Hello
!,
It looks as if Canada will make a 2:2 result against Georgia. (Update:
That is the final score) The first two boards were draws: Alex was
slightly better with black against Georgadze, but with some careful play white made a draw. The opening was
a Queen's Gambit Accepted. My own game was a Rossolimo Sicilian. A very correct draw.
Igor was much worse against his opponent on board three. I had mentally recorded the result as a loss
for Igor. The next time I took a look he was winning ! With two pieces for a rook in an ending, Igor stood to
win. However, he missed a simple win, and now it looks as if his opponent will make a draw. However,
Igor is still playing.(Update: Igor won !)
Jack had a very interesting game. He was a little better when the first time control came about. However, now it looks like a dead drawn rook and pawn ending.
(Update-Jack did not hold the ending)
However, 2:2 against such a strong team as Georgia must be considered a positive result.
Today was my first visit to the tournament hall. I am very impressed with the layout of the whole thing. It
is not often that all of the teams, both men and women, can be fit into the same hall. It gives it very
much a more dramatic tournament when everyone can follow virtually all the games.
There was a technical problem that forced the delay in the start of the round today. Apparently a software
glitch caused by some short circuit in some of the boards which are all electronically connected to
computers. However, the organizers have promised it will not happen again.
I have my doubts however,as there are too many
Russians involved in the technical aspect of the
event.
I had a short chat with Alexi Shirov after my games. We had a beer in the bar located within the congress
complex; each beer costs 6 dollars!
Istanbul never ceases to amaze me! So far I have
found, around our hotel, two Mcdonalds, a Burger
King, a Dunkin Donuts, an Irish Pub, and a jazz bar with music that would make any jazz bar in Toronto
green with envy!
More tomorrow !
