I saw part of the game with Mark with him giving me a running commentary based on his understanding. It seems to me that Mas had winning opportunities and he should have fought on for the win. My reasoning goes like this. If we are more than likely to lose to a vastly superior team, then the strategy should be to go all out. Why not? We have nothing to lose.
Caution may be good if we have a good chance of winning and we dont want to bungle on a less than well thought out move and let the team down.
But to play to win racks up our internal pressure. I think that is what the English players were counting on too. Our thinking deteriorates rapidly on increased pressure. They read us well.
Jimmy has given his evaluation too. Go here.
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You don't know what you're talking about.
ReplyDeleteTake a look at the final position. Please enlighten us how is White better in that position ?
ReplyDelete:) I was wondering what respond will come from that. I was quite sure there would be one. I am sure you must agree there was alot of fight left. But as a favour to you why dont you just reveal yourself? You will find much relief if you can do that.
ReplyDeleteDon't need to. Get real. When a GM 300 points higher than you who has a reputation for playing aggressively yet somewhat soundly in such a position offers you a draw when you have little to gain from your ultra slim chance of winning, you take it.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts. jimmy thinks the same way. I have commented on his post so I wont repeat it here.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous is right. What does he have to play for? Malaysia is not aiming for any medals. It is OK if he does not play for the extra half point. How much more does Mas expect to improve? Mas is simply a "tourist" at the Olympiad.
ReplyDeleteOur once GM prospect has not been showing the desire to play like a GM in a long time.
Hmmm... why should he try to beat a GM who is rated 300 points higher than him and has a slim chance of winning?
By the same argument, we can simply ask, why should an Under-10 chess player play in an Open tournament that he knows he cannot win?
Good analogy chess ninja. Mas's attitude does not only affect his chess. It affects his decisions about many other things. Imagined fears. Many of our chess icons have stated that chess is life. In a way its true. Chess can teach you to be strong and have courage in your decisions or it can teach you what Mas has learned.
ReplyDeleteI'm back :-)
ReplyDeleteI believe Mas is doing the right thing in accepting the draw. He's not one to run from complications. Let us not forget that he has beaten Victor Korchnoi at past Olympiads. However Mas probably knows himself better that he may not be at that strength before. So sportingly it is a justifiable result.
There is a distinction in a player's thinking when it comes to personal result and team result. When playing in a team, the team's well-being comes first. Hence each member must try very hard to secure the best result in each round. To risk a half-point in an Olympiad, every factor has to be carefully considered. To lose points, that would be easy. It can happen to anyone. Sometimes risks are taken to better the result but it can also backfire, as in the case of Carlsen against Jobava. That is why Olympiads are exciting, where sometimes it does boil down to mind over matter. Sometimes.