Boris Gelfand – 5 reasons why Boris did very well in Mexico City
1. He was absolutely well prepared. He has an incredibly professional approach.
2. He had a good edge over several other players because of his team. He and GM Huzman have been friends for a long time and they have worked together very well over the years. It is very important to have a second who knows you inside out and who you trust completely. GM Eljanov is very strong and competent. He offered a different perspective to his game and perhaps even repertoire.
3. His experience! Boris has been at the top for a long time. He knew that he may not have that many more years left so he gave it everything he had in this World Championship. His motivational level was higher than many of the younger players and it showed. He has also played all the top players so nerve was not a factor. He’s used to it.
4. Pride! Other than Anand who had the incredible support from the Indian community, Leko from the Hungarian community, Boris has wonderful support from his own community. They came to support him during the games. This gave him quite a boost.
5. Expectation! Most people did not have high expectation of Boris so he had little pressure. He could be himself and play the way he’s capable of.
What is your take? Do you agree or disagree? Do you have more to add?
How about luck?
He himself said that he took one game at a time.
All the players said similar things.
Susan
I like your reasons. They sound good. I felt Gelfand did better than expected also. I have a lot more respect for him now. He earned it.
Susan
Do you know the official position for Kramnik and Gelfand. Some say they tied and some say Gelfand did .25 less on tie breaks and was 3rd. No one mentions the money. No one mentions the official end position.
Did FIDE officially put Gelfand in a tie for 2nd with Kramnik and did they split money equally. Or did they use tiebreaks on them and Gelfand got 3rd officially.
No one seems to know for certain the official situation. The article on Chessbase shows Gelfand as 3rd.
http://www.chessbase.com/newsdetail.asp?newsid=4155
Thank you Susan
I have Gelfand’s book on his games! It is no surprise to me he did so well, it is more of a surprise to me when he doesn’t!
Ultimately, it all comes down to who won. Gelfand did not. Folks can complain about unfair “rules,” how one must now “defeat” Kramnik to be the “real” world champ…but, when it comes down to the bottom line…it doesn’t matter what people say on this blog.
Anand is the new world champ. I’m no fan of his or any of the people that played for the title. I think the “super GM’s” are so egotistical and so far detached from the real world that they do not represent the vast majority of chess players.
I’m far more intersted in who is going to be the next state champion from where I live than who will be the next world champ.
Anand, Kramnick, Topalov, Gelfand,etc…they have made their fortune…so who cares?
You might. That’s fine. But, in the chess clubs around Slovakia, the USA, and Prague…I haven’t heard their names very much…
My impression is that they all need to be more like GM Susan and promote chess. Everyone seems to think Anand is some type of chess saint…he wouldn’t play at this level is he wasn’t assured a large payday.
The same goes for the rest of the top-10.
Anand…big deal. He’ll keep his “great” title for a few months and will be defeated…and, in turn, that person will be defeated also.
Kramnick is better than Anand insofar in that, if he really chooses to play “not to lose”…Anand would not be able to defeat him.
Doesn’t matter. People can waste their time and energy writing on this blog about the WCC…but, ask yourself:
Does Anand, or any rcent world champ reallly care what YOU think? No. They don’t. When they play for no prize money and truly prove that they plsy only because they love the game, thnen they deserve respec.
I’m tired of GM egos…it’s so pathethic!
I think more people on this blog need to worry about making a difference and not worry about some multi-millionare Indian player that accidentaly won the title.
Who cares??????????????
hallo,
@ least I am interested in opinion of others.
I like hear what others say.
And sometimes I change my mind a bit.
(btw… some call this learning)
I do not like too much when others say: hey, who cares?!
Because there is a lot of sort WHO CARES.
thx
KK, Dortmund
To Anon..
I think more people on this blog need to worry about making a difference and not worry about some multi-millionare Indian player that accidentaly won the title.
Accidentally won ? In which world do you live ?
To the anonymous communist:
What’s wrong with the Super GMs raking in big money? If people want to pay them a lot, then I don’t see who’s to stop them? It’s demand and supply, free market, capitalist world.
These players have worked hard to reach where they are. They got into it because of the love of the game, and the money is a consequence of that. Talent and hard work are to be rewarded. Which world do you live in?
Hi Susan,
Your analysis of Gelfand’s success is great! I think you put together all ( or almost all) of the reasons for Gelfand’s success. Earlier during the WC you also mentioned that Gelfand’s recent marriage has been a stabilizing psychological influence and indeed Gelfand had gained from his new status. Luck can also be a factor like anon 3:58 had suggested. I think we have to wait for Corus to see if Gelfand’s preformance in the WC was or was not a mere accident.
I think it just goes to show jews and brahmins r the most intelligent species on earth.
what do u think susan about the jew n brahmin thing? They seem to be the most advanced intelectually. Most successful people in America r either jews or indian brahmins…in my opinin..!!
i think that raps it out nicely, maybe also he played better than other times and i think he had a special motivition competing against kramnki and anand!
jb.
p.d. what is Irina KRush doing these days, do u see her at all since u moved to txs, nice pictures of the college game by the way,
Gelfand was always one of the best. I was one of the few who predicted a Gelfand win over Kamsky in the run up to the World Championships.
As for Jews and Brahmins being super intelligent all I can say is that “too many intelligent cooks can spoil tne broth”. Average intelligence coupled with social responsibility will go a long way in making this world a happier place. That said,a few super intelligent geniuses ( like the great Bobby himself ) do make the world and the chess scene in particular that much more interesting!
As for complaints that these chess super GM’s are paid too much – what a load of rubbish! Boorish Sportstars and drugged up popstars get paid a lot more and,they have a whole lot of fun making that kind of money. Chess is hard work. I mean mentally. I guess some jealous people out there would like to see Chess supertalents die in abject poverty like Steinitz did!!
Susan Hello,
As an Israeli I would like to say that Gelfand brought so much pride to our state! Unfortunately, Israel has very little great sporting achievements, so this one was just something incredible!
I personally think (and maybe inside Gelfand thinks the same) that Boris didn’t fulfill his chess potential fully along his career. Maybe some crisises during his life caused that (his parents’ immigration to the U.S.A., his immigration to Israel, etc.), and maybe something else.
However, he always was a great player, and proved it once again in Mexico.
Best Wishes,
YEVLEV, Israel.
Mr. Gelfand result was good, bun not too surprising to me. He was very well prepared (his Petroff was inexpugnable), and won 3 games against over-extending opponents (moro and Aronian twice).
He is officially 3rd place, because of Sonnemborn-Berger tiebreak (after personal match and total wins did not resolve the tie vs. Kramnik), but share the money for 2nd-3rd. It is a pity, because he deserved to be remembered as vice-champion, after his carreer was hurted by the demise of matches in the 90s.
Finally, I have met Mr. Gelfand a few times, and he is really a caring man. I hope he gets another good run in the next cycle.