Coaching ‘Mozart’
By Lubomir Kavalek
Special to Washington Post
Monday, September 14, 2009; 10:06 AM
Magnus Carlsen, the Mozart of Chess, as we nicknamed him five years ago, picked up a solid coach: The Norwegian superstar began working with Garry Kasparov six months ago.
What can the former world champion bring to the plate? Experience and advice, Kasparov says. That’s plenty. Some may argue that accessing important game databases with a few keystrokes and mouse-clicks replaces experience. But there is no substitute for Kasparov’s laptop loaded with good ideas waiting to be unleashed.
Carlsen and Kasparov will discuss specific openings and the transition to the middlegame. Kasparov was always an excellent researcher of dynamic openings. He can spot important games quickly and dismiss the junk. Together, they may be tweaking some variations, rebuilding others. Kasparov can explain not only the sharp, edgy variations, but he can also teach stability and safety. He can help to find weaknesses in games of other players and advise Carlsen how to exploit them. By narrowing down the enormous amount of information available today, Kasparov can save Carlsen time and energy and give him more confidence.
Kasparov will also profit from working with Carlsen. It will help him in the upcoming matches against Anatoly Karpov. The former Soviet rivals will celebrate the 25th anniversary of their first world championship match with gigs in Valencia, Spain (Sept. 21-24), and in Paris (Dec. 11-13).
Here is the full article.
Kasparov said that Magnus hasn’t won any major tournament since they started working together?! Time to sack him, hahaha.
Anyway, how can Magnus play Gary’s variations, when they two are of completely different style? Magnus is too old to change his style now.
My guess is both are just attracting sponsors to get more money from politicians pockets transferred to chessicians pockets.
Kasparov was and still is a league of his own, no doubt about that. But whether he can convey his knowledge, skill and insights to someone else, genius themselves though they may be, remains to be seen.
I don’t think Magnus not having won a major tournament yet is a sign that their cooperation is failing. He is being shown many new things. It takes a while for that knowledge to settle down and be incorporated into Magnus’ playing style.
Perhaps Magnus also attracted Kasparov to help become a strong brand, like the master himself still is. No doubt this will pay off in the long run.
What psychological aspects are involved here? Does the knowledge that your opponent is being taught by the Great Gari Kasparov, aside from being a chess genius of his own accord, instill perhaps a little fear and nervousness. Not a lot, but just enough to subconsciously move away from more dangerous lines, letting yourself be lead into the territory of Magnus himself, like a fisherman throwing stones to drive the fish towards the bait.
When is Magnus’ next opportunity to show the world his
Kasparov should consider sacking Magnus, not vice-versa. It’s prime time the coaches take over the world of chess from the players who don’t improve. In football, the coach sacks the footballer, not vice-versa.
Okay, great Kasparov is teaching Magnus, but Kasparov knows nothing about beating Vladimir Kramnik who will alway punish Magnus now, especially with Kasparov’s faulty teaching. It is only because FIDE took the World Champion title from Kramnik that Magnus will have a shot at winning it from Anand or Topalov. Once Kramnik regains control Magnus will be up against another Berlin Wall that he and his teacher will have no defense against.
Kasparov will help Magnus become a champion ! Period !
Good post Jetze.