According to the LIVE ratings, Carlsen is #2 with a rating of 2792.
1 Anand 2798,1 -4,902
2 Carlsen 2792,2 +27,2
3 Kramnik 2788,0 0
4 Morozevich 2787,9 +13,9
5 Ivanchuk 2778,2 +38,2
6 Topalov 2777,0 +10
7 Radjabov 2744,1 -6,9
8 Mamedyarov 2742,1 -9,9
9 Leko 2741,0 0
10 Shirov 2738,9 -1,1
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Kamsky better beat Topalov this fall. It will probably be his last opportunity for the world title as Carlsen is obviously getting ready to take command of chess.
Carlsen is good for chess. He is already making chess more popular. I am sure he will be a good ambassador for chess.
Unfortunately with this stupid Mini-Match World Cup as qualifier for the World Championship Carlsen unluckily dropped out in the 1/2 finals against Gata.
Nothing against Gata (I hope he wins against Topalov end of this year) but IMO in a longer match, Carlsen would have been the winner and that would have been the “right” course of chess:
First the Match Anand-Kramnik;
after this Carlsen challenges the winner.
Unfortunately FIDE is not able to come up with a fair Qualifying Cycle for the World Title Match. And still having Topalov (he won a tournament in 2005 and lost a match in 2006; that’s it. What is he doing in the current WCC cycle at all???) somewhere in the Cycle is ridiculous and doesn’t reflect true chess ability.
With the old WCC Cycle of 1963-1993 with Interzonal Tournaments and Candidates Matches I’m pretty sure the right players (like Carlsen) would play for the championship, and not One-Day-Kings like Khalifman, Kasimdzanov, Ponomariov, Topalov …
When Carlsen plays Kramnik and or Anand for the World Title it will be a huge media event all over the world.
Today he let Shirov know that time has passed for Shirov.
The ELO LIVE list is run by a Norwegian. Of course he took a day of to follow Magnus’ game today. And, of course, the LIVE LIST was updated and published to the world within 60 seconds after Magnus won agains Shirov. He-he.
Calling the Kamsky-Topalov match the “world championship” is a joke.
According to the live list, that’s the #6 and #17 players in the world.
I’m sorry we inherited this antiquated 3-year cycle system where the likes of Tigran Petrosian was supposedly world champion for six years and Viktor Korchnoi never was, but in the Google and YouTube Era it’s embarrassingly outdated. Long since past time to get rid of it.
Where is Svidler in this list …? In the Foros report, he’s listed at 2746. Wouldn’t this make him #7?
For determining challenger… why doesn’t FIDE just establish an annual world championship match where the #2 on the FIDE ratings list will play the then current World Champion. If this match was held annually at the same time then everyone would have a chance to work there way up the ratings list.
Tim,
Svidler is 12th on the live list at 2735. He lost some points in Baku.
What’s even more impressive about Magnus’s +4 score after five rounds is that he’s done it against the top half of the field: Ivanchuk, Shirov, and Svidler are the top three in rating after Carlsen himself at Foros.
Bobby F.: you gotta be kidding. Who cares if the Live List is run by a Norwegian? The Carlsen detractors are really slumming for ammunition these days.
There is a latency in the FIDE World Championship qualifying system. Magnus Carlsen cannot play the world before earliest 2011. (IF he wins all his qualifying matches).
I’m a big fan, but still I think it will be extremely entertaining to watch him through all the upcomming tournaments. And he will have ups and downs, so plenty of nailbiting games ahead, just like what we see here in Aerosvit 2008.
BTW: According to a statement from MC a few months ago, he considered himself a lesser player than Kramnik and Anand. But just wait till 2011…
-anonymous 1:53
My remark about the ELO LIVE LIST was just a “funny fact”.
Norway was a B-nation in chess untill recently, and we are veeery proud of our chess star.
I have noted the hostility from some anonymous postings. I think they will reconsider when they see Magnus mature and develope his playing even further. When he becomes WC in 2011 the doubters will have turned into fans!
“why doesn’t FIDE just establish an annual world championship match?”
That would downgrade the Title and would result in lower interest in this event.
Give us back the old 3-Year Cycle!!!
It wouldn’t downgrade the title at all!! In fact, it would make it more relevant than ever.
A world champion who defends his championship consistently and often would be a great thing for chess! There would be much less doubt as to who is the world’s true strongest player.
And we wouldn’t have to deal with distractions such as the upcoming Topalov V Kasmky match.
Kamsky is very deserving of his place. It is wrong to insult him. He beat Carlsen in both mini-matches he played against him in 2 world cups, and I would put him as favourite over Carlsen in a match still- until Carlsen proves himself in a match. Kamsky beat karmnik 5-1, Short similarly in the 1990s but had a big break- no to be downplayed.
Kamsky never was taken to a tiebreak in the world cup apart from against Svidler – every other match 2 games was enough for a lead. Kamsky had the killer instinct himself- do not forget.
Back to Carlsen- he can win the Grand Prix series with his current form must be a favourite- and qualify that way. The current cycle is good if it all goes ahead- Kamsky-Topalov-Kramnik-Anand were the top 4 in the world bar Kasparov and Karpov in about 1996! They are true class.
Maybe a better question is whether we need the antiquated concept of a World Champion as opposed to World #1
Carlsen is 17, he will have his time. There is no need to denigrate the old-timers who have been near the top since the early 1990s. It is more important for them to make their legacies for now.
But Bobby F.–
What’s the point of this “latency”? Here we are in 2008 and Magnus is about to become the highest-rated player in the world. His time is now, he’s proving and proven himself to be the best via an objective, biasless rating system. So why cloud the issue with arbitrary 3-year waits, a complex series of shortish matches — of which he must win every one, etc? It’s plainly a worse system of decided who the world’s best player is.
It’s as silly as only publishing an “official” rating list once every three months. Why? Why not once every six months or once a year? Magnus is #2 in the world, right now, as we type. Just look at the live list.
And if he beats Alekseev tomorrow (with white!), he’ll be less than 1 rating point away from being #1.
Not in 2011, NOW!
The argument ws much stronger a few years ago when Kasparov lost his title but when on to demonstrate his superiority tournament after tournament being as high as 2851 and still being 2812 when he retired. Carlsen is not even world number 1 yes- Kasparov had a rating higher than anyone else EVER even in those last years before retirement.
The argument was much stronger a few years ago when Kasparov lost his title but went on to demonstrate his superiority tournament after tournament being as high as 2851 and still being 2812 when he retired. Carlsen is not even world number 1 yet- Kasparov had a rating higher than anyone else EVER even in those last years before retirement.
(correcting minor slips)
“So why cloud the issue with arbitrary 3-year waits, a complex series of shortish matches — of which he must win every one, etc?”
You don’t know anything about the world championship cycle, do you?
I am a little sceptical about Magnus’s archivment. How to prove, he doesn’t cheat ? 17 years old, and close to 2800 elo ?!.
“Carlsen is 17, he will have his time. There is no need to denigrate the old-timers who have been near the top since the early 1990s. It is more important for them to make their legacies for now.”
In my humblest opinion, I beleive the greatest honor the old timers can have is the title BBM infron of their “Super GM” titles.
What is BBM you ask?
BBM = Beaten By Magnus.
That’s my boy!
BTW, I’m still alive!
-Bobby
to anon 2:44:00 PM :
If he wins tomorrow his live rating will be 2796.4, while Anand has 2798.1. So it is not less than a point below Anand.
But he will then be about 2802 with a win the next day (+ or – 0.5 depending on opposition)
“For determining challenger… why doesn’t FIDE just establish an annual world championship match where the #2 on the FIDE ratings list will play the then current World Champion.”
And why on earth should the number 2 be chosen to play a match against the reigning champion and not the number 1???
Being #1 on the rating list and being a world champion are two completely different things.
above post- I added to Anand’s score by mistake, make 2802 as 2800.3 more like (+ or – 0.5)
I think it is very likely that he will be 2800+ on the live list with wins in next 2 games (who does he play after Alekseev?)
Tournaments are not matches. Even if he wins 1st place in 10 supertournaments in a row, he might lose the all important match ( remember Kasparov?)
Anonymous1:17
>>>he [Topalov] won a tournament in 2005 and lost a match in 2006; that’s it. What is he doing in the current WCC cycle at all???
He is the 3rd best player in the world. One of the 3 that Carlsen has not been able to do well against.
It is one thing for Carlsen to pull a 3084 or +4 or 4.5/5 performance in a tourment where the averge rating is 2711 (and don’t get me wrong I am amazed) but its another thing when you play the top super GMs straight on. Anand still eats him for breakfast and he just got his real first win again Kramnik in round 12 at Corus this year.
So why is Topalov in the WCC, because he is one of the top super GM. He will eat Kamsky alive and while Carlsen may be able to pull a +2 against Leko at this point if Topalov was on he would eat him up.
(Don’t get me wrong, I have been following Carlsen for some time now and I am rooting for him all the way.)
Seo Company, what are you talking about?! Look up how the last two games between Carlsen and Topalov ended – Carlsen won, once even deploying Alekhine’s defence. All of these guys are great players and general statements like these are just nonsense
“What’s the point of this “latency”? Here we are in 2008 and Magnus is about to become the highest-rated player in the world. His time is now, he’s proving and proven himself to be the best via an objective, biasless rating system. So why cloud the issue with arbitrary 3-year waits, a complex series of shortish matches — of which he must win every one, etc? It’s plainly a worse system of decided who the world’s best player is.
It’s as silly as only publishing an “official” rating list once every three months. Why? Why not once every six months or once a year? Magnus is #2 in the world, right now, as we type. Just look at the live list.”
Yes, I agree. It’s silly that FIDE cannot run their own ELO LIVE LIST. Doesn’t FIDE know about Internet and Excel?! Is FIDE run by old farts in brown suits? (Sorry for the bad language). At least that is the impression they give here. BTW: Kudos to the Norwegian enthusiast who do the job on a non-profesional basis!
Regarding the 3 year cycle, there is a similarity to the Olympic Games: Each individual has to pre-qualify and the winner holds the title for 4 years.
Regarding Magnus I think it’s more correct to say that he is probably top 3 today. But IF he keeps up the extreme progress, then he will become number one within short time. But he isn’t QUITE there today. Lets see next FIDE tournament, when he will meet Anand…
Hopefully Magnus will be around for another 20 years. After becoming legendary WC for a number of years, he will become international superstar and be a great ambassador for chess. He’s going to double the popularity of chess worldwide and chess will become an olympic event! Just be a litle patient in the opening of the game and the chess society will be rewarded with victory. Like Magnus’ play against Shirov today. He-he.
SEO Company, “Anand still eats him for breakfast”
That’s not entirely true. What’s true is that Magnus has not beaten Anand except in blitz. Fact is: Anand was shaken by Magnus in Corus, but Magnus lost hist understanding of the position. Anand later said he thought he was about to lose.
We’ll see how Anand manage next time. In the mean time Magnus has solved his “Leko-problem”. Perhaps he solves his “Volokitin-problem” in a few days.
“That’s not entirely true. What’s true is that Magnus has not beaten Anand except in blitz.”
That is wrong. Magnus has beaten Anand in both blitz and rapid (but not in classical).
Also, I don’t know what the guy based his wrong claims on that Topalov own Magnus, it’s the other way around.
Anonymous3:28
>>>what are you talking about?! Look up how the last two games between Carlsen and Topalov ended
Ya I guess I should have looked before I spoke. Carlsen won 3 lost 1 tied 2 in the last 2 years for classic games.
2. Carlsen vs Topalov 1-0 64 2007 Linares-Morelia
3. Topalov vs Carlsen ½-½ 25 2007 Linares-Morelia
5. Topalov vs Carlsen 1-0 26 2007 Corus
6. Topalov vs Carlsen 0-1 43 2008 Morelia-Linares
8. Topalov vs Carlsen ½-½ 56 2008 Corus
9. Carlsen vs Topalov 1-0 37 2008 Morelia-Linares
Carlsen vs Topalov
Anonymous3:37
>>>That’s not entirely true.
Well look at the classic games. 2007/2008 Anand 7 wins 0 losses 3 draws. I would call that eating him for breakfast.
Carlsen vs Anand
While Carlsen is growing fast he still is no match for Anand or Kramnik
Vladimir Kramnik beat Magnus Carlsen 4 to 1, with 5 draws
Carlsen vs Kramnik
I think what is clear is that Magnus is progressing at an amazing rate. Maybe this is his “I just got good” (to quote Fischer) year. I’ve always enjoyed his creative and dynamic chess, from his earliest games, and I’m thrilled to see him riding this style to the top. Go!
Brad H.
Anonymous3:47
>>>Also, I don’t know what the guy based his wrong claims on that Topalov own Magnus, it’s the other way around.
Ya I retract that (I didn’t check my facts on that one, sorry). Its hard for me to believe that Carlsen is better than Topalov. Seems like I just woke up out of a dream.
The above posters who suggest that Magnus might have trouble against Anand or Topalov or Kramnik have, I think, not taken into account the fact that, as a young player, he has likely gotten better since his recent games with those top players. Fischer, after all, didn’t have all that great a record against Spassky until the 1972 WCC.
Brad H.
**Today he let Shirov know that time has passed for Shirov.**
lol. did you see the game. Carsen played the most boring game ever. Shirov got bored and played a cooperative mat in 3 🙂
Magnus-ificent!
“Vladimir Kramnik beat Magnus Carlsen 4 to 1, with 5 draws”
Yeah but at classical controls Carlsen and Kramnik are 1-1. Kramnik’s other wins were blitz, blindfold, and rapid games.
With his last 3 games, Magnus has emphazised that chess is not only a mindgame but also a sport.
When you meet him in a tournament, you have to be prepared to play nonstop for +5 hours. You must eat well and correct food in advance. You must be in physical good shape, and be prepared for extreme stressful playing with only 30seconds left for several moves in a long endgame, lasting 60 – 80 moves. THAT’S SPORT!
Magnus represents the new generation chess players!
I still think Kamsky would beat Carlsen in a match too.
He has won 2 world cup minimatches against him- improving the second time around. He showed his match prowess in the 1990s and again in the last world cup even in just 2 games he needed only 1 tiebreak.
well ! whatever you say, if Carlsen becomes numero uno after this tournament, all the players will get a cold …
Carlsen is 17 …
that he suddenly jump in a way that nobody quite understand – even if it was higly predictable – and goes beyond 2800 at that age,
well !
just give the name of another player who did what Carlsen is doing RIGHT NOW
That is only 1 of his 7 matches was 1-1 after 2 games.
Kamsky was in the world top ten at 15 or 16- the one I was just talking about!
we’re not talking about top 10 here mister
WE ARE TALKING HISTORY
You are talking FUTURE more than history. Carlsen is not world champion yet. Kamsky might not have had the highest ratings (Kasparov and Karpov were still around much stronger than Anand/Kramnik) but he was one of the ‘third best’ players, and he was devastating in matchplay beating Kramnik (yes Kramnik) 5-1.
Suopertournament wise- Aronian has done as well as Carlsen (Aronian played less supertournaments despite being 7 years or so older- age is not everything- Carlsen has much more experience than you’d think.)
Kasparov aged 19 or 20 maybe had similar experience?
mag would curbstomp kamsky in a longer match with energy and vigor.
Kamsky was nowhere near magnus current strength when he was 17
Ivanchuk is my hero in this list. To make amove like that after being a top-20 player for so long.
Just brilliant!
Carlsen can win all he wants and go up the ratings list all he wants until he becomes high up and UNREACHABLE.
But Anand will always have access to Carlsen. Anand has his number!!! LOL.
I have created the 50th comment!
Blah! Blah! PPfffffttttt!
Now for some mindless rant:
Kamnik! Anand! Carlsen! Obama! Richard Simmons! Toilet! The Devil! Shaved Hamsters! Russian Conspiracy! Danialov’s suppository! Cold Haggis! The Cake is a lie! Roast Beef and wrinkled Potato.
1. e4 e5
2. f4 exf4
3. Bc4 Qh4+?!
4. Kf1 b5?!
5. Bxb5 Nf6
6. Nf3 Qh6
7. d3 Nh5
8. Nh4 Qg5
9. Nf5 c6
10. g4 Nf6
11. Rg1! cxb5?
12. h4! Qg6
13. h5 Qg5
14. Qf3 Ng8
15. Bxf4 Qf6
16. Nc3 Bc5
17. Nd5!? Qxb2
18. Bd6! Bxg1?
19. e5! Qx
20. Ke2 Na6
21. Nxg7+ Kd8
22. Qf6+! Nxf6
23. Be7# 1-0
Thank you.