The matchups for the semifinals will be the young guns versus the experience:
Kamsky USA – Carlsen NOR
Shirov ESP – Karjakin UKR
What do you predict? Who will make it to the final?
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
The final four is set
this is tough question ! they’re all playing very very well !!!
i’d say SHIROV – CARLSEN
I Also think Shirov-Carlsen. They both play excellent! I think Shirov will win the World Cup, but i hope Magnus will win it!
Shirov Carlsen definitely have the advantage. However, Kamsky has a chance. Including all games played up to today, Carlsen will have a higher elo rating therefore he gets the edge. Kamsky has more match experience which might help.
It might come down to Kamsky having a second to help him prepare the openings. Carlsen has gotten great help from his second. That has been a big factor in his success at the world cup. I have heard nothing about Kamsky having a second. America just has to help Kamsky with a good second. This requires a long term committment. It is not something that can be turned on and off like a light switch. It takes time to build a strong relationship between the player and his second.
If Kamsky is going it alone again then he has much less chance. Seconds are needed at the very top level especially where the players are changed every few days.
Carlsen has now worked with a few different seconds. This must be a big advantage. his 2nd in world cup has come up with several winning ideas for Magnus.
I just find it amazing the difference in attitude. For Carlsen it is almost assumed that a second will be there at all times. and for Kamsky it is just assumed that no one will help him out. What a disgrace America the richest country does nothing for its best players.
I am just about ready to throw the uscf out with the bath water. about ready for a new professional organization.
Well Carlsen is paying his second ou of his own pocket. If Gata wanted to he could of course have done that himself…
The last posting misrepresents facts quite a bit.
Carlsen has bad a second in less than 10 tournaments in his career. This is only the 2nd time he has had Kjetil Lie as a second.
From what I hear Kamsky does indeed have Sutovsky as a second in this face of the World Cup and Sutovsky is a stronger player than Lie.
Magnus Carlsen has never got any state support for training or seconds in Norway, while Kamsky probably (but I don’t know for sure) got a lot of support in his early days.
The chessgames.com database shows that in the past karjakin has dominated Shirov, 4 wins to 1 with 1 draw. But of course Shirov seems to be in his best form in a decade.
In the past Kamsky has beaten Carlsen 4 to 2, with 2 draws. But of course Carlsen is improving rapidly. Most recently they split at the World Blitz Cup.
Kamsky vs Shirov
Kamsky will out-prepare Carlsen and Shirov is playing too well to lose.
karjakin is quite mysterious and i believe he can create a surprise against shirov
carlsen is like a rock, i can’t see kamsky winning …
i still think that SHIROV CARLSEN will be the final
with CARLSEN as a winner … IF so, topalov can shiver cause this kid is evolving so fast, while shirov can’t play at this level for another year … ( even if i’d like too of course )
not to forget that topalov knows shirov, while he can not know what carlsen will be in a year …
think about it …
Karjakin has 4-1 (=1) against Shirov!! 3-0 this year: Corus, Aerosvit, Creta. Hmm… Very interesting.
Shirov will beat Karjakin 1 1/2 to 1/2. Kamsky and Carlsen will go into rapid playoffs, where Carlsen will win.
Don’t underestimate Kamsky in match play. What happened to all those who thought Svidler would beat him? Shirov can’t keep it up. I’d rate him as least likely of the 4 to win it all. Kamsky-Carlsen winner takes the cup.
I predict Kamsky will win the cup, beating Shirov 3.5-0.5 in the final. That would say something to Anand!(remember 2000? Anand beat Shirov there 3.5-0.5)
Kamsky’s past behaviour reveals that he is more a thug than gentleman chess player. I sure hope that sombody gives him a thorough pasting.Any of the others may win,but is there anybody among them who will be able to cope with the ‘great’ Topailov!!! Then perhaps Kamsky should win as Topialov vs Kamsky will be Thug vs Thug.
Neither Kamsky nor Topalov are thugs.
This is just a disgusting slander.
You are looking for a thug ? See Kramnik…
a thug !!! AH AH AH !!! you intellectuals behind glasses !!! go in the suburbs once in your life to see the difference between topalov kramnik kamsky and a thug !!!!!!
becarefull … BOOOOOOOOOOU !
carlsen – Karjakin for the final
and the winner will damage the loser for a long long time …
All four are not match for the Bulgarian lion.
Anonymous,
Kamsky is a gentleman on and off the board.
You can not blame the son for the sins of the Father. Specially when the son was under age.
Shirov vs Topalov is match made in Heaven
Shirov will win. Shirov is the best. Come on Shirov!!
The Kiddie Show is Over.
Shirov v Kamsky will continue the quest for the MEN’S World Championship.
You children worshipers should go back to Holland and smoke some more dope.
they will don’t worry, once the tournament is over, with a big smile on their face
and the olders will go back to their booooze
Kamsky & Shirov should advance but it should be interesting.
Kamsky will defeat Carlsen and I think he’ll pull an upset and defeat Shirov. There’s a good reason he’s rated above 2700 and I think he is proving that he’s back into form again.
Kamsky will win this tournament.
it’s too late, Carlsen and Karjakin are on their way …
the winner will take a huge advantage for their next fight in the future