The matchups to watch today are the 2 young phenoms versus the 2 world champions: Carlsen vs Topalov and Karjakin vs Anand. What is your prediction?
Standings in Blindfold:
1. Carlsen 3½
2. Ivanchuk 3
Kramnik 3
Morozevich 3
Topalov 3
6-9. Aronian 2½
Karjakin 2½
Leko 2½
Van Wely 2½
10. Anand 2
11. Mamedyarov 1½
12. Gelfand 1
Standings in Rapid:
1. Aronian 4
2. Anand 3½
3. Leko 3
4-9. Gelfand 2½
Ivanchuk 2½
Karjakin 2½
Kramnik 2½
Mamedyarov 2½
Topalov 2½
10. Carlsen 2
11. Van Wely 1½
12. Morozevich 1
Today’s matchups:
Blindfold:
Karjakin-Anand
Carlsen-Topalov
Aronian-Mamedyarov
Ivanchuk-Leko
Van Wely-Morozevich
Gelfand-Kramnik
Rapid:
Anand-Karjakin
Topalov-Carlsen
Mamedyarov-Aronian
Leko-Ivanchuk
Morozevich-Van Wely
Kramnik-Gelfand
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
The kids will crush the champs. It’s their time.
KICK ASS MAGNUS!
Karjakin vs Anand —0/2
Carlsen vs Topalov—1/1
Has this kid even reached puberty? He might be on top now, but he’ll but wouldn’t be healthy for his life if he, well…had a “life” and a girlfriend, and went to college and get an education and…
enjoy the best years of one’s life.
Outside of the game of chess…he’s just a kid that needs to be guided to get a good college education, realize that there’s more to life than a game of chess, and, after getting an education and growing up then, if he decides (as Kamsky did by quitting, going to law school, getting an education, and…ummm, married like normal people) to come back and be #1 then good for him!
But….he’s rather weird for not wanting to pursue girls and a college education.
He is NOT weird – I think he seems like one of the more balanced grandmasters out there. How do you know he doesn’t have a girlfriend or want a college education anyway? And just because someone makes chess one of their priorities does not make them weird.
How do you know he does? I’m just saying that, from a purely psychiatric perspective, it’s much more “normal” for a teenager to devote more time to what we all know teenagers do: date, rebel against authority, go to college, etc.
I’m not insulting the young man. I greatly respect his chess ability. I am merely stating that it might be better for him, as a young man, to consider that there is more to life than chess…that, perhaps, he should pursue a higher education…
Now, he might be….I admit that I don’t really know. Yet, I’ve never read a word stating that he intended any future other than chess.
All I’m saying is that chess has become, apparently, an obsession for this young man. A single obsession, upon anything at his age is not healthy in psychological circles. I don’t know him. He might have a dozen women a night (and day). but, I rather doubt it. And, he might plan to be a neurosurgeon…but I doubt it.
There is more to life than chess. Especially for teenagers. he might make plenty of money now…but who can predict the future?
Say, in 10 years? So many people think he’ll be world champ or in the top 10…perhaps he will be. Good for him if he is! But, what if he is NOT?
Then what does he have? A decade that could have been spent becoming a doctor, a scientist…or any profession that his analytical skills would excel at.
What is wrong with saying he should pursue other fields? Again, maybe he is and/or plans to. That’s great if he does.
However, to be solely focused upon chess at that age is not considered healthy amongst mental health professionals.
I just think there are more important things in life for a youngster like him to concern himself with than just a game….even if it makes him lots of money now…
there is more to life than chess.
And, deep down, we all know that.
I don’t agree with the above. You want to call it obsession. But others may see it as passion. It always makes sense to pursue something you are good at and passionate about. That’s what will ultimately make you happy and motivate you to work hard at whatever you are doing and boost your chances of success.
If Magnus wants to pursue a career in chess, then so be it. I believe he’s already attending a special school in Norway designed for sportspersons. Ultimately after he gets his Bachelor’s, he will have to decide between a full-time chess career or going in for higher studies, but that should be his call to make. And based on media reports, I believe he also enjoys other outdoor activities, such as soccer and tennis.
Well, I admitted that I didn’t know. there isn’t a lot said in the media of GM Carlsen. There is nothing wrong with having a strong “passion” for a sport. And, truly, I am sure Carlsen’s family wants him to be trained in a good career outside of chess and then, afterwards, it’s up to him.
I wish him the very best. He’s a genius at chess…and I’m just speaking in general terms. really, all I’m saying is that all chess GM’s should have something other than chess to “fall back upon” to earn a living.
It’s a fact that only a very few people can really earn a living from chess…of course the top 5 ranked players are probably making good money. But, there are hundreds of GM’s and I just hope that the GM’s of the future, or superstars of any sport, aren’t blinded.
You can’t have your cake and eat it too! After a certain point, you can only devote your time, energy, and resources to any one particular activity full-time, if you wish to become a professional in that area.
So if you feel, you have it in you to make it big in the chess world, provided you work really hard, then you need to burn your bridges and go for it. By now, I am sure Carlsen has got a pretty good idea of what’s needed of him to become No.1 in the game, having played with the best players and in the best tourneys. The moment he tries to create something to fall back on, he’s using his resources less than optimally on several initiatives and risks not making it big in any of his ventures.
Sometimes it is better to be the Master of one trade than to be the Jack of all trades.