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World Chess Championships 1999

Goddesschess Dissects the Decision
JanXena's Posts

 

Jan Newton - 01:14pm Aug 5, 1999 MST (#1189 )

Thanks, Mark, for the cool drawing! It reminds me very much of the "Maltese Cross". Here's what happened yesterday at the Chess Championships in Las Vegas: Of the four remaining Americans playing (original field of 9), two were eliminated in yesterday's round of play. Gata Kamsky is still in contention, but hanging by a thread after losing to Russian GM Khalifman; he now faces a quick mini-match against Khalifman. Kamsky lodged a protest in his loss to Khalifman about players disturbing him during the match. The other remaining American player, Alex Yermolinsky, also faces a quick mini-match. That gorgeous hunk of man Alexei Shirov of Spain also faces a quick mini-match today. Judit Polgar, the loan remaining female player, and probably the best femme player in the world, advanced to round 3 to be held today - games get underway at 3PM Las Vegas time. Kramnik, #2, #3 or possibly #1, depending upon whose rating system you use, is breezing through the games. Too bad the two "K Boys" didn't show up. I'm rooting for Judit all the way, and a show down between her and Shirov during my L.V. stay!

Jan Newton - 02:41pm Aug 6, 1999 MST (#1195 )

Update on the 1999 World Knockdown Chess Championships: The two remaining American players, Gata Kamsky and Alex Yermolinsky, were both eliminated in the Round 2 rapid-play playoffs held yesterday afternoon, Kamsky in an upset match, winning the first game but losing the second to the 36th rank player. Shirov (Spain) advances out of the rapid-play play-offs to Round 3, the first game of which begins today at 3PM Las Vegas time. As of this posting I could not locate current pairings for Game #1, so I don't know whom Shirov and Judit Polgar are playing.

Jan Newton - 09:58am Aug 9, 1999 MST (#1201 )

Update on the World Knockdown Chess Championships: Alexei Shirov advanced to Round 4 after winning a play-off yesterday. Judit Polgar advanced to Round 4 after winning both her games - you go girl! Round 4 play commences at 3PM Las Vegas time today. We are now down to 16 players out of an initial field of 70.

Jan Newton - 10:46am Aug 9, 1999 MST (#1202 )

Correction: Judit Polgar drew the first game, won the second game in Round 3.

Jan Newton - 06:45am Aug 11, 1999 MST (#1203 )

Round 4 results: Alexei Shirov advances to Round 5 with a win and a draw; Judit Polgar drew both her games and now faces a play-off. Friday's posts will come "live", direct from Las Vegas, where Isis and I will have Uecker seats (we must be in the front row) to view Round 5 action! Then it's party time at the Sahara. I'm bringing my magnetic travelling chess set along - think I'll try and score a game with a Grand Master or two, LOL!

Jan Newton - 04:38am Aug 12, 1999 MST (#1206 )

Hmmmm, just did a long post from the Ferlito and Sanvito article that hasn't popped up yet. Hope it does, I do not want to have to type it over! Judit Polgar won both of her games in the mini-playoff and advances to Round 5. There are now 8 players left. Round 5 will consist of 4 games by four pairs of players.

Jan Newton - 08:12pm Aug 12, 1999 MST (#1207 )

Good evening, darlings, one last time from home base, before I wing my way to Viva Las Vegas and the never-ending world of Elvis and gambling. At this point I do not know if Judit won, lost, or drew her first game in Round 5; the same for Alexei Shirov (although, given the way this homme has been playing, one would expect him to have soundly trounced his 'opponent' in a "for the ages" match). Tomorrow this time, if not earlier! - Isis and I will be doing our "on the road show" live!, from Caesar's Palace, Las Vegas and will report - if not exactly in the style of the various tres boring Grand Masters watching the matches! - our myriad impressions of the matches, and the crowd, and the fellowess kibitzers, and the referees, and the has-been Grand Masters sitting in the Uecker seats with us (and I will be hitting all of them up for dates and chess games, don't ya know, darlings!) Read about how Xena gets lost at McCarran International Airport and misses the shuttle to her hotel! Kibbutz on JanXena picking up someone else's luggage and discover in her hotel room (13 hours after arrival) that she has the wardrobe of a 325 pound transvestite! Oh my goddess! Listen to the reaction when JanXena looses her newly cut and colored hair (burgundy red, to sort-of match the color of her cheeks - that is, darlings, the cheeks on her face!) on the plebians of Las Vegas Boulevard (yawn; who's that overly-dyed middle-aged broad trying to strut her stuff?) Okay, had enough for tonight? I sure have! LOL, darlings! Viva Las Vegas! Goddess power!

Jan Newton - 07:58pm Aug 13, 1999 MST (#1208 )

Reporting live from Las Vegas! Judit Polgar is out of the tournament with a draw today to Khalifman; Shirov lost in an upset to the Kid Romanian! More tomorrow!

Jan Newton - 08:47pm Aug 14, 1999 MST (#1210 )

Hello darlings! I skipped the mini-playoffs today and will resume flirting with the chessplayers and whatever members of the audience catch my eye on Monday. The gorgeous Judit unfortunately lost her first game in Round 5 to Khalifman, who is playing utterly inspired chess right now; therefore, in order to force a play-off she would have had to have won game 2 on Friday; it was a hard-fought match and I thought she just might pull off a win, but in the end Khalifman pulled a few unexpected moves and rather gallantly played the remainder of the game to offer a draw. In the meantime, Alexei and the Kid Romanian, Liviu-Dieter Nisipeanu, were playing a war of nerves with each other; both ended up with a minute left on their clocks and Shirov somehow managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory in a stunning upset that none of the commentators were expecting, while Judit looked on (having finished her game with Khalifman). So, the two I think have a thang for each other were eliminated from the championship, but they each go home $80,000 richer. Now, let me tell you, these chess playing men are sooooo cute! Michael Adams is an absolute hunk, though he missed what I thought was a clear winning move starting with a pawn sacrifice to clear the way for his queen to sweep up from ... oh well, never mind. Isis and I could not believe our eyes when he moved a different pawn that did absolutely nothing! He and Kramnik went into a mini-playoff today. Tomorrow it’s off for more sightseeing and a barbecue in the afternoon, so I will not resume viewing the matches until Monday, when there will be only four players left! At this point I have no clue who they will be, since Shirov, seeded as #2 favorite for the championship, lost to the Kid, who is all of 19 and can't even drink legally or gamble! Perhaps the Kid will continue his brilliantly unconventional play - sort of reminds me of me, LOL! (except I keep losing my games and he keeps winning his) - and Kramnik, #2 player in perhaps the world. Well, it will be interesting, whoever it is. BTW, I have discovered that all chessplayers at this level grab their heads in their hands and twist their faces up as if they are in the grips of an agonizing migraine headache! I did not lose my luggage, thank the goddess, and my flight was only delayed 1 hour 40 minutes, and I've only seen one Elvis impersonator - today at the shops in the Venetian, dancing and "singing" on one of the staircases. I opted to take pictures of fake Venice (complete with fake gondolas) instead of the fake Elvis. Good night, all, time to hit the casino.

Jan Newton - 11:20am Aug 15, 1999 MST (#1211 )

Good morning, all, it's absolutely gorgeous here today, almost feels like Milwaukee except no humidity; of course, by noon the temp will probably hit 100 (or more); got sunburned yesterday while strolling the south end of the Strip from the Venetian to Caesars Palace to the Mirage and Treasure Island; fortunately, not too bad. The semi-finals begin on Monday with the following pairs: Adams and Akopian and Nisipeanu and Khalifman! Yes, Kramnik, #2 or #3 in the world, lost to the hunk Adams! I will be feasting mine eyes as well as enjoying world class exhibitions of chess skills during these semi-finals - Adams is a hunk but the other three players are quite easy on the eyes, even if they are all babies! I will report back on Monday. I intend to be front and center, first row. I'm going to wear a fake FIDE ribbon and pretend I'm an official! Ta ta, darlings!

Jan Newton - 09:30pm Aug 15, 1999 MST (#1213 )

Hello darlings! Isis sends her love. She would do a post but I'm hogging her laptop for the duration my stay. We have decided we are going to do the town in style on my birthday. Tomorrow after the match I'm going shopping for something red and slinky, maybe something in the same shade as my hair. In the morning we are going out to someplace called Bonnie Springs and hiking, will lunch back in town and then it's off to Caesar's Palace for me for the first game of the semi-finals. Today I slept in, went for my morning jaunt down to the Sahara and back, read out by the pool for a bit, caught up on my six internet chess games and then it was off to Road Warrior's folks house for barbecue, yummy! I played Isis a game of chess and won, played Road Warrior and lost (but I was distracted because mom called come and get it and I was starving), and played Michelle (Isis's little girl) and we agreed to a draw. Soon I'll be challenging Khalifman to a match, LOL! Afterwards we ladies sat out under the crescent moon on the veranda enjoying the balmy evening, sipping coffee and talking, naturally, about chess and men, in that order. The menfolk finally had to round us up and hustle us to the jeep. Later this week I am promised a hair-raising ride on the back of RW's Harley and a jaunt Friday night, my last night in town, on his boat. I also splurged today and bought myself a beautiful pair of amber and sterling earrings. The job market is hot here, could hook up with a job with very little problem and the real estate market is just about as hot - 4000 people a month moving into the county, most here in LV and Henderson. A change of scenery may be in my future. Yawn. Good night all, will report tomorrow after the first game. BTW, we are already planning next year's Goddesschess/Chessgoddess convention, so start planning ahead, darlings!

Jan Newton - 07:36pm Aug 16, 1999 MST (#1216 )

Hello darlings. Well, a disappointing day at the play-offs. I thought the semi-finals started today with a day off in between the playoffs, but I was wrong (isn't the first time and sure won' be the last); Game 1 was yesterday and apparently was quite interesting. Adams had Akopian beat but managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory; the Kid Romanian and Khalifman agreed to a draw. Adams and Akopian's game apparently went - if I heard the commentators correctly today - 86 moves and lasted from 3pm until 9:30 with Adams resigning. Poor baby. No wonder he squandered another chance to win today - he had Akopian on the ropes but it was obvious he was exhausted, and Akopian didn't look much better. There was lots of head clutching and agonized twists of the cheeks and foreheads, only to end in a draw. The Nisipeanu-Khalifman match started out strong for the Kid, but Khalifman came back after a poor opening and defended well; it was obvious to the commentators - who appeared continually surprised by the moves the two players made - finally about five minutes before the draw was offered and accepted that the game would so end. Ha! I think I'll audition for the job of commentator myself. These guys and their computer moves - what a bunch of hooey. Maybe with a female commentator the audience will do more than sleep and snort at some of the inane grandmaster commentator chatter, and a few more femmes will show up to watch. I was the lone woman in an audience of about 50; for awhile I had some company, one older woman sat two chairs away from me, but she disappeared about a third of the way through the match. Well! I walked all the way back from Caesar's, picked up something to eat and booted up at 7:10. A quick change, a glass of wine, and I'm off again. Mark, yes, 7 and 8! Good night, all.

Jan Newton - 08:10am Aug 17, 1999 MST (#1218 )

Good morning, all! Today is a do or die day for Adams. If he loses his match today, he is out of the tournament. It will be a tense match for him. It will be interesting to watch the Kid v. Khalifman too. Khalifman likes to get up and walk around after almost every move - I think he lurks behind the curtain partitioning off the ballroom where the matches are being played because he zips around it as soon as he hears the timeclock being slapped! The Kid, on the other hand, rarely gets up from his chair and hardly even moves when he is bent over the chessboard. The levels of concentration are truly remarkable; I do believe at times actual holes appear in the chessboards, the players are staring at them so hard. Will K&K play to another draw today? BTW, the US Chess Federation website reports that Adams and Akopian are both 27; the Kid is 23 (I had read elsewhere that he was 19), and Khalifman is the ripe old age of 33.

Jan Newton - 10:38pm Aug 17, 1999 MST (#1219 )

Hello, darlings. Well, I watched six solid hours of chess and didn't stir from my seat. The results are Adams is out, Akopian is in; the Kid lost to Khalifman and they play game 4 tomorrow - a must win for the Kid if he hopes to force a mini rapid chess play-off with Khalifman. Adams and Akopian played a 66-move barn-burner; by the time it was over and Adams was forced to concede, Adams had his King, a bishop on light, and one pawn; Akopian had his King, a rook, and two pawns. He made one mistake; Akopian made none. The K&

lay by Akopian. Now I will have to refresh myself on the playoff rules. I believe there are two games, both played under rapid-chess format, one game at 25 minutes, the other at ? - don't know, I will check on that. BTW, the guy with the video cam was taking pics all over the place today - if you see a femme with short snappy red hair dressed all in white (the Vestal Virgin look, don't ya know, darlings!) all tied up in a pretzel with her hands on her cheeks and her eyes as big as saucers - that's moi!

JanXena, Tourist Extraordinaire had a brief looksee today at the Luxor. I am going back early tomorrow and will most likely spend the day up to the time for the hike to Caesars - there is tons to see and lots of pictures just begging to be taken. I may even opt for one of those hokey pictures where my sublime image is superimposed over that of some shapely egyptian maiden - would make a nice conversation stopper hanging above my desk, n'est ce pas? LOL! I wish I could be here for the finals! Darn!

Jan Newton - 10:15pm Aug 18, 1999 MST (#1220 )

Oh my poor backside! But it was worth 5 hours and 20 minutes of squirming on my chair trying to find a nonexistent comfortable position for I saw the most incredible game! I wish I could describe it in detail, but it would sound like so much gobbledygook from moi; suffice to say that it came down to the Kid behind white holding seven pawns and a bishop on dark v. Khalifman holding six pawns and a knightess. The opening and middle games were gotten through rather quickly - all was endgame - that took approximately three hours! At the end, when Khalifman extended his hand, the audience broke into spontaneous applause - the first I've heard at these championships - and a well deserved hand for the Kid! By his win, he forces a mini-playoff tomorrow, and I will be there with bells on my toes. These players are really earning their purses! As the minutes ticked by you could literally hear the tension building in the audience with each slap of the time clock - audible intakes of breath and than restless movement while we all waited impatiently for the screens to register the move - hurry up, damn it! And then it would appear - pop! And then everyone's eyes would automatically shift to the player whose turn it was next - as if all of us kibitzers somehow staring intently at that player would magically produce a move without all the agonizing wait! One needs stamina to watch these games - ain't for the soft of fanny or the faint of heart! It really is a shame the crowds watching these matches are so small - these wonderful players deserve more recognition! For anyone interested, the moves for this game will be posted sometime tomorrow at FIDE's official site - I don't know the address but you can get to it through Yahoo/Games/Who Will Be King?, and also at the USCF site at www.uschess.org. This game today is worth a look at, believe me! In fact, all the games are posted at these two sites; the Adams/Akopian game from 8/17 is also worth a looksee for masterful play.

Jan Newton - 06:41pm Aug 19, 1999 MST (#1222 )

The results are in: it's Akopian v. Khalifman in the finals - six games starting I believe on Sunday. The Kid played very well today in the rapid chess playoffs but Khalifman was better - he was the clear winner in the first game, was looking like a loser in the second game when the Kid, under immense pressure, fumbled an exchange which led to a draw. Thus, the Kid goes home about $280,000 richer, and now famous in the world of chess. He was clearly very happy despite his "loss" and he and Khalifman got a rousing round of applause. I'm also happy there were many more people in attendance today than yesterday. Let me tell you, they ain't kidding when they call this rapid chess. These players banged out moves so quickly the eye could not even follow the hands flying, and the computer screen was hopelessly behind until about move 23 or 24 for each of the games! Just amazing! These two games lasted a total of two hours and 15 minutes, with a 10 minute break between! A far cry from the 6 hour marathon on Tuesday and the 5 hour 20 minute bun buster last night! This will be my last report. I'm headed home on Saturday and tomorrow I'm doing a last round of sightseeing. Today was my birthday and I celebrated by buying a watch, a gold ring, a gold diamond and opal ring, an opal, white sapphire and gold necklace, a pair of cultured pearl and gold earrings, a gold choker with floating pearl, and a gold rope chain with a Nefertiti charm, oh, and a hand painted Russian broach from an art gallery, and a music box. I am poor but happy!

Jan Newton - 07:35pm Aug 23, 1999 MST (#1231 )

Back to studiousness; back to seriousness; back to my den/library overflowing with cracked opened and yellow-stickered books and mountains of emails and research - and both doggies now doggedly determined to dog my every move, camped out at my feet so that I can't even move without stepping on one or the other! Back to Monday Night Football and the Green Bay Packers. I wonder if Brett Favre plays chess? LOL! Bet he does!

Back to Gerhard Josten and Dialogue Part IV - and I haven't the faintest clue how to respond - but never fear darlings, divine inspiration will strike. Gerhard may think he has me on the ropes with his latest offering, but I have other plans up my now very tanned arm...

I peeked in at the US chess federation site tonight during a brief break from The Football Game (we are killing Denver, yes yes yes, just killing them, ha!) to discover that Khalifman offered Akopian (who was black today) a draw after only 18 moves - and it was accepted! Oh my goddess! So, Khalifman, who was Isis's pick right from the get-go, is up 1 1/2 to 1/2; a total score of 3 1/2 takes the world championship! But there's a lot of chess yet to go. Sappy romantic that I am, I wanted to see Judit and Alexei face off, but, sigh and alas, was not meant to be - this time!

Darlings, I forget to tell you that I literally ran right into Akopian on Friday afternoon as I was buzzing my way to Caesar's - he had a Caesar's bag in his hand, obviously shopping - and smash - ooooh, pardon me, sir! - right into him, LOL! On the blacktop leading up to the "old" main casino entrance, in front of about 10,000 taxis. Fortunately, I did not quite bowl him over (LOL) and after he somewhat disjointedly assured me that he was quite all right, he did a total about face and headed 180 degrees opposite from where he thought I was headed (and he was right!) Oh my, poor Vladimir! Thus ended my career at the World Chess Championships, cough, cough, cough!

Back to Monday Night Football, darlings...

Jan Newton - 09:47pm Aug 24, 1999 MST (#1232)

Yawn, yawn, yawn..... Darlings, I am still up monitoring Game #3 of The Maestro (Khalifman) v. Akopian (no suitable nickname yet assigned to this Dark Knight - hey! How about Dark Knight? LOL!)

Ohmygoddess, way past 6 hours of play, fast approaching 7 hours, and each side down to a rook, mutual Kings, and a couple of pawns apiece, and damned if I know which side will ultimately prevail in this see-saw game! Grand Master Rohde at the USChess Federation website has been giving blow by blow written commentary, but is not exactly as enlightening (nor as maddening!) as Christensen et al that I listened to via earphones while actually physically present at Caesars Palace. Now Grand Master Valerie Salov is giving blow by blow commentary - but the FIDE website is several days behind posting anything even remotely informative! So, it's adieu and good night - I'm going back for one last look-see to see if The Black Knight is successful in forcing a win, or The Maestro is successful in forcing the draw (he was black tonight). BTW, I got a rather jeering letter earlier tonight from Herr Josten, who thinks he does indeed, have me on the ropes (Ha!).

One does not want to p.o. JanXena.

Jan Newton - 06:46am Aug 27, 1999 MST (#1239 )Good morning, darlings! The Maestro Khalifman executed a work of beauty last evening against the Black Knight Akopian, to go ahead 2 1/2 to 1 1/2 after 4 games. It's getting down to crunch time, folks. The Maestro need only either win one more game, or draw both of the two remaining games to get his 3 1/2 points to take the whole and be crowned the new world chess champion! The pressure is on the Black Knight. I will be glued to my computer monitor tonight, following Rohde's move by move coverage at the USChess Federation website (www.uschess.org).

Jan Newton - 09:22am Aug 28, 1999 MST (#1240 )

Good morning darlings!

Well, I did a post last night and it promptly disappeared into the ether. [Note: the "offending" post did finally show up a couple of days later, as No. 1243; it is inserted where it would have occurred if not held for critical review by the Sysops]. I criticized Gary Kasparov in it. I wonder if he's hard-wired into this website and he zapped me, LOL! Anyway, I'm not going to wait for the case of the mysterious disappearing post to clear itself up (if it ever does), but I will tell you that the Maestro Khalifman drew Game 5 last night (playing black). For awhile it looked as if he might win, then it looked as if Akopkian the Black Knight might win! then Khalifman sucked it up and played such an endgame! Rohde was all admiration again for the endgame - apparently it's been quite a while since this level of play has been seen at the championships!

So, today the Black Knight must win in order to force a playoff. If he draws the game, he loses - although he will go home to Armenia a rather rich "loser". It will be a hard task, however; Khalifman will be playing white today!

I'm not sure whom to root for! I like the idea of an Armenian champion (Armenia is close to the general area where I believe chess first arose), but I like the idea of Khalifman winning (and rubbing the Big K's nose in it) even better! Ha! Well, today's game may well tell the tale.

Jan Newton - 07:17pm Aug 28, 1999 MST (#1241 )

The Maestro has done it - Khalifman played white to a draw this evening and wins the World Chess Championship! Well done!

Jan Newton - 10:25am Aug 30, 1999 MST (#1243 )

Darlings! Game 4 has all the makings of another bun buster for JanXena - except this time I'm not sitting witnessing live play in Las Vegas but only kibitzing on the computer in my messy (very messy!) den/library on my teeny tiny computer screen! Oh, ick!

But tres exciting nonetheless! Yes yes yes! It is now 3 hours and 15 minutes into the game and we are merely up to move 27 - still practically the opening, darlings! And Khalifman (playing Black) has just made an absolutely brilliant move (per GM Rohde) with his Queen - and as far as I (chess ignoramus that I am) can tell, it is true, utterly true. So, we have what appears to be a very long haul before us - or moi, since I seem to be the only one "watching" the progress of "The Games" from our wee little trusty band of knights and knightesses and such. Of course, I don't mind a bit - I find this positively exciting! (Okay, no jokes now about "warped personalities" and such).

What I find "endearing" is that, while as a crass beginner I am constantly making utterly incomprehensible stupid moves (like, duh, JanXena, why the heck did you just DO THAT? YOU IDJUT! YOU JUST GAVE THAT MAN THE GAME! YOU IDJUT! TURN IN YOUR RADICAL FEMINIST CARD, YOU YOU YOU - IMCOMPETENT NERDESS!), these Grand Masters make mistakes too! These two young men playing tonight for high stakes in Las Vegas (how utterly fitting!) are not accompanied by legions of "helpers" who do nothing but analyze moves and potential counter-moves on computer programs with millions of past and present games in their data bases and then "brief" their "masters" who are too arrogant (AND SCARED POOPLESS!) to play REAL CHESS any longer [does this ring any bells, Kasparov?]. No! These men are playing with their hearts - and sheer guts - and memories that can only absorb so much "instruction"!

While I was sad to see Judit lose in the quarter-finals, I know she will rebound and will be a part of the top-level chess scene for many years to come. And, if given an even chance now by the very closed, and what I am learning is a very biased, prejudiced and even IGNORANT chess world, The Kid Nisipeanu will be as well. I am gratified - and highly honored - that I was able to see these wonderful players in person, and get to "know" their chess playing personalities a little bit during the time I was in LV. And whether it is the Maestro or The Black Knight who ultimately prevails in succeeding to the title "World Chess Champion", I will stand up here in the privacy of this cramped but cozy room and applaud the winner! That is what is so truly wonderful about these two relatively unknown players facing off against each other. One just knows that each of these young men - from their humble backgrounds and still humble present circumstances - are utterly and totally for real. True Chess Players. People Who Love The Game. Kasparov can sit back and take all the nasty sniper shots he wants at this Championship and these Great and Wonderful Players. I, for one, now know him for what he truly is!

Kasparov is a man who snidely remarked about Hungary, "that otherwise great chess playing country", being represented by a "mere woman" (the beautiful and totally brilliant Judit Polgar) in these championships; this "mere woman" who somehow managed to forget long enough that she has breasts and long tawny colored hair and is gorgeous, and beat some of the best chess players [all males, darlings] in the world; this is a man who called Nisipeanu, Akopian, and Khalifman "tourists" at these World Chess Championships! Darlings, sounds like sour grapes - and just a tad more than basic insecurity - to moi! And, although perhaps no one else in the CHESS WORLD will dare to say it, I will say it here (because I am no one in the CHESS WORLD, and even if I was, I would say it anyway, because truth always will out): Kasparov has made a complete and utter fool of himself by these idiotic and contemptible statements. The man is a Pathetic Jerk.

For verification of the statements that Kasparov has made regarding this Championship series, I refer you to "This Week in Chess", by Mark Crowley of the UK. From what I gather, darlings, this is a most respected, MOST RESPECTED, source for chess news - both in local print and on the Internet. Also, one may check the archives of ClubKasparov for statements from the Pathetic Jerk himself - if they have not been altered or deleted. HA!

Conclusion

What does it all mean?

For what it's worth, my personal opinion is that Alexander Khalifman is, indeed, the 14th World Chess Champion, and the other would-be claimants to the title are nothing more than pretenders.

Now, darlings, Tradition is a very fine thing, indeed. But Traditions die and are buried every day, with barely a moment’s notice. While it might at one time have been a good enough system for the "two best" chess players in the world to take several months to sit down and play leisurely games opposite each other, the world that such events took place in no longer exist. Today we have the internet; we have - what hundreds? thousands? of chess players qualified as IMs and GMs; we have computer-aided chess analysis that is every second growing more and more sophisticated; we have teams of chess professionals who aid and abet the highest-ranked players, whose jobs consist of nothing but chess analysis; we have a cache of permanent chess professionals who manage to make enough to keep body and soul together by playing a circuit of tournaments every year! Therefore, to envision such a thing happening today as the matches that took place in the 19th century up to and including the mid-20th century (when the Soviet hegemony was still intact and enough of a world power to "insist" upon events happening along a certain line, is to totally subvert present reality. Of course, there are those who would attempt to do so.

But they are candles blowing in the wind. History proves that tradition is only observed so long as it continues to serve and fulfill a fundamental and archetypal purpose. When a paradigm shifts, old traditions are left behind to celebrate well-deserved deaths, and new traditions emerge.

Let the games begin!