CHESS World Champions and Challengers survivor - Kasparov champion !

[big bad fab]

RESULTS OF ROUND 11:

Group A:
Staunton / Ivanchuk 0/1
Steinitz / Euwe 1/0
Tal / Karpov =/=
Janowski / Kasimdzhanov 1/0
Marshall / Keres =/=
Short / Aronian 0/1

Group B:
Morphy / Polgar 1/0
Lasker / Smyslov =/=
Adams / Gelfand 0/1
Fischer / Kramnik 1/0
Gunsberg / Korchnoi 0/1
Bogoljubov / Ponomariov 0/1

Group C:
Anderssen / Shirov =/=
Capablanca / Botvinnik 1/0
Akopian / Grischuk 0/1
Spassky / Anand 1/0
Tarrasch / Timman 1/0
Reshevsky / Zukertort 0/1

Group D:
Alekhine / Morozevich 1/0
Petrosian / Kasparov 0/1
Leko / Svidler 1/0
Schlechter / Kamsky 0/1
Khalifman / Topalov 0/1
Bronstein / Chigorin 1/0


PROVISIONAL RANKING AFTER ROUND 11:

Group A:
1. Tal 10
2. Steinitz 9
3. Karpov 8.5
4. Marshall, Ivanchuk 8
6. Keres 7.5
7. Aronian 4
8. Euwe 4
9. Janowski 3
10. Staunton 2.5
11. Short 1.5
12. Kasimdzhanov 0

It was quite clear in this group, with the first six clearly beating the rest of the group. Euwe is probably some sort of disappointments, but the group was really brilliant.
I've still to rank Marshall and Ivanchuk.

Group B:
1. Fischer, Morphy 10.5
3. Smyslov 8
4. Lasker 7
5. Polgar 6.5
6. Kramnik, Korchnoi 5
8. Gunsberg, Gelfand 4
10. Ponomariov 3.5
11. Bogoljubov 1.5
12. Adams 0.5

A tie in the end, with Korchnoi surprisingly coming back ! You'll have to wait a bit, because I must have some time to break the tie between them. SUSPENSE !
Polgar is now only half a surprise.
I've also to rank Fischer and Morphy, Gunsberg and Gelfand.

Group C:
1. Capablanca 10
2. Tarrasch 9.5
3. Zukertort 8
4. Botvinnik, Spassky 7.5
6. Anderssen 7
7. Shirov 6.5
8. Anand 4
9. Reshevsky 2.5
10. Timman 2
11. Grischuk 1.5
12. Akopian 0

Wow, I was really sure that Shirov would be able to get rid of Anderssen. Anand, current world champion, is already out !
I have to rank Botvinnik and Spassky.

Group D:
1. Kasparov, Alekhine 10.5
3. Petrosian, Kamsky, Bronstein 7.5
6. Leko 5.5
7. Schlechter, Morozevich 4.5
9. Chigorin 4
10. Topalov 2.5
11. Svidler 1
12. Khalifman 0.5

Leko is in ! I think he is the big surprise of this first stage, while Schlechter, Chigorin and Topalov have been disappointments.
I have still to rank the first 5, and also Schlechter and Morozevich.

While waiting, you can play with our stars:



(see how the pieces are stupidly and randomly put on the chess board ? LOL but I like Duvall and Travolta !)



(fine chess pieces, eh ?)

[Hans-im-Glück]

I praise not usually so many, but you've done a super work

I can't wait for the next round

[Edu]

I praise not usually so many, but you've done a super work

I can't wait for the next round

I completely agree.

Great job Fab, it's lucky you decided to do it because if i had started it, then this would have been much more boring

[big bad fab]

Thank you, guys !
Indeed, each round took me a long time to count....

And now, another big surprise for you:
I thought that, with my rules to break ties (results between tied players, then results against better-ranked players, then against lesser-ranked players), it would be enough.
That wasn't the case.

So, I've counted every vote (....!). In groups A, C and D, we've got a clear ranking....
But in group B, there is still a tie between Gunsberg and Gelfand (that doesn't matter as they are both out), Fischer and Morphy (that's a problem for next matches) AND....
between Kramnik and Korchnoi !!!
And so, we still don't know who is in and who is out, as there is only one place left for those guys.... !

Hence, we have to vote in a play-off round.

FINAL RANKING AFTER ROUND 11:

Group A:
1. Tal 10
2. Steinitz 9
3. Karpov 8.5
4. Marshall 8
5. Ivanchuk 8
6. Keres 7.5
7. Aronian 4
8. Euwe 4
9. Janowski 3
10. Staunton 2.5
11. Short 1.5
12. Kasimdzhanov 0

Group B:
1. Fischer, Morphy 10.5
3. Smyslov 8
4. Lasker 7
5. Polgar 6.5
6. Kramnik, Korchnoi 5
8. Gunsberg, Gelfand 4
10. Ponomariov 3.5
11. Bogoljubov 1.5
12. Adams 0.5

Group C:
1. Capablanca 10
2. Tarrasch 9.5
3. Zukertort 8
4. Botvinnik 7.5
5. Spassky 7.5
6. Anderssen 7
7. Shirov 6.5
8. Anand 4
9. Reshevsky 2.5
10. Timman 2
11. Grischuk 1.5
12. Akopian 0

Group D:
1. Kasparov 10.5
2. Alekhine 10.5
3. Bronstein 7.5
4. Kamsky 7.5
5. Petrosian 7.5
6. Leko 5.5
7. Morozevich 4.5
8. Schlechter 4.5
9. Chigorin 4
10. Topalov 2.5
11. Svidler 1
12. Khalifman 0.5

For the moment, matches are as follows:
Tal / Leko
Fischer or Morphy / Anderssen
Capablanca / Kramnik or Korchnoi
Kasparov / Keres (meeehhh !)
Steinitz / Petrosian
Fischer or Morphy / Spassky (you know what to do now... or not ! )
Tarrasch / Polgar
Alekhine / Ivanchuk (Jesus Christ !)
Karpov / Kamsky
Smyslov / Botvinnik (OMG !)
Zukertort / Lasker (heavens !)
Bronstein / Marshall (pfffuuuh)

So, if you choose Fischer over Morphy, Fischer is against Anderssen and Morphy against Spassky.
If you choose Morphy over Fischer, Fischer is against Spassky !!! and Morphy against Anderssen !!!

And you have to pick Kramnik or Korchnoi: it's a big suspense, but it's in order to fight against Capablanca... So the stake is, in a way, less high than for Fischer and Morphy....

Vote well !

[big bad fab]

I pick Fischer over Morphy, so that we've got Fischer/Anderssen and Morphy/Spassky...

And I pick... Korchnoi over Kramnik !

(if there is another tie after this play-off, I've got another idea )

Oh, I've forgotten :

For everybody, another film with a chess board:


And only for Magic, another black and white theme, with the same "player":


(I've always found her very ordinary, with ugly nose, lips and even eyes; unfortunately, I've found no photo with Grace Kelly, Ingrid Bergman, Halle Berry and a chess board )

[big bad fab]

So, please pick:

Fischer or Morphy (for ranknig)

Korchnoi or Kramnik (for elimination & qualification)

[Hans-im-Glück]

Fischer

Kramnik

[Edu]

Fischer
Korchnoi

[big bad fab]

Despite Scarlett, Magic hasn't voted. But, in a way, that's almost better ().
We have already a majority to declare Fischer number one in his group.
And it avoids us to have a tie between Korchnoi and Kramnik.

FINAL RANKING AFTER ROUND 11:

Group A:
1. Tal 10
2. Steinitz 9
3. Karpov 8.5
4. Marshall 8
5. Ivanchuk 8
6. Keres 7.5
7. Aronian 4
8. Euwe 4
9. Janowski 3
10. Staunton 2.5
11. Short 1.5
12. Kasimdzhanov 0

Group B:
1. Fischer 10.5
2. Morphy 10.5
3. Smyslov 8
4. Lasker 7
5. Polgar 6.5
6. Korchnoi 5
7. Kramnik 5
8. Gunsberg, Gelfand 4
10. Ponomariov 3.5
11. Bogoljubov 1.5
12. Adams 0.5

Group C:
1. Capablanca 10
2. Tarrasch 9.5
3. Zukertort 8
4. Botvinnik 7.5
5. Spassky 7.5
6. Anderssen 7
7. Shirov 6.5
8. Anand 4
9. Reshevsky 2.5
10. Timman 2
11. Grischuk 1.5
12. Akopian 0

Group D:
1. Kasparov 10.5
2. Alekhine 10.5
3. Bronstein 7.5
4. Kamsky 7.5
5. Petrosian 7.5
6. Leko 5.5
7. Morozevich 4.5
8. Schlechter 4.5
9. Chigorin 4
10. Topalov 2.5
11. Svidler 1
12. Khalifman 0.5


So, you have to vote in the following matches:

Tal / Leko
Smyslov / Botvinnik

Fischer / Anderssen
Karpov / Kamsky

Capablanca / Korchnoi
Bronstein / Marshall

Kasparov / Keres
Zukertort / Lasker

Steinitz / Petrosian
Morphy / Spassky

Tarrasch / Polgar
Alekhine / Ivanchuk

I've put them in the right order: next round, each winner will fight against the winner of the match on the line just close to his own match.

And now, we need you, Magic .

[big bad fab]

Tal / Leko (easy one)
Smyslov / Botvinnik (whatever the result we will have had 2 matches between those 3 Soviet champions) (Botvinnik is a great one, but I vote also "personally")

Fischer / Anderssen (bye, bye, Adolf)
Karpov / Kamsky (and then, if you vote for Karpov, we will have the match that RL hasn't provided: Fischer/Karpov ! )

Capablanca / Korchnoi (easy)
Bronstein / Marshall (I really like Bronstein...)

Kasparov / Keres (a pity I can't save Keres)
Zukertort / Lasker (wow, a great fight here)

Steinitz / Petrosian (easy for me)
Morphy / Spassky (mmm... it's really difficult here... I'm not a great fan of Spassky, but I already vote too much for old ones)

Tarrasch / Polgar (well, now, no more kindness towards Judit )
Alekhine / Ivanchuk (OMG, I really don't know... Alekhine is so great, but Ivanchuk so appealing when he plays well... OK, let's go for a conservative vote, but I almost hope Ivanchuk will win )

Tal, Fischer, Capablanca and Kasparov will probably make it for the final 6.
But in the last 2 pairs of matches, it's less sure: Steinitz ? Morphy ? Spassky ?
and Alekhine ? Tarrasch ? Ivanchuk ?
It's really open here.

[Hans-im-Glück]

Tal / Leko
Smyslov  / Botvinnik

Fischer / Anderssen
Karpov / Kamsky (no chance for Kamsky)

Capablanca / Korchnoi
Bronstein  / Marshall (I like both)

Kasparov / Keres
Zukertort  / Lasker

Steinitz / Petrosian
Morphy / Spassky (Morphy wouldn't have a chance)

Tarrasch / Polgar
Alekhine / Ivanchuk

[big bad fab]

Mmmm... Magic hasn't connected since last Friday.
I guess that if we are only 3 for the 2 rounds of matches, that's OK (even though a pity Magic hasn't his word to say). But for the group of last 6, I hope he'll be back.

Edu, can you vote so that we can proceed ?
Thanks.

[Edu]

Yeah, i wanted to wait for Magic, let's hope he returns soon.

Tal / Leko
Smyslov / Botvinnik

Fischer / Anderssen
Karpov / Kamsky

Capablanca / Korchnoi
Bronstein / Marshall

Kasparov / Keres
Zukertort / Lasker

Steinitz / Petrosian
Morphy / Spassky

Tarrasch / Polgar
Alekhine / Ivanchuk

[big bad fab]

I'll wait until tomorrow morning (CET).
After that, I close the round... A pity for Ivanchuk, but a good thing for Bronstein and Botvinnik

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Tal (obviously)
Botvinnik
Anderssen (anyone but Fischer !!!)
Karpov
Capablanca
Bronstein
Kasparov
Lasker
Petrosian
Spassky
Polgar
Ivanchuk

[big bad fab]

We're very happy to see Mr. X back


A photo from a good French film La Diagonale du Fou, in which Michel Piccoli is an old Soviet champion, against an excited dissident (whom wife, Liv Ullmann, may be manipulated by the Soviet officials). The end is quite original.

Tal / Leko 4/0
Smyslov / Botvinnik 1/3

Fischer / Anderssen 3/1
Karpov / Kamsky 4/0

Capablanca / Korchnoi 4/0
Bronstein / Marshall 3/1

Kasparov / Keres 4/0
Zukertort / Lasker 2/2

Steinitz / Petrosian 2/2
Morphy / Spassky 0/4

Tarrasch / Polgar 3/1
Alekhine / Ivanchuk 2/2

OK, we've got 3 big ties.

Now, you have to choose the match in which you give one point to one of the two players,
the match in which you give half a point to one of the two players,
and the match in which you don't give any point.

Please vote.

[big bad fab]

1 for Steinitz (over Petrosian)

0.5 for Zukertort (over Lasker)

0 in Alekhine/Ivanchuk

[Hans-im-Glück]

1 for Lasker (over Zukertort)

0,5  for Alekhine (over Ivanchuk)

0 for Steinitz/Petrosian

[Edu]

1 point for Zukertort (damn it, Lasker is going to advance again )

0,5 for Petrosian (yeah, Steinitz is the other one i want out of here now )

no points for the other match. I prefer Ivanchuk but i don't really care one way or the other

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

1 for Lasker

0.5 for Petrosian

0 for the other match, Edu already expressed my thoughts on this matchup

[big bad fab]

Tal / Leko 4/0
Smyslov / Botvinnik 1/3

Fischer / Anderssen 3/1
Karpov / Kamsky 4/0

Capablanca / Korchnoi 4/0
Bronstein / Marshall 3/1

Kasparov / Keres 4/0
Zukertort / Lasker 2/2 1.5/2

Steinitz / Petrosian 2/2 1/1 (9/7.5)
Morphy / Spassky 0/4

Tarrasch / Polgar 3/1
Alekhine / Ivanchuk 2/2 0.5/0

Well, another tie after this first play-off between Steinitz and Petrosian... So, I'm forced, as we are still only 4 voters, to declare Steinitz winner, as he has gathered more points in the first stage.

Former groups A and B have only 2 players who won in this round, while former groups C and D have 4.
In each match, you've got a Soviet player or... Alekhine.


Round 13 is now open. Here are the matches:

Tal / Botvinnik

Fischer / Karpov

Capablanca / Bronstein

Kasparov / Lasker

Steinitz / Spassky

Tarrasch / Alekhine

The 6 winners will all fight against each other in a final group. And then, the first 2 will be opposed in a final match.
I guess there will be other draws here and I hope we'll be able to solve them (with Magic, maybe ).


And here are some photos from a TV film (1978) by Wolfgang Petersen, with Bruno Ganz, "Schwarz und Weiss wie Tage und Naechte", "L'échiquier de la passion" in French.

A wonderful, even if old and slow, film: Bruno Ganz is a lonely genius who is able to beat the "big bad" Soviet champion, named Koruga (yeah ! see the 2nd photo). But he becomes mad... and the end is very fine...

Thomas Rosenmund (the German champion played by Ganz) is a mix of Fischer, Korchnoi and the first computer programmers.
The championship is played in Yugoslavia (yes... this was this period when many Western films were shot in money-hungry Yugoslavia... but it's fine as Yugoslavia was a great chess country and as it was sort of "neutral")





If you can find it on DVD, do not hesitate if you have a real passion for chess, the game and the surrounding world.

[big bad fab]

Tal / Botvinnik

Fischer / Karpov

Capablanca / Bronstein

Kasparov / Lasker

Steinitz / Spassky

Tarrasch / Alekhine

Fischer/Karpov will be interesting... Unfortunately, I'm not sure our result will fit with what would have been RL, had it been played...

I suspect my Bronstein vote is doomed, like my Steinitz vote...

I'm afraid Tarrasch isn't safe at all.

I really hope Kasparov won't be threatened, despite Hans' probable vote

Am I right if I say Tal is the safest ?

So, it's quite likely I'm going to be defeated in 4 out of 6 matches... As usual, in a way
 

[Chancellor Tanterterg]

Tal
Karpov
Bronstein
Kasparov
Spassky
Tarrasch

[Edu]

Tal / Botvinnik

Fischer / Karpov

Capablanca / Bronstein

Kasparov / Lasker

Steinitz / Spassky

Tarrasch / Alekhine

[Hans-im-Glück]

Tal  / Botvinnik  (both are genius, but I go with Botvinik)

Fischer / Karpov  (the boring man would destroy the mad man)

Capablanca / Bronstein  (that is a coin-flip, but Capablanca is my hero )

Kasparov / Lasker  (today would Lasker have no chance, but with the rules of the past he wins with no problems. He had a lot of patience )

Steinitz / Spassky  (He would try anything stupid and that would be the end against Steinitz)

Tarrasch / Alekhine  (the genius wins against the half-genius)