18-11-2015, 01:01 AM
Finally we showed that we could play as a team and get a result!
Andy M. had a solid draw as white, while I messed up a bit in my preparation and then missed the few chances which came my way.
Fortunately, just as I was resigning, Alan launched a vicious attack on the dark squares around his opponent's king. Almost impossible to defend in practice, and so it proved - Alan getting a well-deserved win and levelling the match.
This left Graham to try to eke out a win to take the match, but his opponent found a fortress and a draw. Still an excellent day's play from the Scots and a much-needed result for everyone before tomorrow's rest day.
Hopefully today's result will restore a bit of faith on the team's ability to play chess - I for one was getting a bit worried. After the rest day we have Austria in round 6. Not sure of our team yet but we are hopeful of taking something from the match.
England's men unfortunately lost today which puts them out of contention realistically, while Carlsen committed a gross blunder in a simple endgame (he basically chucked a piece in one move) to lose to Switzerland's Pelletier.
He doesn't seem overly interested/concerned about his results (just my impression of course) and might be better off not playing these events if he can't summon up the same intensity for his country as he shows as an individual. About 5 minutes after his loss he was walking about laughing and smiling.
There are tours arranged for tomorrow, but they are extremely pricey. £60 for a day tour? Hmmm. Alan has signed up for the football while I might pop into the international backgammon tournament - I know nothing about the game but am supposed to interview a backgammon champion/author soon for work so might as well get some tips!
P.S. Andy M and myself got a ticking off about talking (while my game was still going). Of course we weren't discussing the game, but the paranoia around cheating is huge at this event (and elsewhere nowadays).
They introduced hand-held body-scanners today, to complement the airport scanners at the entrance. I got scanned on the way-in, scanned at the smoker's area and scanned again at the toilets. It would have been much easier if they had just looked at my game - pretty bloody obvious I wasn't cheating!!
As of tomorrow no-one is allowed to wear a watch either. Upon this announcement Andy M pulled an old watch-face from his pocket (circa-1970, minus a strap!) and asked how he would tell the time if it wasn't allowed. Sundials and star positions from now on I guess. Sad state of affairs, but the reality of the game in 2015.
Andy M. had a solid draw as white, while I messed up a bit in my preparation and then missed the few chances which came my way.
Fortunately, just as I was resigning, Alan launched a vicious attack on the dark squares around his opponent's king. Almost impossible to defend in practice, and so it proved - Alan getting a well-deserved win and levelling the match.
This left Graham to try to eke out a win to take the match, but his opponent found a fortress and a draw. Still an excellent day's play from the Scots and a much-needed result for everyone before tomorrow's rest day.
Hopefully today's result will restore a bit of faith on the team's ability to play chess - I for one was getting a bit worried. After the rest day we have Austria in round 6. Not sure of our team yet but we are hopeful of taking something from the match.
England's men unfortunately lost today which puts them out of contention realistically, while Carlsen committed a gross blunder in a simple endgame (he basically chucked a piece in one move) to lose to Switzerland's Pelletier.
He doesn't seem overly interested/concerned about his results (just my impression of course) and might be better off not playing these events if he can't summon up the same intensity for his country as he shows as an individual. About 5 minutes after his loss he was walking about laughing and smiling.
There are tours arranged for tomorrow, but they are extremely pricey. £60 for a day tour? Hmmm. Alan has signed up for the football while I might pop into the international backgammon tournament - I know nothing about the game but am supposed to interview a backgammon champion/author soon for work so might as well get some tips!
P.S. Andy M and myself got a ticking off about talking (while my game was still going). Of course we weren't discussing the game, but the paranoia around cheating is huge at this event (and elsewhere nowadays).
They introduced hand-held body-scanners today, to complement the airport scanners at the entrance. I got scanned on the way-in, scanned at the smoker's area and scanned again at the toilets. It would have been much easier if they had just looked at my game - pretty bloody obvious I wasn't cheating!!
As of tomorrow no-one is allowed to wear a watch either. Upon this announcement Andy M pulled an old watch-face from his pocket (circa-1970, minus a strap!) and asked how he would tell the time if it wasn't allowed. Sundials and star positions from now on I guess. Sad state of affairs, but the reality of the game in 2015.