According to our friends at Chessdom, the drawing of lots gave 1 to Carlsen, 2 to Morozevich, 3 Gelfand, 4 Aronian, 5 Ivanchuk, 6 Anand, 7 Svidler, 8 Ponomariov, 9 Leko, and 10 Kramnik. That means that Carlsen, Morozevich, Gelfand, Aronian, and Ivanchuk have an extra White game.
Here are the matchups for round 1 at the 2009 Tal Memorial:
Carlsen – Kramnik
Morozevich – Leko
Ivanchuk – Anand
Gelfand – Ponomariov
Aronian – Svidler
Your prediction?
Chessdom also has live coverage here http://tournaments.chessdom.com/tal-memorial-live-games. This for sure will be an exciting event.
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Carlsen – Kramnik 1 – 0
Morozevich – Leko 1 – 0
Ivanchuk – Anand 1/2-1/2
Gelfand – Ponomariov 1/2-1/2
Aronian – Svidler 1/2-1/2
Carlsen – Kramnik 1/2
Morozevich – Leko 1/2
Ivanchuk – Anand 1-0
Gelfand – Ponomariov 1-0
Aronian – Svidler 1/2
Carlsen – Kramnik 0 – 1
Morozevich – Leko 1/2
Ivanchuk – Anand 0 – 1
Gelfand – Ponomariov 1 – 0
Aronian – Svidler 1 – 0
Carlsen – Kramnik 1/2 – 1/2
Morozevich – Leko 1/2 – 1/2
Ivanchuk – Anand 0 – 1
Gelfand – Ponomariov 1/2-1/2
Aronian – Svidler 1 – 0
c-k 1-0
m-l 1/2
i-a 0-1
g-p 1/2
a-s 1-0
zzz
Carlsen – Kramnik 1/2
Morozevich – Leko 1/2
Ivanchuk – Anand 1/2
Gelfand – Ponomariov 1-0
Aronian – Svidler 1-0
Carlsen – Kramnik 1/2
Morozevich – Leko 1-0
Ivanchuk – Anand 1/2
Gelfand – Ponomariov 1-0
Aronian – Svidler 1-0
Let’s see who’s prediction is accurate.
Calsen given a big break gets White vs. Kramnik (Rd1), Aronian (Rd4), and Anand (Rd6). Not bad!
Carlsen – Kramnik 1/2
Morozevich – Leko 1-0
Ivanchuk – Anand 0-1
Gelfand – Ponomariov 1/2
Aronian – Svidler 1-0
I just asked my crystal ball and that’s what it says:
Carlsen will play 1.d4
Morozevich will sacrifice a piece
Ivanchuk will lose on time
Gelfand will not lose on time
Aronian will be the first to draw
I predict that you will give us lots of insightful analysis of the games which only you can do.
Carlsen-Kramnik draw 29 moves
Morozevich-Leko 1-0 43 moves
Ivanchuk-Anand draw 46 moves
Gelfand-Ponomariov 1-0 59 moves
Aronian-Svidler 0-1 47 moves
Carlsen – Kramnik 1/2 – 1/2
Morozevich – Leko 1/2 – 1/2
Ivanchuk – Anand 1/2 – 1/2
Gelfand – Ponomariov 1/2-1/2
Aronian – Svidler 1 – 0