Ponomariov Chat Transcript

Transcript of the chat session, which took place on the 27^th of May 2000

(this transcript was slightly edited to make it easier to follow)

Andrej Sidorov Hi!

Alex Baburin Hi!

Andrej Sidorov Alex, will Morozevich will more this year, apart from Frankfurt?

Alex Baburin It is not clear yet...

Andrej Sidorov There is no tournament at all! Till 2001!

Alex Baburin At the moment there no tournaments for Alexander, but maybe he will play at the OL. If the Russian Federation pays its debts! :-)

Andrej Sidorov Has he got paid!? ;-)

Alex Baburin There are not many tournaments for top players now. This is a problem... :-( For what I know, nobody got paid on that Russian team (in Elista).

Andrej Sidorov After Dortmund - nothing?

Alex Baburin He is not playing in Dortmund. But after Frankfurt there are no clear plans...

Andrej Sidorov I mean super tournaments of this year.

Alex Baburin How many super-tournaments are there now? 3-4, that's all!

Andrej Sidorov and all in 1st half of year!

Alex Baburin It's possible that soon there will be less and the top-class chess as we know it will disappear. :-( I think chess need a change - more dynamic format, which might appeal to the public.

Andrej Sidorov Does Moro decrease his rating in Bosnia?

Alex Baburin I think that he’ll gain 1 point with +2, so he is OK now.

Andrej Sidorov KCGP was awful ;(

Hugo Hi all!

Alex Baburin What is KCGP?

Andrej Sidorov KasparovChess GrandPrix.

Alex Baburin KCGP had too many troubles.

Andrej Sidorov Was Nf5 today real chance?

Alex Baburin Where and when?

Andrej Sidorov Moro-Bacrot, today.

Alex Baburin Oh, I must say that I have not seen the complete game today... I saw it just briefly.

Andrej Sidorov Are you in Bosnia?

Alex Baburin I think that a draw is OK. He still has a reasonable tournament now. No, I am back to Dublin. I left before the day off.

Alex Baburin It seems that we don't have too many people for chess chat today – the weather must be too good everywhere! :-)

Hugo Movsesian becomes the sensation, Alex. Don' you think?

Alex Baburin Why? Because he beat Morozevich? BTW, how did he do today?

Hugo He beat Shirov.

Alex Baburin Oh, he beat Shirov... I have not seen it yet. When I went to ICC last time, they were still playing.

Hugo Now, Moro and Shirov, who’s next? Trust me, he won :)

Alex Baburin If he will win in the last round, that would be a real sensation. At the moment GK must be very grateful to that 'chess tourist'. :-)

Hugo ha-ha!

Andrej Sidorov Moro's Evans today was really strange - =/+ in the opening!

KelvedonChess Hi

When he played e4 e5 f4, IM Barsky found a novelty to try (5 Qe2). We looked at it and said that according to Fritz White is only slightly worse, so he should play it!

Hugo :)

Alex Baburin Seriously, it's hard to judge those off-beat lines - they have also psychological value.

Hugo Good reason :)

Andrej Sidorov But here is 2 bishops vs 2 knights - and its not D07!

Alex Baburin One thing I've learn with Alexander is that he has a very concrete mind. So, I guess he had some reasons or ideas to play what he played. Maybe it does not always work.

Andrej Sidorov Yesterday he "peregnul churku" (in Russian this mean "push too hard" – A. Baburin) - it was sad ;-( It was a very concrete 0

Hugo Alex, what' the main difference (or 2,3) between 2600-2650 and 2700+ players?

Alex Baburin Well, if Morozevich had won that game people would say "Great! This is the real guy!" The point is - he tried to win. He lost that time, but if he won't try, he would not be himself!

Alex Baburin Main difference - 2700+ guys are more talented - they see more, they are sharper players. They also have MUCH better opening knowledge, because they don't play against weak players. They are usually tougher psychologically too.

KelvedonChess I'd just like to take this opportunity to advertise my new chess club site ----- www.kelvedonchess.btinternet.co.uk You are all welcome to check out one of Essex's first chess site's---and maybe even link 2 it ;-)

Alex Baburin OK, I am on that site now! :-) I will check it later.

Hugo Check our one too, Alex :)

KelvedonChess Make sure u sign the guest-book ;-)

Alex Baburin So, do you want my credit card now? :-)

KelvedonChess Lol!

Hugo ha-ha. I was first in the line for Alex' card, sorry Kelvedon.

Alex Baburin I have none, can't afford it... :-( Chess players are poor. At least most of us will go straight to the heaven!

Hugo I think chess players need to be more realistic, and not so artistic :)

Andrej Sidorov Don’t hurry, Alex.

Alex Baburin So, how about chess talk? Or should be stick to money and credit cards (which chess players do not have)?

Andrej Sidorov At last! What is your next tournament?

Alex Baburin Politiken Cup in Copenhagen, in July.

Hugo Alex, to say truth, do you support Kasparov or Shirov in Sara? I don' mean Moro of course. He's the best anyway. :)

Alex Baburin Shirov!

Hugo So do I. :)

Alex Baburin I feel sorry for the guy - he had all rights to match 2 years ago.

Andrej Sidorov Did you read last Yermo's diary?

Alex Baburin I read Yermo's diary recently - the one about Kudrin.

Hugo I know one very old IGM who always supports Garry, but not me :)

Alex Baburin That guy is a rare spicy! :-)

Hugo I think Kramnik looks bad in this situation, even more as he is Shirov' s friend. You should tell him, that money is not everything, Alex.

Andrej Sidorov Kudrin is cool! Is he last USSR GM?

Alex Baburin I won't say that Kramnik is wrong - it was not him who deprived Shirov that match. But 2 years after he can accept the challenge from Kasparov. I don't see a moral problem here. Let's say that Kasparov does not play anyone and 5 years later he challenges Kramnik. Can Kramnik accept it then? Or should he wait more? :-) 2 years are enough.

Hugo Doesn't matter :) Thanks for your reply, I disagree at all, if they say it' sport, but thanks anyway.

Alex Baburin As one my friend says: "Money is not everything, it's everything else!". :-)

Hugo 2 years is nothing. He lost, and this is sport.

Alex Baburin But that was 2 years ago and this is a long time in modern chess.

Alex Baburin We don't have to agree, this is the beauty of life! :-)

Hugo True :) Did Kramnik win something real within these years?

Andrej Sidorov Do you think last tour with Adams will be French Nd2 Be7 again?

Alex Baburin > I don't know. And even if I would, I would NOT tell. Maybe Adams is looking at our chat! :-)

Andrej Sidorov Moro doesn’t play Sicilians with ...Qb6 in Bosnia - pity! Do you think that Hugo is Adams!?

Alex Baburin He certainly is!! :-)

Hugo Ha-ha-ha! Thanks Alex for your evaluation of my play. :-)

Alex Baburin So, let me ask something. How often do you follow Sarajevo, guys?

Andrej Sidorov I watched all games.

Hugo You mean days per week or hours per day? :)

Alex Baburin Times per year... :-)

Hugo Ha-ha! I follow the results and watch Moro, Shirov's and Garry's games mostly. If I have enough time.

KelvedonChess Glad to see you took an interest.

> It's just interesting to me how much people watch those

super-tournaments. Of course, 4 people is not enough for statistics.

Andrej Sidorov Did you read Shipov's notes?

Alex Baburin Notes where? In '64'? PS. Here I confused GM Shipov with GM Shirov. In fact I read Shipov’s online commentary at Kasparov’s site.

KelvedonChess I read Shipov’s notes.

Hugo Correct, you need 800 at least, Alex, I teach statistics in the University, so you can trust me :)

> Hi, Maro! You again forgot about 1 hour difference! :-)

Andrej Sidorov At www.clubkasparov.ru

Hugo No, I don't

Maro No, this time I was busy with other things and forgot this chat totally :-)

Hugo You lost a lot of interesting answers, Maro.

KelvedonChess Maro how could you forget! Alex...have you played any online chess yet?

Alex Baburin Online chess? I play blitz on ICC sometimes.

Alex Baburin I also played against Rebel.

KelvedonChess Have you checked out Kasparov’s playing zone?

Hugo Do you like to play against comps, Alex?

Hugo that zone is .... Sorry :)

Alex Baburin I heard that KC playing zone is not good, so I did not go there.

Alex Baburin No, I don't really like playing them. And this is why I played against Rebel! :-)

KelvedonChess Chess.net got a good review from Yasser Seriwan... so that must be good.

Alex Baburin I much prefer playing against people.

Alex Baburin Particularly when Yasser is directly involved in Chess.net!! :-) But I believe it IS a good playing server.

KelvedonChess Yeah... it seems like a good playing server 2 me...and its free as well.

Hugo Alex how many people are usually here for chat?

Alex Baburin This is only the 2^nd time. Last time there were about 8, I think. Most people have better things to do! :-)

Andrej Sidorov How much rating points Moro gains this year with +11 -3 =X ?

Alex Baburin I don't know - he gained about 10 points in BL and 4NCL before Sarajevo. So, he is gaining some.

Andrej Sidorov 10 points in BL and 10 in 4NCL?

Alex Baburin No, all together! :-)

Andrej Sidorov pity

Hugo 20 would better. :)

Alex Baburin It seems that he will be No. 4 now.

Hugo Who's 3^rd? Anand? Kramnik?

KelvedonChess Kramnik is No. 2.

Alex Baburin Kramnik will be No. 2, Anand - No. 3.

Hugo Hm...why they invited Anand first?

Alex Baburin Because on the current list Anand is higher rated. And he lives in the West.

Maro In the moment it seems, that both Shirov and Morozevich will overtake Anand

KelvedonChess Poor old Anand.

Alex Baburin No, not on the next rating list. Shirov had very bad result in BL.

Hugo I think Anand is still one of the best, just lost motivation a little bit.

Andrej Sidorov Who lives in the West? Moro lives in the East ...of Moscow! Metro Station "Schelkovskaya" :-)

Hugo Anand. He lives in Spain now.

Hugo Well friends, I think we can let IGM go now, tell him thanks etc. :) What do you think?

Alex Baburin I agree! :-)

KelvedonChess Thanks Alex for the entertaining chat.

Hugo Thanks, Mister Baburin

Alex Baburin I will have another chat in June, so keep an eye on it. BTW, I am working on my Sarajevo diary. I hoped to post one every day, but it was not to be...

Hotdude What are you guys talking about?

Hugo Adult chat, sorry.

Alex Baburin :-) Hugo, I like your style!

Hugo He ran away!

Andrej Sidorov Did you start making Moro site?

Alex Baburin Not yet, when Alexander was here, we had no time. And then there was Sarajevo. OK, guys, dinner is waiting for me! :-)

KelvedonChess See you, Alex.

Hugo Bon appetite!

Maro Bye to everyone

Andrej Sidorov Poka

Alex Baburin Bye, everyone!