Li Chao replaces Karjakin at the Norway Chess 2016

by ChessBase
4/9/2016 – One of the strongest elite tournament for the year Norway Chess 2016 is scheduled to begin from the 18th of April. Just 12 days before the start of the event Sergey Karjakin withdrew his name, citing tiredness and preparation as reasons for his inavailability. Two days later the organizers have found a replacement in the form of world number 15 and China number two, Li Chao. Addendum to the Karjakin's withdrawal article.

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Addendum: Just two days ago we reported that Sergey Karjakin has withdrawn his name from the Altibox Norway Chess 2016 (you can read the full report below). With ten days to go for the start of the event, the organizers have found a replacement in the form of Li Chao. The organizers made a press release on 8th of April 2016 stating that the Chinese grandmaster Li Chao will replace Sergey Karjakin:

Li Chao substitutes Sergey Karjakin in Altibox Norway Chess tournament 2016

Li Chao, born in 1989 takes on the challenge from Altibox Norway Chess. Li Chao is the second highest rated player in China and at present number 15 on the live rating list. Among his earlier victories are Graz Open with 8 points out of 9. He also won the European Club Cup together with Kramnik, Aronian and Grischuk.

After thorough discussions with his family, Li Chao is now postponing his wedding in order to participate in Altibox Norway Chess. The Altibox Norway Chess board are very happy that Li Chao has accepted participation on such a short notice and look forward to a spectacular tournament.

We only need to go back three months to remember what a brilliant game Magnus played against Li Chao
in the Qatar Masters 2015. The two will meet once again at the Norway Chess 2016 [picture by Amruta Mokal].

[Event "Qatar Masters Open 2015"] [Site "Doha QAT"] [Date "2015.12.24"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Carlsen, Magnus"] [Black "Li, Chao B"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D70"] [WhiteElo "2834"] [BlackElo "2750"] [Annotator "Sagar Shah"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2015.12.20"] {If there was a competition for the most entertaining game of the Qatar Masters 2015 until round five, it has to be this duel between the World Champion and Li Chao. Let us dive in to this beautiful game.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O f5 10. e5 Nb4 11. Nh3 {In this position Be6 is the main move, but Li Chao played a novelty with Qe8. However it doesn't really alter the nature of the position and hence the impact of the new move is not so great.} Qe8 (11... Be6 12. Kb1 Qd7 13. Nf4 {is how play usually proceeds.}) 12. Kb1 {With this move starts some sort of a tempo war. White would like to play Nf4 but only when Black goes Be6. Hence both sides keep making improving moves and not committing to Nf4/Be6.} (12. Nf4 Qf7 13. Kb1 g5 $5) 12... a5 13. Be2 c6 {In the post game interview Magnus said that c6 was a good move but he was happy to see it because now the queen on e8 cannot really go to a4 and there will be no mate!} 14. Rc1 Kh8 15. Ka1 {All the useful moves have been made and Black has to play Be6 finally.} (15. a3 {is possible but Magnus didn't really want to create a target on the queenside.}) 15... Be6 16. Nf4 Qf7 {[#]} 17. h4 $1 {Once you see how interesting this move is you really go for it, although the consequences are not at all easy to calculate.} (17. Nxe6 Qxe6 18. h4 Rfd8 19. h5 g5 $11 { With Bxe5 coming up Black should be alright here.}) 17... Bxa2 (17... Rfd8 { could have been a much more safe way for Li Chao to play.} 18. h5 g5 $1 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20. f4 (20. Bxg5 $2 Bxe5 $17) 20... gxf4 21. Bxf4 c5 $132) 18. h5 $1 Kg8 (18... g5 19. Ng6+ $1 {Of course this is the point. If the rook was not on f8 this was not possible and hence Rfd8 instead of Bxa2 could have been better. }) 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. g4 $1 {As Magnus rightly said, "It clearly feels that White should be the one coming first." Although for a normal player a4-a3 looks just as threatening.} Bb3 {Black now has the deadly threat of a4-a3. How do you deal with it?} (20... a4 21. gxf5 a3 22. b3 $1 {Closing things down.} Qxb3 23. Nxg6 $18) 21. Bd1 $1 {A great move that was missed by Li Chao. Well, truth be told it has only one purpose: to clear the second rank for the white queen to go to h2 and mate the black king. So Bf1 would also have worked but on d1 the bishop stays in the thick of things.} a4 22. Qh2 Rfd8 23. Qh7+ Kf8 24. d5 $1 {The idea of this move is to sever the connection of the queen on f7 and the bishop on b3, and also to open an attack on the knight on b6. But the main thing is the interference. So now if a3 then the bishop on b3 is hanging. Also the move e5-e6 becomes a killer move.} (24. Nxg6+ Ke8 {is not at all clear because how do you continue your attack? And at the same time a3 looks pretty strong.}) (24. e6 $2 Bxe6 $19) 24... Nc4 {A very interesting move by Li Chao. He is ready to even give up his queen if he can get in the move a3.} ( 24... a3 25. Bxb3 $1 {That was the point of 24.d5: to cut the communication between the bishop on b3 and the queen on f7.}) (24... N6xd5 25. e6 $1 Qf6 26. Nxg6+ Ke8 27. Qg8+ Bf8 28. Rh8 $18) (24... Bxd5 25. Bxb6 $18) (24... Bxd1 25. Ne6+ (25. e6 $6 a3 $1 26. exf7 axb2+ 27. Kxb2 Nc4+ 28. Kb1 Na3+ 29. Kb2 Nc4+ $11) 25... Ke8 26. Nxg7+ Kf8 27. Qh8+ $18) 25. Nxg6+ $1 Ke8 26. e6 $1 a3 27. exf7+ {A queen falling with check must be taken. Later other things can be thought about!} Kd7 28. Ne5+ $1 (28. f8=N+ $4 {looks cute but truth be told it loses to Ke8 as avoiding mate on the queenside is impossible. But also Magnus didn't want to get up from the board and ask for another knight!} Ke8 29. bxa3 Rxa3+ 30. Kb1 Rda8 $1 $19) 28... Bxe5 (28... Kc7 29. Nxc4 $18) 29. Qxf5+ Kc7 30. Qxe5+ $1 Nxe5 31. Bxb3 axb2+ 32. Kxb2 Nbd3+ 33. Kb1 Nxc1 (33... Ra3 34. Nb5+ $18) 34. Rxc1 {White is now completely winning.} Kc8 35. dxc6 bxc6 36. f4 {A beautiful game with lot of unusual moves. But when you think deeply about it, each and every move had a clear purpose behind it. Computer engines might give White a clear edge since the 17th move, but in a practical game when your king is under such an attack it is not so simple.} 1-0

Li Chao with his wife to be (centre) at the Qatar Masters 2015.
Li Chao has postponed his marriage in order to take part in the Norway Chess Challenge 2016.


Karjakin withdraws from Norway Chess

Our article on 7th of April 2016 

On 28th of March 2016, Sergey Karjakin won the Candidates 2016 and earned the right to challenge Magnus Carlsen for the World Championship Match, that would be held later this year. Chess fans were excited that Magnus and Sergey were going to meet each other over the board at the Altibox Norway Chess 2016.

The impressive line up of Norway Chess 2016. The qualifier (third from left) is Nils Grandelius

The participants for the event are:

1 Magnus Carlsen 2851
2 Vladimir Kramnik 2801
3 Anish Giri 2790
4 Maxime Vachier Lagrave 2788
5 Levon Aronian 2784
6 Sergey Karjakin 2779
7 Pavel Eljanov 2765
8 Pentala Harikrishna 2763
9 Veselin Topalov 2754
10 Nils Grandelius 2649

The Altibox Norway Chess 2016 is going to be held from the 18th to the 30th of April 2016 in Stavanger, Norway. Just twelve days before the tournament began Sergey Karjakin has withdrawn his entry from the tournament.

The statement of Karjakin's manager

This is what Karjakin's manager Kirill Zangalis said in a telephonic conversation with R sport:

"Karjakin won’t play in the prestigious tournament in Stavanger. It was with great pleasure that Sergey accepted the invitation from the organisers of the Norway Chess, after being the winner in 2013 and 2014. But the explanation for withdrawal put quite simply is: no-one in advance could have guaranteed Karjakin's victory at the Candidates Tournament. Now Sergei has a different status and has decided to concentrate fully on preparing for the match for the world crown. Also the Candidates Tournament cost him almost all his energy."

Manager Kirill Zangalis with Sergey Karjakin after he won the Candidates 2016 [photo by Amruta Mokal]

Press release by Norway Chess

Karjakin's decision to withdraw from the tournament didn't go so well with the Norway Chess organizers who issued a press release entitled "Direspectful of Karjakin". This is what they wrote:

Disrespectful of Karjakin

"The hosts behind the Altibox Norway Chess tournament are surprised that Sergey Karjakin withdraws from the upcoming tournament in Stavanger. Karjakin has a signed contract with us and it does not state that he can withdraw from the tournament if he qualifies for the World Championship in November, states Jøran Aulin-Jansson. – This action feels disrespectful to us as the organizers of the event as well as the other players in the tournament, not to mention the entire chess world that were looking forward to the dress rehearsal for the World Championship match between Karjakin and Magnus Carlsen, says Aulin-Jansson. The message that Karjakin is withdrawing from Altibox Norway Chess was received from the Russian Chess Federation only 12 days before the start of the tournament. Aulin-Jansson makes it clear that the last words in this matter have not been spoken. – Sergey Karjakin is a great chess player and he is still welcome as a participant in Altibox Norway Chess 2016. He has, after all, won both times he has participated, says Aulin-Jansson. – Karjakin obviously has a lot of nerves before his first World Championship match, however, we truly wish Karjakin and his advisors understand that one can not just run away from agreements because it suddenly does not fit in preparation for a match that does not start until about half a year later."

The History

Only three editions of the Norway Chess have taken place in the past. Out of these three Sergey Karjakin has won twice in 2013 and 2014. This is how final standings looked for both the years in which Karjakin won:

Final standings for Norway Chess 2013

Final standings for the No Logo Norway Chess 2014

It was obvious that the two-time winner Sergey Karjakin would be invited to the third edition in 2015. The organizers did invite him but there was no formal contract signed between the organzers and Karjakin. A few months before the tournament Sergey's name was removed from the players list because Norway Chess had become a part of the Grand Chess Tour. Karjakin had not qualified for the Grand Chess Tour and hence could not be a part of the 2015 edition. The organizers asked Sergey to play in the qualifier tournament as there was one spot that was yet to be filled. But Karjakin, of course, found it humiliating that being the two-time winner he was asked to participate in the qualifier event. You can find Karjakin's Facebook post from May 11, 2015 over here.

By withdrawing his name from the 2016 edition is Karjakin going for a "tit-for-tat" approach? Here is what ACP President Emil Sutovsky had to say in his facebook post which is followed and commented upon by many of the leading grandmasters all over the world.

Sergey Karjakin's decision to withdraw from the Altibox Norway Chess in Stavanger just 12 days prior to start of the...

Posted by Emil Sutovsky on Wednesday, April 6, 2016

 

Who will replace Karjakin?

From Magnus' tweet it seems as if the man who will replace Karjakin will be Jon Ludvig Hammer.

But Hammer is of the opinion that it would be fair to have another qualifier event:

Who do you think will replace Sergey Karjakin as one of the participants in the event?

 

 

 

Playchess commentary schedule for the Norway Chess 2016

 

Date

Day

Round No.

English

Deutsch

19.04.2016

Tuesday

Round 1

Simon Williams

Klaus Bischoff

20.04.2016

Wednesday

Round 2

Daniel King

Klaus Bischoff

21.04.2016

Thursday

Round 3

Yannick Pelletier

Klaus Bischoff

22.04.2016

Friday

Round 4

Daniel King

Oliver Reeh

23.04.2016

Saturday

Free

 

 

24.04.2016

Sunday

Round 5

Simon Williams

Thomas Luther

25.04.2016

Monday

Round 6

Yannick Pelletier

Thomas Luther

26.04.2016

Tuesday

Free

 

 

27.04.2016

Wednesday

Round 7

Simon Williams

Klaus Bischoff

28.04.2016

Thursday

Round 8

Yannick Pelletier

Klaus Bischoff

29.04.2016

Friday

Round 9

Daniel King

Klaus Bischoff   

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okfine90 okfine90 4/8/2016 05:30
Ok looks like he may be thinking it's too early to have a clash with him. Looks like he does not want any type of backlog to be carried away when he faces Carlsen in WCC, in Nov 2016. That could be one obvious reason. And when one is discussing about "energy conservation" before WCC, they should note how much energy former World Champion V. Anand has!!. Ask yourself, after how many years Anand will be watching a WCC?.
dysanfel dysanfel 4/8/2016 04:45
I don't blame him, I wouldn't either. Better to train and watch Carlsen's games than participate and show your hand.
Raymond Labelle Raymond Labelle 4/8/2016 02:52
Having L. Hammer to replace SK would be fair because L. Hammer was the second (after the qualified Mr. Grandelius) in the qualifying tournament. However, as mentioned by hpaul, L. Hammer may have been ironic in his answer to MC. MC and him could be teasing one another.

I like the way with which MC is dealing with SK's withdrawal - nothing negative directed towards SK while being quite humourous.
fyang8 fyang8 4/8/2016 02:10
Both reasons from Karjakin are perfectly understandable. I don't see anything disrespectful. As a chess player, one cannot play if one is too tired or if one's mind is absent. It is totally unnecessary that the organisers made it such a big deal. If they want to be victims, Karjakin cannot help. Karjakin has already given the legitimate reasons for his withdrawal. The orgnisers should terminate the contract. The contracts are for the people, not the other way round.

Båda grunderna Karjakin gav är helt och hållet förståeliga. Det finns ingenting respektlöst. Som schackspelare, man kan inte spela om man är för trött eller mentalt frånvarande. Det är helt onödigt att arrangörerna gör en så stor affär av detta. Vill de som arrangörerna lida, så har Karjakin ingenting mer att göra. Karjakin har redan gett berättigade och försvarbara skäl för sitt avbrytande. Arrangörerna borde avsluta avtalet. Avtalet ska tjäna folket, och inte tvärtom.
hpaul hpaul 4/8/2016 01:11
Just to point out that Jon Ludvig Hammer's tweet above is misinterpreted by the article's author (unless he is being ironic). When he tweets: "I think having another qualifier would be fair", he is obviously being ironic. It's his typical sense of humor. Jon Ludvig would love to be asked to play.
And I actually think that would make for a more interesting tournament. Both Hammer and Grandelius are fighters, and are no pushovers. It's good to have a couple of players a notch lower than the top few, to get more interesting games.
Hawkman Hawkman 4/8/2016 12:58
Karjakin won the 2013 and 2014 events thereby beating Carlsen twice, in 2015 Norway forced the 2 time defending champ to qualify (if he wanted to play), and he's disrespectful!?! Screw Norway and the immature Malcolm Pein.
Queenslander Queenslander 4/7/2016 11:24
I'm not at all impressed with the Norway organisers who have badly misjudged the situation. In sport one does not criticise illness or exhaustion or the like. If any 'disrespecting' has occurred it has been towards Karjakin. In my opinion the Norway organisers now owe Karjakin an apology and I hope this happens soon. I'm actually a big fan of Magnus and hope he retains his world title but that is beside the point.
x_ileon@yahoo.co.uk x_ileon@yahoo.co.uk 4/7/2016 11:12
Sorry, I've given it plenty of thought, including all comments above and below, and my first reaction still stands: C H I C K E N !!! He's obviously not ready to face Magnus, he's afraid of disappointment and feels he needs several months of target (=Magnus) specific prep before he may have a chance to challenge the champion. And I agree with Emil Sutovsky - the Karjakin team's approach is highly unproffessional! They aught to have sat down with the organisers of Norway chess and negotiated this, offering some concession! How would Karjakin feel if he was invited to a tournament and a few days before the start the organisers dropped him citing, say, lack of market appeal, replacing him with someone more crowd pleasing?
Raymond Labelle Raymond Labelle 4/7/2016 10:35
To canorodo. SK was born in Ukraine and did represent Ukraine until 2009. SK is from Crimea and is part of the Russian-speaking community of that area. SK did state that he identified more with Russia than with Ukraine and did approve the annexation of Crimea by Russia.

See this quotation from SK: "I ally myself entirely with Russia because Crimea, as we know, has transferred to Russia," he explained to RFE/RL. "I am actually extremely happy about this because I always considered myself Russian. I speak Russian, think in Russian, so I'm entirely a Russian person, and entirely support Russia as a state."

From: http://www.rferl.mobi/a/russia-karjakin-chess-world-title-putin/27644255.html
thlai80 thlai80 4/7/2016 10:17
If Karjakin had signed contract, and there's no terms allowable for withdrawal, then he's in violation of contract. Else, there's really nothing that stops Karjakin from doing so. Anyway there's no harm if Karjakin just do a 'Giri' by drawing all his games thus negating his presence in the tournament.

@Pionki, there are a lot of good examples but quoting bank is by far the worst. The bank contract gives it almost every possibility to withdraw in its convenience and justifications. If fact the interest agreed upon can be changed at its own discretion. At least that's how the bank loan is in Asia.
Pionki Pionki 4/7/2016 09:37
If a bank withdraws from a contract with you, because after a while it turns out to be inconvenient for the bank, how would you call that? A contract is a contract. There are ways to negotiate it even after it had been signed.
TMMM TMMM 4/7/2016 09:33
Is it too much to ask for a chess world without this unprofessionalism? Both Karjakin backing out of the event last-minute, and the statement by Norway Chess lack class.
binnun binnun 4/7/2016 09:30
that's amateur stuff: simply lack of professionalism by Karjakin
fightingchess fightingchess 4/7/2016 09:02
some excuses are funny like he has a right to prepare for wc match. that match is six month away. so he is not gonna play any tournament until then? karjakin agreed to play there and he is morally obliged to play. this is very unprofessional to withdraw only 12 days before the tournament. does karjakin accept that organizers should have a right to cancel his invitation to a tournament?
LAMIB LAMIB 4/7/2016 09:01
Everybody talking about what an ingenious move Karjakin made by withdrawing from Norway tournament! I say if he wins the World Championship we will have a World Champion who doesn't care to honour his own commitments. What a great rolemodel he will be!! I wonder if any of his supporters here has ever heard of keeping a promise. May be I am too old fashioned to think about such things these days.
Chad Phillips Chad Phillips 4/7/2016 09:01
Another smart move from Karjakin! Hopefully, he's paying even less attention to this than I am :)
kartik_ramkumar kartik_ramkumar 4/7/2016 08:05
yes ....its the organizers are silly and not sergey...shame
Justin144 Justin144 4/7/2016 07:50
The organizers of this event should take into consideration that Sergey is coming off a huge win and that if he is to dethrone Magnus, which he can, he needs to focus all his energy and begin preparation. He has given enough notice to find a replacement and for the organizers to throw a fit calling his camp "disrespectful" is telling me that they are acting irrational in their response. Avoiding Carlsen is a GOOD strategy and taking a chance on bringing the confidence down after a huge win could be potentially dangerous leading up to the Championship match. It is a good decision and in no way is this "disrespectful". Find another player, stop whining about it, and let Sergey move on to prepare his emotions, etc. Quite frankly, if a player becomes a challenger for the World title h most assuredly deserves or withholds the right to withdrawal from a tournament as long as he gives some notice so they can invite another layer of his strength, which by the way, wouldn't be hard to find. Get over it.
MortalWombat MortalWombat 4/7/2016 07:42
Not cool from the organizers - Kariakin did the right thing because clearly he won't be able to show his best form in the event. Also, historically challengers for the title have been avoiding one another right before the match which makes a lot of sense. The organizers should have acted with more understanding and class. Nerds.
Bill Alg Bill Alg 4/7/2016 07:38
lol at comments suggesting Karjakin is afraid. He has played this tournament twice and won it twice. He has no motivation to win it a third time. Maybe he wants to give Carlsen, who has played it three times and never won it, a chance.
Denix Denix 4/7/2016 07:37
This is a very good move by Karjakin from the challenger's point of view - being unpredictable right from the start! Excellent preparation is needed to topple the World Champion and by not participating in any unnecessary distractions underlines his focus and gives emphasis to what is best worth having - the world crown.
Bill Alg Bill Alg 4/7/2016 07:31
I can't even begin to describe those Norwegian organizers. Karjakin always shows respect to everyone, just watch the way he treats his fellow players during press conferences and you will know what a decent man he is.

The thing those same organizers did to him last year has never happened before. Twice the winner of the tournament, and he was asked to qualify (!!) in order to play the third. They were asked about it and said "yeah, we know but, tough luck". I mean in Corus, you win the B tournament one year and you qualify automatically for the A next year. It was simply the most disrespectful thing by organizer towards a top player I ever remember.

Now Karjakin wants to prepare for a World Championship match. This excuse is 100 times better than they provided him last year. But it was not even necessary: just "I am tired" or "I don't feel like it" would be enough. He is his own master. They have plenty of time and they will surely find a 2700+ player to replace him. A player withdrawing from a tournament, this has happened before.
Nathanian Nathanian 4/7/2016 07:14
Karjakin needs to mature. Give him time, he will learn in his life or perish as a professional. In any relationship, any of us has to give and take. Suppose nobody wants to invite him to big tournaments anymore and he loses the World Championship then what next? He has to learn his own lesson and to grow up as a responsible world citizen, child protégé or not. He is only 25 years old. Wait until he is 50. No more money. It is not easy for chess professionals to make a living. Don't burn the bridges.
tom_70 tom_70 4/7/2016 06:49
Let's see, this tournament is in April and the World Chess Match is in November. So 6 months isn't enough to recover from playing a chess tournament for a 25 year old? I think that's total B.S. He must really be afraid of Carlsen.
oldsalt7 oldsalt7 4/7/2016 06:29
Karjakin's withdrawal from 'Norway Chess' is totally understandable, given the circumstances. It is the Norwegians and Malcolm Pein who are being disrespectful.
canorodo canorodo 4/7/2016 05:50
Things that start bad,will end bad.You will see it.Kasparov is in another side,bacause he did not want to be manipulated by the new dirty russian chess machinery.This machinery is begging for a new prospect and now they want to take advantage of this childress ukaranian.He is not even russian.Did you know?.
diegoami diegoami 4/7/2016 05:45
We all know that Karjakin will end up playing in Norway...

monty fufu monty fufu 4/7/2016 05:32
It's worth noting that a few months ago, Norway Chess withdrew from the Grand Chess Tour, breaking an agreement with the other GCT event organisers at a late stage and out of self-interest.

See its criticism of Karjakin in that context. Hypocrisy from Norway Chess.
LAMIB LAMIB 4/7/2016 05:25
@scoobeedo : As per the statement of ACP President Emil Sutovsky, it is clear that Mr. Karjakin has signed a contract. Unless you are one of the members of Team Karjakin, I see no reason to trust your words that there is no contract. May be you are talking about the year 2015 when there was only oral agreement.

I believe that as a professional Karjakin is obliged to honour the contract he signed. Of course he has qualified for the World Championship. But is he saying that he played in it without any hope of winning it? That says a lot about the character of the Challenger!
Magic_Knight Magic_Knight 4/7/2016 05:00
As much as I think Karjakin will get creamed this November, I don't know what all the hoopla around his withdrawal from the Norway chess tournament is about. It's his first world championship match, let him take his time and prepare. I'm sure he is super nervous and doesn't need the stress of another super tournament this close in proximity.

Norway chess is just being pansy about it because of the reputation of the tournament at stake, that is all. It has nothing to do with Karjakin being disrespectful.
yesenadam yesenadam 4/7/2016 04:55
"This action feels disrespectful to us as the organizers of the event as well as the other players in the tournament, not to mention the entire chess world"

Well, this part of the chess world thinks the disrespect is on the side of Norway Chess here. Cut the guy some slack after your epic snubbing of him last year. How his decision comes from anything to do with disrespect I don't know.
mike warner mike warner 4/7/2016 04:24
Norway should have a withdraw penalty in the contract. If a player has to withdraw, he pays the penalty and the tournament gets a replacement player. Simple on both parties.
Behemoth2016 Behemoth2016 4/7/2016 04:09
"Kajrakin did not sign a contract with Norway chess.

It was a oral agreement."

so Karjakin and his team were lying when they declared some time ago that they "signed an agreement" to play in the event? Of course the organizer, the other players, the press, Chessbase, they all are liars too, because they also all say that there are written agreements. But finally the truth comes out - thanks a lot, scoobedoo. You're my hero! LOL

dkindle dkindle 4/7/2016 03:59
Amazing how a quiet game of chess has so much drama. It's disappointing for Sergey to withdraw, but what are you going to do? Force him to play? I say use the opportunity to invite someone that actually wants to go.
Stupido Stupido 4/7/2016 03:40
It is childish to argue about Karjakin's decision. Karjakin has proven that he does not play in the Norway tournament to fill in the blanks; he came to win it. Now that he is not psychologically and physically unfit to do that, it would be decent to respect his decision without discussion.
scoobeedo scoobeedo 4/7/2016 03:30
Norway Chess try to make us believe that they support chess. That is wrong.

I tournament which was installed after a local boy became world champion, and the tournament will be stopped after he lost his title?

I do not call people who do this chess friends ...

They do not support chess, they support their local boy ... and ride on his success!
scoobeedo scoobeedo 4/7/2016 03:27
@awfulhangover:

Kajrakin did not sign a contract with Norway chess.

It was a oral agreement.
awfulhangover awfulhangover 4/7/2016 03:08
Very disrespectful, Mr Karjakin! You are defending the Norway Chess title, and you signed the conbtract AFTER you knew you would play the candidate final. And you did not say you would withdrawif you won! So you broke the contact. But your fans are behind you here. They would not if Magnus had done the same. But, I think you have been manipulated to do this by the machine behind you. Bad.
Behemoth2016 Behemoth2016 4/7/2016 02:53
One of the reasons why Karjakin (or Nakamura) will never be a great player, is his absolute lack of professionalism. As a professional, you are serious about your contractual obligations, and you honour your agreements. Tournament organizers and sponsors don't invest their money because some immature boys think they are entitled to be paid handsomely since they are such geniuses - and that they can just forget about signed contracts whenever they fancy to do something else. Magnus Carlsen is not only the best player these days, he is also (together with Anand) the most professional. Karjakin and Nakamura are people who damage the chances of chess ever becoming a sport that attracts major sponsors; I hope their outrageous and unsportsmanlike behaviour has consequences for them. As a sponsor or organizer I would not let such a breach of contract go unpunished; I also hope that such players will be not invited to some of the major events in the future. There are much more interesting and hungry players out there than such spoiled brats as Karjakin or Nakamura.
Exclam Exclam 4/7/2016 02:45
I highly doubt it is because he is chicken, after all he finished ahead of Magnus in this tournament in both 2013 and 2014. But I would not have backed out of a commitment I made.