I would prefer AlphaZero vs AlphaZero. Each game would feature mind-exploding.

It’s 3:30am local time and I’ve just tuned it

It appears Magnus is under some pressure. Wouldn’t be shocked if he loses today, though I’m hoping he holds

Tuned in late.

Open Sicilian!!!

Whohoo!!

This is looking really interesting for Fabi.

Having said that, it'll probably end up another draw.

Nakamura/Hess/Rensch don't like 24.h3 at all and feel like he might have passed up playing for a win there.


Edit: Nakamura thinks Fabiano should simplify and play for a draw now.

Yeah, I came home and was excited because it looked like a game. Listened to the commentators for a bit, saying Caruana is pushing here. Prepared food in the kitchen, came back and hear Nakamura say that.

We'll see, I guess.

I have a feeling that h3 move is going to be talked about for a long time. Fabi was on the verge of making something happening, and now it looks totally drawish.

I usually don't use Stockfish during games, but I was curious now. h3 apparently did indeed give away the advantage.

great jiff of the hikaru reaction to h3

Hikaru is the man - I wish I'd have followed him earlier as he's super entertaining and insightful. Lol at his line about "one thing I've learned about Magnus from him beating me a million times..."