Magus skips Euro Team Champs to focus on Tal Memorial - Chess and Board Game Strategy

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Magus skips Euro Team Champs to focus on Tal Memorial

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10-15-2009 , 11:05 AM

Dire

banned

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,581

http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=5836

Oooooo. This had to have been a tough decision since he basically just screwed his entire team over. I'm guessing we're going to see at the Tal Memorial if Nanjing was just a bit of run good or the beginning of a new monster at this game.

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10-15-2009 , 12:32 PM

Noir_Desir

veteran

Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,333

Now with the Nr 1 spot on the line sooner than he expected it would have been a high risk no reward situtation for him to play a bunch of 2550+- guys aiming to draw against him. Can't fault him too much for this.

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10-15-2009 , 01:51 PM

Dire

banned

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,581

I dunno. I don't think it has much to do with rating. I honestly believe he's just working his ass off in preparation for the Tal Memorial. If he did the team championships that's just that many fewer days/weeks of training with Kasparov. I also wouldn't be surprised if it was strongly encouraged by Kasparov. He's been looking for a 'success' for a long time. He mentioned he at one time felt it would be Kramnik. Now I'd guess he's looking at Carlsen.

It'd be great for chess if Magnus crushed at the Tal Memorial. Chess really does need another Kasparov.

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10-15-2009 , 02:47 PM

All-inMcLovin

Wholesome Mod

Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 49,584

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dire

+1

I do agree that it probably has little to do with rating, but mainly in wisely spending the time preparing and focusing for the Tal Mem.

USATE 2005 reference coming up...

Spoiler:

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10-15-2009 , 06:38 PM

Discipline

banned

Join Date: Feb 2009 Posts: 2,892

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Originally Posted by Dire

"Success" = "successor"?

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10-16-2009 , 03:00 AM

Dire

banned

Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,581

Yeah, what I meant. Although I guess success kinda works too.

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10-16-2009 , 11:13 AM

Ajezz

grinder

Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 622

I think this is a pretty bad decision for his team. It's okay if he doesn't want to play there but he should at least have told them so earlier. Now that he has dropped out so late, they are not allowed to replace him with someone else. Also, Norway will have to play at least one round with only three players because one of their players is arriving late (which wouldn't have been a problem if Carlsen hadn't jumped ship).
If I was Norwegian I would be furious at him.

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10-17-2009 , 08:57 AM

Shandrax

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,818

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ajezz

If I was Norwegian I would be furious at him.

Exactly! Fischer and Anand both played for teams that had no chance to win a title. It is simply something you have to do if you want the support from your people. Appearing to be selfish is never a good PR move.

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11-02-2009 , 06:22 PM

icehawk84

old hand

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,725

Actually Magnus told me he wanted to play, but Kasparov wouldn't allow it.

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11-03-2009 , 05:20 AM

#10

Shandrax

Pooh-Bah

Join Date: Mar 2005 Posts: 4,818

If that is true, which would be very surprising, then this sort of advice goes back to Botvinnik who suggested never to play in a pool of weaker players, because you got nothing to win and if you don't perform well, it has a negative psychological effect.

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11-03-2009 , 10:02 AM

#11

willage

enthusiast

Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 83

Understandable decision, but it would have been nice if he informed his team earlier. I'm pretty sure he's known he would be playing in the Tal Memorial for awhile, so this just seems like a bit of bad planning.

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11-03-2009 , 02:56 PM

#12

icehawk84

old hand

Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1,725

Quote:

Originally Posted by Shandrax

That wasn't really the point. Kasparov was of the opinion that Nanjing, Euro teams, Tal Memorial, London, then Corus would just be too many tournaments in such a short period. Part of their coaching arrangement is that he also follows Kasparov's advice about general tournament strategy.

However, it is true that Kasparov himself refused to play any sub-2500 players in the later stages of his career, so it is definitely possible that this was part of the reason why he adviced Magnus to skip the team championship.

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