If we are talking about computer chess, then yes, the opening lines will be analysed to death and pretty much all the games will end in a draw. But if we talk about human chess, then I don't think this will be the case, because (luckilly) we just can't memorize that much information. So even if you have all the best lines memorized the other person can throw you off by playing a line that is objectivly not the best. If you look at the games played in the last couple of years then you'll see that top players play all sorts of different openings which are perhaps not objectivelly the strongest. You see very little standard Petroffs, Ruy Lopez and Sicilians, because those were analysed almost to death.

The official Grand Prix site is up, and so is the site for the first tournament in Baku.


The dance on the checked floor can begin.

Wow, with only a few days before Baku. Talk about cutting it close...

Latest news about the Topalov-Kamsky match:

http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-ne...match-kamsky-topalov

FIDE president Kirsan Ilyumzhinov is informing us that the he will inform us in the future

The "last" postponement

http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-news/2948-press-release


Remember that the original deadline was end of December 2007 (or something like that)

Well, Kamsky's finally made a bid, and FIDE is waiting for funds to be transferred.

http://www.fide.com/component/content/article/1-fide-ne...-kamsky-topalov-2008

Wait a minute... didn't we hear this already on Monday?

I don't know, this whole thing looks shaky. It's suspicious that a company that is capable of giving almost 1 milion USD is using a gmail account. And that bid is full of mistakes. Doesn't look like a serious company to me.

You're wise to be skeptical...

Perhaps an exiled Nigerian prince promised Kamsky the $1 million in exchange for using his bank account to transfer money out of the country...

But in that case he is not even a real prince, since Nigeria is a republic



Seriously, I don't think anything will come out of this.

Yes, republics don't look too kindly on princes, which is why they're exiled...

It looks like many people are skeptical about it... but here's some information from ChessBase news:

http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4636

So I guess we'll have to wait and see... as if we haven't done enough of that already.

Looks like ChessBase is wrong. Nothing has been confirmed.

http://main.uschess.org/content/view/8432/456/


FIDE denies to receive anything and even Chernenko admits that the money hasn't been transfered yet.
But it will be....someday....in the future.....very near future....


There is also an interview with Topalov's manager Danailov.

Unfortunately, I can't say I'm surprised. I read ChessBase's article yesterday, and Chernenko struck me as less than truthful.

I really like Mig's description:

"Chessbase is saying Yuri Vasiliev is saying that Kamsky's manager Alexander Chernenko is saying that the FIDE bank in Lausanne is saying that the money from the Ukrainian organizers for the Kamsky-Topalov candidates match has arrived."




http://www.chessninja.com/dailydirt/2008/05/kamskytopalov_in_lviv.htm

145 days to Anand vs. Kramnik match.

At least one match where everything goes smoothly



Not only that in case of a draw the world champion won't automatically keep the title, but they will also split the prize money equally no matter what the result is going to be.

In all championship matches to date the champion always keept the title in case of a tie and the winner always got more prize money than the runner-up (60%-40% was common).
The only exception in the history was Topalov vs. Kramnik (they played tie-breaks and split the money), but that was logical since they were both champions.

All this shows you that Kramnik is considered more as a co-champion than the challenger.
Luckilly Anand is a person who doesn't make much noice (even when he should), makes a lot of concessions and is content to settle everything on the board. Otherwise this match would be uncertain too.

Well, I do like Anand's attitude, but I will agree with you; in some respects I think he needs to be more aggressive.

Perhaps he'll bring some blueberry yogurt and a few hypnotists to the match...

Well, finally someone is speaking up about the Kamsky-Topalov match. Since nothing has happened, Alexi Shirov has asked to replace Kamsky...

http://www.chesscenter.com/twic/twic.html#news746

Frankly, I think this a good idea.

I think the final decision about this match will be made on FIDE presidental board meeting which is taking this weekend in Athene. They have to decide something. Danailov said that if something doesn't happen fast, Bulgaria will withdraw their bid, because at least 6 months are needed to organize everything (the match should start November 28th).

It's really all up to Kamsky, whether he is ready to play in Bulgaria or not. It's pretty obvious that there isn't any other bidder.

Well, Kamsky is still complaining...

http://chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4662

I'm looking forward to the decision that will be made at the FIDE Presidential board meeting... that is, if they actually do something besides postpone things.

This isn't official, but it is rumored that FIDE President Kirsan Ilyumzhinov will put up the money to make the match happen in Lviv:

http://www.chessdom.com/news/no-money-from-lviv

Yes, I saw this too, but I don't believe it yet.

It's the same Vasilyev who two weeks ago said that Chernenko said that FIDE bank in Lusanne said that the money has already been transfered. Even Chernenko later denied saying what Vasilyev wrote.

So I rather wait for the official announcement on FIDE site.