tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post5753371353974715766..comments2024-03-11T15:46:13.155-04:00Comments on In The Arena: Ruminations About Competition: World Chess Championship Challenger Boris Gelfand: "You Constantly Have to Pose Threats to Your Opponent"David Friedmanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08444347475303187373noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-9037184451730169502011-06-23T17:47:08.598-04:002011-06-23T17:47:08.598-04:00KC:
I understood Gelfand's comment about ...KC:<br /><br /> I understood Gelfand's comment about "pressure" to mean that if one player consistently puts his opponent on the defensive then the opponent will eventually wear down mentally, psychologically and/or physically. It is possible to "close a game down" but it is difficult to do so if your opponent maintains the initiative; chess masters and chess grandmasters are very skilled at maintaining the initiative in positions where they only have a slight but durable edge and this "pressure" tends to wear their opponents down. In contrast, weaker players will break the tension prematurely (by exchanging pieces or fixing the pawn structure) and thus not put "pressure" on their opponents in such positions.David Friedmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08444347475303187373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6812670776373470303.post-45293291299918992512011-06-23T05:16:18.696-04:002011-06-23T05:16:18.696-04:00I liked the Gelfand interview. He says to "a...I liked the Gelfand interview. He says to "always remain humble", and whether he's talking about a friends (controversial?) comment, rivals not playing in the qualifiers or different tournament formats pros and cons he does sound humble desipte the seemingly always politically charged chess atmosphere. <br /> <br />I disagree with his view that "in chess - no one can withstand constant pressure". In soccer or chess, an opponant can close a game down. <br /><br />Interesting he also compares chess to NBA basketball.<br /> <br />It sounds like his preperation was lots of matchs and tournaments, he was "game fit" going into the qualifiers.<br /> <br />Some people have said having two 40+ players has taken some of the shine off the world championship matches. But listening to Gelfand talk about experience and learnings, I think its good that a couple of seasoned players have made it through.<br /> <br />An enjoyable first half to the interview. Especially the discussion about chess formats.<br /> <br />KCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com