Picture courtesy of ChessBase
Super GM Van Wely and young phenom Magnus Carlsen played a 4-game match in the town of Schagen in northern Holland.
Van Wely won game 1. Carlsen won game 2. They drew game 3 and 4. Therefore, the match ended in a 2-2 tie. In the blitz playoff, Carlsen won 3.5 – .5.
Congratulations to Magnus Carlsen. He continues to prove to the world that he is the real deal!
Chess Daily News from Susan Polgar
Kasparov has spoken highly of Carlsen as well. I’m definitely keeping my eye on this kid and studying his games. He seems to have the aura of a future world champion.
Who is Vsn Wely?
Magnus did not really survive the opening in the first game. Then he seemed to have forgot spring, girls, whatever … and played concentrated. Got warmed up and showed good chess. A real deal indeed.
But in the upcoming Aronian – Carslsen match Aronian of course is the favourite.
Why on earth would they bother with a blitz playoff in a semi-casual match? Why can’t people be satisfied with a tie? Nothing wrong with that. Can you imagine if the Lasker-Schlecter match had been decided by a couple of blitz games?
I can see why he won. He used the ultimate chess psychology. He showed up in a shirt that says “Champion” on the front. Remind me to try that at the World Open.
classplayer good observation of the champion shirt subliminal message. I didnt even think of that. My first impression was Carlsen was trying to be trendy like the American kids wearing designer shirts. Also I read Korchnoi said Magnus has a lot of promise of all the young players.
TFK
Well, the reason that Magnus wears Champion shirts all the time is because, suprisingly, he is sponsored by Champion. And he is sponsored by Microsoft Norway. Magnus is now confirmed for the 39th Biel Festival, a 6-man GM group with among others another teen star, Radjabov.
Marcus Lemmond
said…
Why on earth would they bother with a blitz playoff in a semi-casual match? Why can’t people be satisfied with a tie?’
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The bank who sponsored the match wanted a winner, and I like it.