Mart�n writes in to point out that the local San Luis newspaper I linked to earlier is occasionally printing many of the players' comments from the press conferences. (There's a browser resize, then a pop-up with a login required to enter. Triple score!) I'll cut them some slack since they are providing good coverage, including giant front page photos in the print edition.
These comments are from after round eight. One item is about the player complaint after round five, mentioned in Nigel Short's reports, about how Topalov always gets to sit in the same place. Leko, after round eight: "It's true that I presented a complaint, but not because of Topalov. It's just that at every tournament we change tables, but this doesn't have anything to do with him. He always has the same spot and the rest of us have to walk around looking for where to sit. I asked the arbiters if they would consider it. They didn't do anything, but I don't care anymore."
Leko did not go on to add, "and how about Kasimdzhanov's shoes? I mean, the same pair every single day, what's up with that?"
Topalov: "I'm not superstitious. I don't think a piece of furniture makes me win games. I also pressure them a little on the board." Heh. He also signed a lot of autographs, and stopped for a lot of photos, smiling.
Kasim, annoyed after his loss to Moro: "What happened to me was a well-deserved punishment for an unrealistic competitive attitude. But if I wanted to sleep I would have stayed at home."
Morozevich: "The best day of the tournament is the rest day. But I'm not going to use it all to rest because I have to continue preparing for what's to come."
Svidler: "I played a line I thought was interesting, regardless of what happened in Topalov's game. If anyone had chances it was Michael, I don't know why you're asking me. On move 16 I realized my position was very dangerous. Mickey rejected a repetition on move 20 because he was the one who was playing for a win.
Adams: "It was a very sharp game with a lot of calculating to do. I think I could reach a good position but it's hard to prove it. By our thinking, by our way of playing, it looked like Black was playing to win, but that's not the way it was."
Topalov: "I just came out to play, but we came to a complicated position and it worked out even, if a little boring. I prefer to win every time, but to score a half point when my opponent doesn't make a mistake is normal and it would be foolish to risk too much. Peter [Leko] played in a way I hadn't expected. I had prepared an idea but it didn't work because he surprised me first."
There is a rapid tournament today in San Luis. Along with local GMs Miguel Quinteros (one of the organizers) and Hugo Spangenberg (Huguito!), Nigel Short is expected to take part. If Nige doesn't win we are going to shame his sesquipedalian arse.
We'll see whether Morozevich's hard work preparing today pays off for him!
It's spelled 'Chismeando.' Or maybe they spell it diferently in Argentina?
It's an Argentine slang term, related to chismeando of course, basically the same meaning. (Shooting the bull, gossiping, etc.)
i am no spelling bee candidate, but isnt it spelt "sesquipedalian"?
"sesquipedalian arse" - how so descriptive of short! good job!
you're getting rusty mig, it's chismeando not chusmeando
it's a common mistake though, although people usually confuse it with husmeando not chismeando
Not a mistake, not getting rusty. Chusmear is not unusual in Argentine slang, though you'd rarely find it written anywhere respectable. It's basically a combination of husmear and chismear. Feel free to look it up: http://www.diccionarios.com. Next I'll give you guys a lesson on lunfardo...
'sesquipedalian' just a typo, on the other hand :-) Got tiny text when working on my laptop is my only excuse.
so, are you going to shame the sesquipedalian arse or not?
Haven't heard anything about the tournament yet. Will check on it tomorrow though.
Thanks to Mig for translating som phrases by each player from the press conference.
Always very interesting, even if it is not much.
Chess reports never tell what the player said/felt.
Hope you can do more of it...
I think Leko's complaint is legit about Topa always having the same seat. Why is this? Did he specify this prior to the tourney? Without a doubt he is playing great chess, but the seating arrangements need to be in rotation, so as NOT to even imply that Topa is receiving special consideration. I'm surprised only Leko has brought this up, and not the others. Maybe have them pick the chair positions out of a hat or something, but for Topa to always have the same chair and table, does not sit well with me at all!...pardon the pun...Bruce
i really don't mean to imply that Topalov's chess is not superior to others, but having the same seat and not needing to look for his place like others in the beginning of every round could give him some psychological edge over the others...it may seem like such a small thing, but human psyche is frail and complex.
One can imagine how confidently he can walk to his seat.
What about the mind control devices the KGB has placed in the chairs? What about the poison orange juice given to Anand before Round 2? Isn't that Dr. Zukhar acting as Svidlers second? With all the variables at play in this tournament, I don't think the seating arrangement conspiracy is effecting any outcomes.
C'mon, Leko is coming up with lame excuses. Just how hard can it be for a Super GM to locate the table that he is playing at, when there are just 4 tables? There are nice placards with the names of the players, along the flags of their Country. They could always ask on of the arbitors. Or, Leko could simply study a FIDE Pairing Chart for an 8 player Round Robin, and work out for himself which table he will be playing on.
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These comments are from after round eight. One item is about the player complaint after round five, mentioned in Nigel Short's reports, about how Topalov always gets to sit in the same place. Leko, after round eight: "It's true that I presented a complaint, but not because of Topalov. It's just that at every tournament we change tables, but this doesn't have anything to do with him. He always has the same spot and the rest of us have to walk around looking for where to sit. I asked the arbiters if they would consider it. They didn't do anything, but I don't care anymore."
So what happened in this rapid tourney then?